Obesity in pregnancy is linked to adverse clinical outcomes such as gestational diabetes. Recently, a risk score calculated by different ceramide concentrations was recognized as a new way to investigate cardiovascular risk. The aim was to analyze if the ceramide risk score and cardiometabolic risk vary between normal-weight, obese, and females with prior Roux-en-Y bypass surgery (RYGB) during pregnancy.

Three cohorts were investigated: first, 25 pregnant females with a history of RYGB; second, 19 with preconception BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2; and third, 19 normal-weight (preconception BMI < 25 kg/m2). Around the 24th to 28th weeks of gestation routine laboratory assessments, 3 h 75 g oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests were carried out. The correlation of ceramide risk scores and ceramide ratios (Cer(d18:1/18:0)/Cer(d18:1/16:0)) with metabolic parameters was analyzed via Pearson correlation. The cohorts were compared via ANOVA and unpaired t-tests.

The RYGB cohort had lower ceramide risk scores and ratios compared to obese pregnant females (7.42 vs. 9.34, p = 0.025; 0.33 vs. 0.47, p < 0.001). Ceramide risk score and ratio were found to correlate negatively with insulin sensitivity (measured with the Matsuda (r = -0.376, p = 0.031; r = -0.455, p = 0.008) and calculated sensitivity index (r = -0.358, p = 0.044; r = -0.621, p < 0.001) in females without RYGB. The ceramide risk score correlated positively with body fat in RYGB females (r = 0.650, p = 0.012).

We found that females after RYGB have lower ceramide risk scores and ceramide ratios compared to obese pregnant females, possibly indicating lower metabolic risk.

Objective: to determine the effect of gestational weight gain and perinatal outcomes in obese women who underwent and did not undergo bariatric surgery. Material and methods: a retrospective observational cohort study was conducted. The gestational weight gain was classified as insufficient, adequate or excessive according to the guidelines of the United States Institute of Medicine: 4.99-9.07 kg for body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2. Weight gain was calculated as the difference between the weight at the first visit of the 1st trimester and the weight at the visit of the 3rd trimester. Outcomes examined included antepartum variables (gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, placenta previa, placental abruption, intrauterine growth retardation, chorioammionitis, spontaneous abortion), intrapartum variables (induced delivery, vaginal delivery, vacuum, forceps delivery, cesarean section, shoulder dystocia), postpartum variables (postpartum hemorrhage, need for postpartum transfusion, postpartum anemia, need for emergency care, maternal death, postpartum tear, postpartum thrombosis) and neonatal variables (preterm delivery, weight percentile > 90, weight percentile < 10, Apgar score < 7, malformations). Using the statistical package SPSS 22.0, a statistical analysis of the data was performed. Results: two hundred and fifty-six women were recruited; 38 (14.58 %) were pregnant after bariatric surgery and 218 (85.15 %) were pregnant women with obesity who had not been operated on. Of the pregnant women with obesity who had not been operated on, 119 (46.68 %) had grade 1 obesity (BMI 30-34.9), and 99 (38.67 %) had grade 2 and 3 obesity (BMI > 35). A global and subgroup analysis was performed. In the overall analysis, 78 (30.46 %) had insufficient gain, 117 (45.70 %) had adequate gain, and 61 (23.82 %) excessive gain. Overall, insufficient weight gain was associated with a lower probability of gestational hypertension (p < 0.015) and forceps delivery (p < 0.000) and large for gestational age newborn (p < 0.000). On the other hand, insufficient weight gain was associated with a higher probability of intrauterine growth retardation (p 0.044), peripartum infection (0.022), preterm delivery (0.006), and delivery < 35 weeks (p 0.016). Excessive weight gain was associated with a higher probability of gestational hypertension (p 0.025), induced labor (p 0.009), forceps delivery (p 0.011) and large for gestational age newborn (p 0.006). Pregnancies after bariatric surgery had fewer overall complications compared to the other groups. Conclusions: insufficient and excessive weight gain worsens perinatal outcomes. Adequate weight gain does not increase complications and produces some benefits.

Bariatric surgery is an effective surgical treatment for weight reduction in individuals with obesity. Pregnancy outcomes related to prior bariatric surgery are currently under active investigation.

To assess national-level trends, characteristics, and outcomes of pregnancy after bariatric surgery in the United States.

Retrospective cohort study queried the National Inpatient Sample.

The study population was 14,648,135 patients who had vaginal or cesarean delivery from January 2016 to December 2019. Exposure allocation was based on the history of bariatric surgery. The main outcomes were (1) trends and characteristics related to bariatric surgery, assessed with multivariable binary logistic regression model; and (2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-defined severe maternal morbidity, assessed by propensity score matching and generalized estimating equation.

A total of 53,950 (.4%) patients had prior bariatric surgery. The number of patients with prior bariatric surgery increased from .3% to .5%, and this trend remained independent in multivariable analysis (P < .001). Patients who had bariatric surgery were also more likely to be older and have obesity, medical co-morbidities, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and cesarean delivery compared with those without bariatric surgery (all, P < .05). In a propensity score matched model, patients who had bariatric surgery were more likely to receive blood product transfusion (2.3% versus 1.6%; odds ratio = 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-1.77), but severe maternal morbidity other than blood product transfusion was comparable to those without (1.1% versus 1.4%; odds ratio = .80; 95% confidence interval, .63-1.02).

There is a gradual increase of pregnancy after bariatric surgery in recent years in the United States.

Objectives: To describe bariatric surgery patients' perioperative conceptualizations about pregnancy. Materials and Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study performed in 2016, evaluating a nationally recruited convenience sample of U.S. women aged 18-45 years who underwent bariatric surgery within the past 24 months. We assessed four pregnancy constructs: intent, desire, emotional orientation, and importance to avoid. We examined relationships between constructs, with time since surgery, postoperative pregnancy, and contraceptive use using descriptive statistics. Results: We included 363 eligible women (response rate 80%). Participant median age was 36 years, 71% (n = 258) were White, 77% (n = 279) were sexually active at the time of the study, and 39% (n = 140) experienced preoperative infertility. Most reported no desire to become pregnant (59%, n = 175) and that it was important to avoid pregnancy (78%, n = 283) within the first 24 months after surgery. Relationships between constructs were complex. Respondents in their first postoperative year more likely reported they would feel upset about a hypothetical pregnancy (40%, n = 74) than those in their second year (27%, n = 48, p = 0.02). Of those with a postoperative pregnancy, 46% (n = 17) felt it was important to avoid pregnancy compared with 81% (n = 266) of those who did not have a pregnancy (p < 0.001). Most used postoperative contraception (66%, n = 241), and those who felt it was important to avoid pregnancy more likely used contraception (82%, n = 197) than those who did not feel it was important (18%, n = 44, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Women undergoing bariatric surgery have diverse and complex conceptualizations about future pregnancy. These varied based on time from surgery and influenced postoperative contraceptive use.

Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is the most efficient therapeutic option for severe obesity. Most patients who undergo MBS are women of childbearing age. Data in the scientific literature are generally of a low quality due to a lack of well-controlled prospective trials regarding obstetric, neonatal, and child outcomes.

To assess the risk-benefit balance associated with MBS around obstetric, neonatal, and child outcomes.

The study included 53 813 women on the French nationwide database who underwent an MBS procedure and delivered a child between January 2012 and December 2018. Each women was their own control by comparing pregnancies before and after MBS.

The women included were exposed to either gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy.

The study team first compared prematurity and birth weights in neonates born before and after maternal MBS with each other. Then they compared the frequencies of all pregnancy and child diagnoses in the first 2 years of life before and after maternal MBS with each other.

A total of 53 813 women (median [IQR] age at surgery, 30 [26-35] years) were included, among 3686 women who had 1 pregnancy both before and after MBS. The study team found a significant increase in the small-for-gestational-age neonate rate after MBS (+4.4%) and a significant decrease in the large-for-gestational-age neonate rate (-12.6%). The study team highlighted that compared with pre-MBS births, after MBS births had fewer occurrences of gestational hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 0.16; 95% CI, 0.10-0.23) and gestational diabetes for the mother (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.34-0.45), as well as fewer birth injuries to the skeleton (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.11-0.60), febrile convulsions (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.21-0.67), viral intestinal infections (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.43-0.71), or carbohydrate metabolism disorders in newborns (OR, 0.54; 95% CI 0.46-0.63), but an elevated respiratory failure rate (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.76-3.36) associated with bronchiolitis.

The risk-benefit balance associated with MBS is highly favorable for pregnancies and newborns but may cause an increased risk of respiratory failure associated with bronchiolitis. Further studies are needed to better assess the middle- and long-term benefits and risks associated with MBS.

Obesity has an especial implication for women of childbearing age because of a higher risk of adverse outcomes during pregnancy and labor. This report aimed to analyze complications of pregnancy after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) concerning the time after surgery.

A retrospective descriptive-analytical study was conducted including women of childbearing age who underwent sleeve gastrectomy (SG) from 2006 to 2017. Patients were divided into two groups regarding the time elapsed from SG to pregnancy: less than and greater than one year (group A /group B, respectively).

During the studied time, 51 pregnancies with complete clinical records were found. The mean weight and gestational age (GA) of the newborn (NB) were normal. The mean time from surgery to pregnancy was 30.4 ± 21 months. Patients from Group A and B presented 28.6% and 16.7% respectively of preterm NB (p = 0.5). Group A registered no low birth weight (LBW) babies (3.0 ± 0.4 kg) with a GA of 37.2 ± 2.1 weeks, while in Group B, 8.6% of NB were at LBW 2.1 ± 0.1 kg and GA of 33.3 ± 3.8 weeks (p = NS).

After SG, no differences in terms of maternal and neonatal complications were found concerning the time between surgery and pregnancy.

When pregnancy follows metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), there are many important considerations related to nutritional status that may impact maternal and infant outcomes. Although evidence-based nutrition guidelines for pregnancy exist for the general population, there are limited practical recommendations that specifically address pregnancy after MBS. A literature search was conducted to investigate outcomes of women with a history of MBS and pregnancy. Search criteria focused on women 18 years of age and older who became pregnant after MBS. Search terms included "laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy," "Roux-en-Y gastric bypass," "laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding," "biliopancreatic duodenal switch," and gestation terminology, and they were paired with the nutrition outcomes of interest. A total of 167 publications were identified; 46 articles were included in the final review. Data relating to gestation and fetal weight and nutrition and cardiometabolic data were extracted from the studies. Based on this review, women of childbearing age with a history of MBS should be evaluated and monitored for nutritional status before conception, during pregnancy, and postpartum.

The study aimed 1) to compare trimester-specific and total gestational weight gain (GWG) between mothers who had undergone biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD) and two control groups of unoperated women and 2) to examine the associations between GWG, intrauterine fetal growth and neonatal birthweight.

This retrospective study included data collected in medical records of newborns and mothers from 3 groups: the first control group (PP) included mothers (n = 158) with a pre-pregnancy BMI similar to that of the surgical group (n = 63) and the second one (PS) included mothers (n = 85) with a pre-pregnancy BMI corresponding to that of the surgical group prior to BPD or a BMI > 40 kg/m². Trimester-specific GWG was obtained using linear interpolation and compared to the recommendations.

Women exposed to BPD have an increased prevalence of insufficient weight gain in the second and third trimesters as well as for the whole pregnancy in comparison with women in the PP group. The weekly GWG rate in the third trimester was significantly lower in women exposed to BPD, compared to both control groups. Although the newborns of women with previous BPD were significantly smaller during pregnancy and at birth, no association was found with GWG.

Women exposed to BPD are at substantial risk of insufficient GWG, however, mechanisms and long-term impacts require further investigation.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), Preeclampsia (PE), Hemolysis Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets (HELLP) and chronic hypertension, are leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Although the pathophysiology of HDP is complex, preconceptional weight reduction in obese women might reduce these complications. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effectiveness of preconceptional weight loss by lifestyle intervention or bariatric surgery in overweight and obese women and the reduction of the risk of HDP.

Databases are searched until September 2019 resulting in 2547 articles: 110 full-text analysis and 29 detailed analysis. Reduced risks were shown for HDP in seven articles (n = 4381) of weight loss after lifestyle intervention or bariatric surgery (OR range 0.10-0.64), for PIH in four articles (n = 46,976) (OR range 0.14-0.79), and for PE in seven articles (n = 169,734) (OR range 0.14-0.84). The stratified analysis of weight loss after lifestyle intervention and bariatric surgery shows comparable results. The meta-analysis of 20 studies of the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention and bariatric surgery revealed reduced risks of HDP (OR 0.45 (95% CI 0.32-0.63)), PIH (OR 0.61 (95%CI 0.44-0.85)) and PE (OR 0.67 (95%CI 0.51-0.88)).

Preconceptional weight loss after lifestyle intervention or bariatric surgery is effective in reducing risks of HDP, PIH and PE, and emphasizes the need to optimize weight in overweight and obese women with a child wish. More research is recommended to investigate short-term and long-term beneficial and harmful side-effects of these interventions on maternal and offspring health.

To investigate whether gastric bypass before pregnancy is associated with reduced risk of pre-eclampsia.

Nationwide matched cohort study.

Swedish national health care.

A total of 843 667 singleton pregnancies without pre-pregnancy hypertension were identified in the Swedish Medical Birth Register between 2007 and 2014, of which 2930 had a history of gastric bypass and a pre-surgery weight available from the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry. Two matched control groups (pre-surgery and early-pregnancy body mass index [BMI]) were propensity score matched separately for nulliparous and parous births, to post-gastric bypass pregnancies (n_{pre-surgery-BMI}  = 2634:2634/n_{early-pregnancy-BMI}  = 2766:2766) on pre-surgery/early-pregnancy BMI, diabetes status (pre-surgery/pre-conception), maternal age, early-pregnancy smoking status, educational level, height, country of birth, delivery year and history of pre-eclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia categorised into any, preterm onset (<37⁺⁰  weeks) and term onset (≥37⁺⁰  weeks).

In post-gastric bypass pregnancies, mean pre-surgery BMI was 42.9 kg/m² and mean BMI loss between surgery and early pregnancy was 14.0 kg/m² (39 kg). Post-gastric bypass pregnancies had lower risk of pre-eclampsia compared with pre-surgery BMI-matched controls (1.7 versus 9.7 per 100 pregnancies; hazard ratio [HR] 0.21, 95% CI 0.15-0.28) and early-pregnancy BMI-matched controls (1.9 versus 5.0 per 100 pregnancies; HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.33-0.60). Although relative risks for pre-eclampsia for post-gastric bypass pregnancies versus pre-surgery matched controls was similar, absolute risk differences (RD) were significantly greater for nulliparous women (RD -13.6 per 100 pregnancies, 95% CI -16.1 to -11.2) versus parous women (RD -4.4 per 100 pregnancies, 95% CI -5.7 to -3.1).

We found that gastric bypass was associated with lower risk of pre-eclampsia, with the largest absolute risk reduction among nulliparous women.

In this large study including two comparison groups matched for pre-surgery or early-pregnancy BMI, gastric bypass was associated with lower risk of pre-eclampsia.

We assessed whether bariatric surgery before pregnancy lowers the risk of severe maternal morbidity to a level comparable to no obesity.

Obesity is a risk factor for severe maternal morbidity, but the potential for bariatric surgery to reduce the risk has not been studied.

We analyzed a retrospective cohort of 2,412,075 deliveries between 1989 and 2019 in Quebec, Canada. The main exposure measures were bariatric surgery before pregnancy and obesity without bariatric surgery, compared with no obesity. The outcome was severe maternal morbidity, a composite of life-threatening pregnancy complications. We estimated risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between bariatric surgery and severe maternal morbidity, adjusted for maternal characteristics.

A total of 2654 deliveries (0.1%) were in women who had bariatric surgery, and 70,041 (29.0 per 1000) were in women who had severe maternal morbidity. Risk of severe maternal morbidity was not significantly elevated for bariatric surgery (RR 1.20; 95% CI 0.98-1.46), but was greater for obesity compared with no obesity (RR 1.60; 95% CI 1.55-1.64). Bariatric surgery was not associated with morbidities such as severe preeclampsia, sepsis, and cardiac complications compared with no obesity, but obesity was associated with elevated risks of these and other severe morbidities. Bariatric surgery was associated, however, with intensive care unit admission, compared with no obesity.

Pregnant women with prior bariatric surgery have similar risks as nonobese women for most types of severe maternal morbidity, except for intensive care unit admission.

Bariatric surgery presently is the best possible intervention for treatment of severe obesity and its related conditions. This study presents retrospective data on the pregnancy outcomes of Indian patients who underwent bariatric surgery before conception.

This is a single-centre retrospective, observational study. Data on demographics, pre-surgery weight, body mass index (BMI), types of bariatric surgery, weight at conception, weight gain during pregnancy, type of delivery and the health of the baby were collected and analysed to study the weight loss pattern and pregnancy outcomes in female patients of childbearing potential.

The study included 34 women of childbearing potential (BMI>30 kg/m²) who underwent bariatric surgery. The study population was followed up from the time of surgery until 1-year post-delivery of the baby. The mean weight gain during the pregnancy was 14.9±5.4 kg. Twenty-three underwent LSCS, and the rest had normal delivery with mean baby weight of 2.5±0.4 kg. Six babies required neonatal intensive care. In our series, only 4 of 35 cohorts that are only 11% had substantial weight retention (range 5-13 kg) at the end of 12 months which is significantly lower than the normal cohorts who did not undergo bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery improves fertility with safe pregnancy and its outcomes in terms of preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes, premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and puerperal sepsis in women with childbearing potential and safe for offspring in terms of shoulder dystocia, macrosomia, birth asphyxia and perinatal mortality. However, they should be well aware of the risks associated with bariatric surgery especially the mal-absorptive procedures.

Bariatric surgery is performed mostly on obese women of reproductive age. Many studies have analyzed pregnancy outcomes after bariatric surgery, but only a small number have studied the impact of pregnancy on the postoperative outcomes.

To study the effect of pregnancy on outcomes after bariatric surgery in women of childbearing age.

From January 2010 to October 2017, a retrospective study of a prospectively maintained database was conducted at the University Hospital of Geneva (HUG), where 287 women between the ages of 18 and 45 years had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). A comparison of the results during a 5-year follow-up was performed between women who became pregnant after their bariatric surgery (pregnancy group, n = 40) and postoperative non-pregnant women (non-pregnancy group, n = 247). The two groups were compared for weight loss, complications, and nutritional deficiencies.

The pregnancy group was significantly younger (29.2 ± 5.5 vs. 36.4± 6.3 years, p < 0.001) and heavier (124.0 ± 18.0 kg vs. 114.7 ± 17.1, p < 0.001) compared with the non-pregnancy group at the time of surgery. The percentage of excess BMI loss (%EBMI loss) was similar in both groups during the 5-year follow-up. Complications after RYGB and nutritional deficiencies were nearly identical in the two groups. The interval of time between bariatric surgery and first pregnancy was a median of 20.8 months. Out of 40 first pregnancies, 28 women completed pregnancy successfully with live birth.

Pregnancy after bariatric surgery is safe and does not adversely affect outcomes after RYGB.

The purpose of this review was to analyze the literature about pregnancy after bariatric surgery. We searched for available articles on the subject from the last decade (2010 to 2020). The positive impact of bariatric surgery on the level of comorbidities and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes cannot be overrated. Weight loss after bariatric surgery reduces the incidence of obesity-related conditions in pregnancy. A pregnancy in a woman after bariatric surgery should be considered a high-risk pregnancy and taken care of by a multidisciplinary team with appropriate micronutrient and vitamin supplementation provided. Optimum time to conception should be chosen following the international recommendations. Every woman after bariatric surgery should be aware of symptoms of surgical complications and immediately contact their surgeon in case of abdominal pain.

Approximately 250,000 individuals seek bariatric surgery each year in the USA for the long-term resolution of obesity-related comorbidities. Greater than 80% of these individuals are women and approximately half are of child-bearing age. Although there are many positive metabolic benefits that are realized through surgical weight loss for both men and women, the various long-term hormonal, molecular, nutrient, and epigenetic changes following bariatric surgery have not been evaluated for the surgical recipient or in the context of pregnancy and the offspring. Pregnancy may be a vulnerable period of time for the bariatric surgery recipient, and thoughtful consideration of pregnancy management should be taken by health care providers and recipients alike. The purpose of this review is to explore potential etiologies of some of the gestation-specific outcomes for the mother and offspring.

Pregnancies in women with a history of bariatric surgery are becoming increasingly prevalent. Surgically induced metabolic changes benefit mother and child, but can also lead to some adverse pregnancy outcomes. Knowledge about glucose homeostasis in these pregnancies could elucidate some of the mechanisms behind these outcomes. This review focusses on glucose homeostasis and birth weight.

We considered papers dealing with glucose homeostasis, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and/or small-for-gestational age infants (SGA) in pregnancies with a history of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) or Roux-en-y gastric bypass (RYGB).

Since an OGTT is unreliable to diagnose GDM in a pregnancy after bariatric surgery, the true incidence of GDM is unknown. Alternative screening strategies are needed. Furthermore, these pregnancies are marked by frequent hypoglycemic events as well as wide and rapid glycemic excursions, an issue that is very likely underreported. There is a lack of uniformity in reporting key outcomes and a large variation in study design and control population.

Alteration of glucose homeostasis in a pregnancy after bariatric surgery should be further studied using unequivocal definition of key concepts. Glycemic control may prove to be a modifiable risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes such as the delivery of an SGA baby.

To evaluate the impact of bariatric surgery on the gestational outcomes.

Retrospective study of pregnant women hospitalized for delivery in the maternity in Curitiba, Brazil, who had a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m² and/or who had undergone bariatric surgery. Interviews were performed, and the patients' medical records and antenatal information cards were evaluated.

Ninety-three pregnant women who had bariatric surgery and 205 obese pregnant women were selected. A lower occurrence of hypertensive diseases was observed in pregnant women who had undergone bariatric surgery (14%) compared with obese pregnant women (56.6%). Moreover, a reduced occurrence of diabetes was found in post-bariatric pregnant women (16.1%) compared with obese pregnant women (30.2%). There were no differences in the frequency of prematurity, in delivery methods, or in postpartum complications. There was a higher number of cases of babies who were small for gestational age and a lower number of babies who were large for gestational age in the post-bariatric group. When comparing obese pregnant women to post-bariatric pregnant women who had remained obese, a reduced frequency of hypertensive diseases and diabetes was found in the latter group, but the weight difference between their newborns was not statistically significant.

There was a lower occurrence of health-related issues complicating pregnancy among women who had undergone bariatric surgery, but these women's newborns were more likely to be small for gestational age, a finding which was less significant the less weight the mother had lost.

While the benefits of bariatric surgery (BS) on pregnancy outcomes have been demonstrated for women compared with matched controls on presurgery body mass index (pB-BMI), data are lacking and those benefits are uncertain compared with matched controls on prepregnancy BMI (pP-BMI).

Our study aimed to evaluate outcomes (obstetrical and neonatal) of single pregnancy in women previously exposed to BS compared with women unexposed to BS matched on pB-BMI and pP-BMI.

Retrospective matched cohort study from 2 observational studies of pregnant women conducted in a French administrative county (Finistère).

From April 1, 2015 to January 31, 2019, pregnant women with previous BS (n = 52) were included and compared with 2 different control groups as follows: group A (n = 104), matched for pB-BMI, age, and parity; and group B (n = 104), matched for pP-BMI, age, and parity.

In women exposed to BS, mean age was 27.1 (±4.9) years and pB-BMI was 46.0 (±4.6) kg/m². Operated women differed significantly from group A but not from group B for pP-BMI (29.4 ± 6.1 versus 45.3 ± 4.5 group A versus 28.6 ± 6.6 group B) and gestational diabetes (12.0% versus 44.0% group A versus 17.0% group B), respectively. In the group of women exposed to BS, birth weight (g) was significantly lower (2960 ± 545 versus 3381 ± 735 group A versus 3310 ± 645 group B) and large-for-gestational-age infants less frequent (0% versus 13% group A versus 8% group B).

Bariatric surgery reduced risks of excessive fetal growth and gestational diabetes with a trend for a higher risk of small-for-gestational-age, despite matching on pP-BMI suggesting a risk associated to BS and solely to previous surgery-induced weight loss.

Obesity is still a major health issue worldwide and bariatric surgeries are now considered one of the most effective ways to manage morbid obesity. Women who are obese in their reproductive age appear to be representing the majority of the patients seeking bariatric surgeries, accounting for (80%). The aim of this study is to assess women's awareness level of obstetric and gynecological impact of bariatric surgery on their health.

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey.

Online survey was used to collect data which was distributed through social media. Questions regarding the level of knowledge were included along with sociodemographic characteristics of the population.

The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to conduct the statistics analysis.

The survey elicited a total of (457) valid responses that were analyzed. The majority of responses were from married women (66.3%). Most common age group where those from (15 to 24) years. However, nearly about three-quarters of participants were found to have poor knowledge (73.1%) and only small percentage had a good level of knowledge (3.3%) and the rest of the participants were in the moderate group. Further analysis showed that good knowledge was among those who have consulted a physician, underwent bariatric surgery, whom source of information was the internet, and whom had more than one source.

The level of knowledge regarding the obstetric and gynecological impact among females was found to be poor in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia.

Women who undergo bariatric surgery prior to pregnancy are less likely to experience comorbidities associated with obesity such as gestational diabetes and hypertension. However, bariatric surgery, particularly malabsorptive procedures, can make patients susceptible to deficiencies in nutrients that are essential for healthy fetal development. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the association between pregnancy after bariatric surgery and adverse perinatal outcomes.

Searches were conducted in Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, and Google Scholar from inception to June 2019, supplemented by hand-searching reference lists, citations, and journals. Observational studies comparing perinatal outcomes post-bariatric surgery to pregnancies without prior bariatric surgery were included. Outcomes of interest were perinatal mortality, congenital anomalies, preterm birth, postterm birth, small and large for gestational age (SGA/LGA), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. Pooled effect sizes were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis. Where data were available, results were subgrouped by type of bariatric surgery. We included 33 studies with 14,880 pregnancies post-bariatric surgery and 3,979,978 controls. Odds ratios (ORs) were increased after bariatric surgery (all types combined) for perinatal mortality (1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.85, p = 0.031), congenital anomalies (1.29, 95% CI 1.04-1.59, p = 0.019), preterm birth (1.57, 95% CI 1.38-1.79, p < 0.001), and NICU admission (1.41, 95% CI 1.25-1.59, p < 0.001). Postterm birth decreased after bariatric surgery (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.35-0.60, p < 0.001). ORs for SGA increased (2.72, 95% CI 2.32-3.20, p < 0.001) and LGA decreased (0.24, 95% CI 0.14-0.41, p < 0.001) after gastric bypass but not after gastric banding. Babies born after bariatric surgery (all types combined) weighed over 200 g less than those born to mothers without prior bariatric surgery (weighted mean difference -242.42 g, 95% CI -307.43 to -177.40 g, p < 0.001). There was low heterogeneity for all outcomes (I2 < 40%) except LGA. Limitations of our study are that as a meta-analysis of existing studies, the results are limited by the quality of the included studies and available data, unmeasured confounders, and the small number of studies for some outcomes.

In our systematic review of observational studies, we found that bariatric surgery, especially gastric bypass, prior to pregnancy was associated with increased risk of some adverse perinatal outcomes. This suggests that women who have undergone bariatric surgery may benefit from specific preconception and pregnancy nutritional support and increased monitoring of fetal growth and development. Future studies should explore whether restrictive surgery results in better perinatal outcomes, compared to malabsorptive surgery, without compromising maternal outcomes. If so, these may be the preferred surgery for women of reproductive age.

PROSPERO CRD42017051537.

While obesity presents specific acute and long-term risks to the pregnant woman and her offspring, the effects of bariatric surgery on pregnancy outcomes are undetermined.

A systematic review was performed according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Library process to determine the effects of bariatric surgery on both maternal and infant health outcomes of pregnancy.

A comprehensive literature search of PubMed was conducted to identify studies published from years 2000 to 2015 that examined the health effects of pregnancy after bariatric surgery. Experimental studies and observational studies with a control group were included.

Outcomes of interest were gestational weight gain, maternal complications (ie, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, hypertension, and postpartum hemorrhage), miscarriage and/or stillbirth, cesarean section, birth weight in grams, birth weight in categories (ie, macrosomia, low birth weight, small for gestational age, and large for gestational age), gestational age and preterm birth, infant illness and complications (ie, perinatal death, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, neonatal illness, and congenital malformation rates), and Apgar scores.

Thirteen of 246 studies were included. Compared to body mass index-matched controls without surgery, bariatric surgery before pregnancy reduced infant birth weight in grams, with no effect on total maternal gestational weight gain or Apgar scores. Surgery did not increase risk of adverse outcomes, such as miscarriage and/or stillbirth, preterm birth, or infant complications. Effects of surgery on maternal complications, infant birth weight categories, and surgical delivery rates were inconsistent.

Bariatric surgery is a successful treatment of maternal obesity, but certain surgery-specific risks may exist. More data are needed to determine clinical guidelines. The long-term effects of surgery on pregnancy outcomes are unknown.

The prevalence of women of child-bearing age with obesity continues to rise at an alarming rate. This has significant implications for both the short-term and long-term health of mother and offspring. Given the paucity of evidence-based literature in this field, the preconception management of women with obesity is highly variable both between institutions and around the world. This systematic review aims to evaluate studies that inform us about the role of preconception weight loss in the fertility and pregnancy outcomes of women with obesity. Current therapeutic interventions are discussed, with a specific focus on the suitability of weight loss interventions for women with obesity planning pregnancy. There are significant knowledge gaps in the current literature; these are discussed and areas for future research are explored.

Background As breastfeeding awareness and social acceptance are increased, maternal nutritional deficiency requires more investigation. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted to determine if vitamin A deficiency is more common in pregnant, lactating post-bariatric surgery women in an inner city population. Antepartum, women after bariatric surgery and controls with no history of malabsorption were recruited. Third trimester, postpartum maternal blood and cord blood were collected as well as three breast milk samples: colostrum, transitional and mature milk. A nutritional survey of diet was completed. Each serum sample was analyzed for total retinol and β-carotene; breast milk samples were analyzed for retinol and retinyl esters, total retinol and β-carotene. Results Fifty-three women after bariatric surgery and 66 controls were recruited. Postpartum serum retinol was significantly higher in women after bariatric surgery in the univariate analysis (P<0.0001) and confirmed in the multiple linear mixed model (P=0.0001). Breast milk colostrum retinol and transitional milk total retinol were significantly greater in the bariatric surgery group in the univariate analysis (P=0.03 and P=0.02, respectively), but not after adjusting for confounders. Serum β-carotene in the third trimester and postpartum were lower (P<0.0001 and P=0.003, respectively) in the bariatric surgery group but not after adjusting for confounders. Vitamin A deficiency was high in both groups in serum and breast milk samples. Conclusion Nutritional deficiencies in breastfeeding women after bariatric surgeries may in fact be less common than in control women in an inner city.

The influential role of incretin hormones on glucose metabolism in patients with a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) has been investigated thoroughly, but there has been little examination of the effect of incretins and ectopic lipids on altered glucose profiles, especially severe hypoglycemia in pregnant women with RYGB.

In this prospective clinical study, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) were conducted in 25 women with RYGB during pregnancy, 19 of normal weight (NW) and 19 with obesity (OB) between the 24th and the 28th weeks of pregnancy, and 3 to 6 months post-partum. Post-partum, the ectopic lipid content in the liver, heart, and skeletal muscle was analyzed using ¹H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS).

RYGB patients presented with major fluctuations in glucose profiles, including a high occurrence of postprandial hyperglycemic spikes and hypoglycemic events during the day, as well as a high risk of hypoglycemic periods during the night (2.9 ± 1.1% vs. 0.1 ± 0.2% in the OB and vs. 0.8 ± 0.6% in the NW groups, p < 0.001). During the extended OGTT, RYGB patients presented with exaggerated expression of GLP-1, which was the main driver of the exaggerated risk of postprandial hypoglycemia in a time-lagged correlation analysis. Basal and dynamic GLP-1 levels were not related to insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, or beta cell function and did not differ between pregnant women with and without GDM. A lower amount of liver fat (2.34 ± 5.22% vs.5.68 ± 4.42%, p = 0.015), which was positively related to insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, HOMA-IR: rho = 0.61, p = 0.002) and beta-cell function (insulinogenic index: rho = 0.65, p = 0.001), was observed in the RYGB group after delivery in comparison to the OB group.

GLP-1 is mainly involved in the regulation of postprandial glucose metabolism and therefore especially in the development of postprandial hypoglycemia in pregnant RYGB patients, who are characterized by major alterations in glucose profiles, and thus in long-term regulation, multiple organ-related mechanisms, such as the lipid content in the liver, must be involved.

Bariatric surgery (BS) is regarded to be the most effective treatment of obesity with long lasting beneficial effects including weight loss and improvement of metabolic disorders. A considerable number of women undergoing BS are at childbearing age.Although the surgery mediated weight loss has a positive effect on pregnancy outcome, the procedures might be associated with adverse outcomes as well, for example micronutrient deficiencies, iron or B12 deficiency anemia, dumping syndrome, surgical complications such as internal hernias, and small for gestational age (SGA) offspring, possibly due to maternal undernutrition. Also, there is no international consensus concerning the ideal time to conception after BS. Hence, the present narrative review intents to summarize the available literature concerning the most common challenges which arise before and during pregnancy after BS, such as fertility related considerations, vitamin and nutritional deficiencies and their adequate compensation through supplementation, altered glucose metabolism and its implications for gestational diabetes screening, the symptoms and treatment of dumping syndrome, surgical complications and the impact of BS on pregnancy outcome. The impact of different bariatric procedures on pregnancy and fetal outcome will also be discussed, as well as general considerations concerning the monitoring and management of pregnancies after BS.Whereas BS leads to the mitigation of many obesity-related pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pregnancy induced hypertension and fetal macrosomia; those procedures pose new risks which might lead to adverse outcomes for mothers and offspring, for example nutritional deficiencies, anemia, altered maternal glucose metabolism and small for gestational age children.

Number of pregnancies has been increasing in women of childbearing age after the gastric bypass.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of children of women submitted to gastric bypass.

We evaluated anthropometric, breastfeeding and biochemical profile, body composition, and dietary intake indicators of children of both sexes who were born alive after the surgery. For statistical analysis, were performed Shapiro-Wilk and ANOVA test (p < 0.05).

The sample consisted of 13 children (61.6% female, mean age of 46 ± 22.3 months, BMI of 18.9 ± 3.3 kg/m²). The classification of BMI index by age showed that 46.1% of the children were normal weight and 30.8% obese. We observed a large percentage of children with deficiency of iron and vitamin A. 7.6 and 30.7% of children presented carbohydrate and lipid, respectively, lower than the recommendation. Fiber intake was inadequate in all children, calcium in 61.5%, vitamin A in 30.7%, and folate in 76.9% of them. Also, 84.6% presented sodium intake higher than the recommendations. The blood glucose levels were lower in children with maternal breastfeeding (65.5 ± 2.1 mg/dL, p < 0.05); furthermore, children breastfed with artificial and breast milk presented lower fat mass (3.8 ± 1.9 kg; p < 0.05).

Children from women with previously gastric bypass presented low birth weight; however, they are currently underweight or overweight and present important deficiency of iron and vitamin A and inadequate alimentary intake mainly of sodium and fibers. Breastfeeding may play a protective role in the development of obesity in these children.

Obesity increases the risk of adverse delivery outcomes. Whether weight loss induced by bariatric surgery influences these risks remains to be determined. The objective was to investigate the risk of adverse delivery outcomes among post-surgery women compared with women without bariatric surgery history but with similar characteristics.

We identified 801,443 singleton live-born term births (≥37 gestational weeks) in the Swedish Medical Birth Register between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2013, of which 1,929 were in women with a history of bariatric surgery and a pre-surgery weight available from the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry. For each post-surgery delivery, up to 5 control deliveries were matched by maternal pre-surgery BMI (early-pregnancy BMI used for controls), age, parity, smoking, education, height, country of birth, and delivery year (N post-surgery deliveries:matched controls = 1,431:4,476). The main outcome measures were mode of delivery, induction of labor, post-term pregnancy (≥42 + 0 gestational weeks), epidural analgesia, fetal distress, labor dystocia, peripartum infection, obstetric anal sphincter injury (perineal tear grade III-IV), and postpartum hemorrhage. Among the women with a history of bariatric surgery, the mean pre-surgery BMI was 42.6 kg/m2, the median surgery-to-conception interval was 1.4 years, and the mean BMI loss between surgery and early pregnancy was 13.5 kg/m2 (38 kg). Compared to matched control women, post-surgery women were less likely to have cesarean delivery (18.2% versus 25.0%, risk ratio [RR] 0.70, 95% CI 0.60-0.80), especially emergency cesarean (6.8% versus 15.1%, RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.31-0.51). Post-surgery women also had lower risks of instrumental delivery (5.0% versus 6.5%, RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.53-0.98), induction of labor (23.4% versus 34.0%, RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.59-0.78), post-term pregnancy (4.2% versus 10.3%, RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.30-0.53), obstetric anal sphincter injury (1.5% versus 2.9%, RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.25-0.81), and postpartum hemorrhage (4.6% versus 8.0%, RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.44-0.76). Since this study was not randomized, a limitation is the possibility of selection bias, despite our efforts using careful matching.

Bariatric-surgery-induced weight loss was associated with lower risks for adverse delivery outcomes in term births.

Obesity during pregnancy is associated with a number of adverse obstetric outcomes that include gestational diabetes mellitus, macrosomia, and preeclampsia. Increasing evidence shows that bariatric surgery may decrease the risk of these outcomes. Our aim was to evaluate the benefits and risks of bariatric surgery in obese women according to obstetric outcomes.

We performed a systematic literature search using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and PubMed from inception up to December 12, 2016. Studies were included if they evaluated patients who underwent bariatric surgery, reported subsequent pregnancy outcomes, and compared these outcomes with a control group.

Two reviewers extracted study outcomes independently, and risk of bias was assessed with the use of the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Pooled odds ratios for each outcome were estimated with the Dersimonian and Laird random effects model.

After a review of 2616 abstracts, 20 cohort studies and approximately 2.8 million subjects (8364 of whom had bariatric surgery) were included in the metaanalysis. In our primary analysis, patients who underwent bariatric surgery showed reduced rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 0.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.37, number needed to benefit, 5), large-for-gestational-age infants (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.59; number needed to benefit, 6), gestational hypertension (odds ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.76; number needed to benefit, 11), all hypertensive disorders (odds ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.53; number needed to benefit, 8), postpartum hemorrhage (odds ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-1.37; number needed to benefit, 21), and caesarean delivery rates (odds ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.67; number needed to benefit, 9); however, group of patients showed an increase in small-for-gestational-age infants (odds ratio, 2.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-3.48; number needed to harm, 21), intrauterine growth restriction (odds ratio, 2.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-3.48; number needed to harm, 66), and preterm deliveries (odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.79; number needed to harm, 35) when compared with control subjects who were matched for presurgery body mass index. There were no differences in rates of preeclampsia, neonatal intensive care unit admissions, stillbirths, malformations, and neonatal death. Malabsorptive surgeries resulted in a greater increase in small-for-gestational-age infants (P=.0466) and a greater decrease in large-for-gestational-age infants (P=<.0001) compared with restrictive surgeries. There were no differences in outcomes when we used administrative databases vs clinical charts.

Although bariatric surgery is associated with a reduction in the risk of several adverse obstetric outcomes, there is a potential for an increased risk of other important outcomes that should be considered when bariatric surgery is discussed with reproductive-age women.

We aimed to evaluate the impact of bariatric surgery (BS) on maternal and fetal outcomes.

A retrospective, descriptive, observational study of 39 pregnant women who underwent BS in our institution between 2010 and 2014 was carried out. A sample of women who became pregnant after BS was evaluated, based on data concerning pregnancy, childbirth, and newborns.

Of the 1182 patients who underwent BS at our institution during the study period, 1016 (85.9%) were women. Thirty-nine of these women (with an average age of 31 ± 4.8 years) became pregnant (one twin pregnancy) and 29 of the 39 had undergone a gastric bypass. The mean time interval between BS and pregnancy was 16.6 ± 4.8 months; however, 16 (41%) women became pregnant less than a year after BS. The pre-BS body mass index (BMI) of the 39 women was 44.5 ± 6.2 kg/m² . The women had a mean BMI of 30.2 ± 3.8 kg/m² when they got pregnant and they gained 13.2 ± 7.3 kg during pregnancy. Iron deficiency was observed in 18 (46.1%) women, 16 (45.7%) had vitamin B12 deficiency, 12 (66.8%) had zinc deficiency, and 20 (60.6%) had vitamin D deficiency. Three women developed gestational diabetes mellitus. Premature rupture of membranes occurred in two pregnancies, preterm delivery in five, and there was one spontaneous abortion. Cesarean section was performed in seven cases. The average newborn weight was 3002 ± 587 g, five were small for gestational age, and one had macrosomia. Three infants had to be admitted to an intensive care unit.

Although pregnancy after BS is safe and well tolerated, close monitoring by a multidisciplinary team is required to evaluate complications resulting from BS, especially a deficit of micronutrients.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is characterised by glycaemic variability. Prospective studies of glucose metabolism in pregnancy after RYGB are not available, therefore this study aimed to evaluate physiological alterations in glucose metabolism in pregnancy following RYGB.

Sixty-three pregnant women (25 who underwent RYGB, 19 non-operated obese control women and 19 normal weight control women) were included. Frequently sampled 3 h OGTTs and 1 h IVGTTs were performed between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation and, in a subgroup, were repeated at 3-6 months after delivery.

We observed major alterations in glucose kinetics during the OGTT, including an early increase in plasma glucose followed by hypoglycaemia in 90% of women who had previously undergone RYGB. The higher degree of glycaemic variability in this group was accompanied by increased insulin, C-peptide and glucagon concentrations after oral glucose load, whereas no differences in insulin response were observed after parenteral glucose administration (RYGB vs normal weight). IVGTT data suggested improved insulin sensitivity (mean difference 0.226 × 10^-4 min^-1 [pmol/l]^-1 [95% CI 0.104, 0.348]; p < 0.001) and disposition index in pregnancies after RYGB when compared with obese control women. However, subtle alterations in insulin action and beta cell function were still observed when comparing women who had undergone RYGB with the normal-weight control group. Moreover, we observed that fetal growth was associated with maternal glucose nadir levels and insulin secretion in offspring of those who had previously undergone RYGB.

Pregnancies after RYGB are affected by altered postprandial glucose, insulin and C-peptide dynamics. Insulin sensitivity is improved by RYGB, although subtle alterations in beta cell function are observed. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess potential consequences for fetal development and pregnancy outcomes.

The aim of the study is to explore the impact of time between Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and pregnancy on obstetrical outcome and nutritional derangements.

In a retrospective cross-sectional study of pregnant women admitted for antenatal care at two tertiary hospitals, we examined 153 women with RYGB and a singleton pregnancy of at least 24 weeks. The women were stratified according to a pregnancy <18 months (40 women) or ≥18 months (113 women) after RYGB. Main outcome measures were nutritional parameters and glycated haemoglobin 1Ac (HbA1c) in second and third trimester of pregnancy, gestational hypertension, length of pregnancy, mode of delivery and foetal birth weight.

The two groups were comparable regarding age, parity and prepregnancy body mass index. The frequency of iron deficiency anaemia (ferritin <12 μg/L and haemoglobin <6.5 mmol/L/10.5 g/dL) was significantly higher in the late group, 29 vs. 8 % in the early group, p = 0.010. No differences were found for vitamin B12, vitamin D and zinc. Median HbA1c was significantly higher in the late group than in the early group (33 vs. 31 mmol/mol, p = 0.027). There were no significant differences in the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome or birth weight between the two groups.

A long surgery-to-pregnancy time interval after a RYGB increases the risk of iron deficiency anaemia but not of other nutritional deficits. Time interval does not seem to have an adverse effect on the obstetrical outcome, including intrauterine growth restriction. Specific attention is needed on iron deficit with increasing surgery-to-pregnancy time interval.

Obesity is associated with a reduction in fertility treatment success and increased risks to mother and child. Therefore guidelines of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) suggest that a body mass index exceeding 35 kg/m² should be an absolute contraindication to assisted fertility treatment such as in vitro fertilisation IVF. In this paper we challenge the ethical and scientific basis for such a ban. Livebirth rates for severely obese women are reduced by up to 30%, but this result is still far better than that observed for many older women who are allowed access to IVF. This prohibition is particularly unjust when IVF is the only treatment capable of producing a pregnancy, such as bilateral tubal blockage or severe male factor infertility. Furthermore, the absolute magnitude of risks to mother or child is relatively small, and while a woman has a right to be educated about these risks, she alone should be allowed to make a decision on proceeding with treatment. We do not prohibit adults from engaging in dangerous sports, nor do we force parents to vaccinate their children, despite the risks. Similarly, we should not prohibit obese women from becoming parents because of increased risk to themselves or their child. Finally, prohibiting obese women's access to IVF to prevent potential harms such as 'fetal programing' is questionable, especially when compared to that child never being born at all. As such, we believe the RANZCOG ban on severely obese women's access to assisted reproductive treatment is unwarranted and should be revised.

Bariatric surgery is today the most effective long-term therapy for the management of patients with severe obesity, and its use is recommended by the relevant guidelines of the management of obesity in adults. Bariatric surgery is in general safe and effective, but it can cause new clinical problems and is associated with specific diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic needs. For clinicians, the acquisition of special knowledge and skills is required in order to deliver appropriate and effective care to the post-bariatric patient. In the present recommendations, the basic notions needed to provide first-level adequate medical care to post-bariatric patients are summarised. Basic information about nutrition, management of co-morbidities, pregnancy, psychological issues as well as weight regain prevention and management is derived from current evidences and existing guidelines. A short list of clinical practical recommendations is included for each item. It remains clear that referral to a bariatric multidisciplinary centre, preferably the one performing the original procedure, should be considered in case of more complex clinical situations.

Women who are overweight or have obesity at pregnancy onset, and those who gain excessive weight during pregnancy, are at increased risk of pregnancy-related complications and large for gestational age infants.

This report describes methodology for the Prepare study, a randomized, controlled clinical trial testing a preconception and pregnancy weight management program for women who are overweight or have obesity (BMI≥27kg/m(2)).

This trial examines multiple pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, with the primary outcome being gestational weight gain (GWG). Secondary outcomes include change in weight before conception, offspring birth weight adjusted for gestational age, offspring weight for length, and pregnancy diet quality and physical activity level.

Nonpregnant women who anticipate becoming pregnant in the next 2years are randomly assigned to an intervention program or a usual care control condition. Intervention participants receive weight management counseling by telephone before and during pregnancy, with weekly contacts during the first 6months and monthly contacts for the next 18months. Intervention participants also have unlimited access to a study website that provides self-management tools. All participants who become pregnant are contacted at 20weeks' gestation to assess physical activity levels and dietary habits. All other outcome data are obtained from medical records. Intervention satisfaction is assessed via questionnaire.

This clinical trial tests the efficacy of an intervention program designed to help overweight and obese women achieve healthy lifestyle changes that will result in a healthy weight prior to pregnancy and appropriate weight gain during pregnancy.

Bariatric surgery is known to improve some pregnancy outcomes, but there is concern that it may increase the risk of small for gestational age.

To assess the impact of bariatric surgery on pregnancy outcomes and specifically of the type of bariatric surgery on the risk of fetal growth restriction.

A single-center retrospective case-control study. The study group comprised all deliveries in women who had undergone bariatric surgery. To investigate the effects of weight loss on pregnancy outcomes, we compared the study group with a control group matched for presurgery body mass index. Secondly, to assess the specific impact of the type of surgery on the incidence of fetal growth restriction in utero, we distinguished subgroups with restrictive and malabsorptive bariatric surgery, and compared outcomes for each of these subgroups with a second control group, matched for prepregnancy body mass index.

Among 139 patients operated, 58 had a malabsorptive procedure (gastric bypass) and 81 a purely restrictive procedure (72 a gastric banding and 9 a sleeve gastrectomy). Compared with controls matched for presurgery body mass index, the study group had a decreased rate of gestational diabetes (12% vs 23%, P = .02) and large for gestational age >90th percentile (11% vs 22%, P = .01) but an increased rate of small for gestational age <10th percentile. The incidence of small for gestational age was higher after gastric bypass (29%) than it was after restrictive surgery (9%) or in controls matched for prepregnancy body mass index (6%) (P < .01 between bypass and controls). In multivariable analysis, after adjustment for other risk factors, gastric bypass remained strongly associated with small for gestational age (adjusted odds ratio, 7.16; 95% confidence interval, 2.74-18.72).

Malabsorptive bariatric surgery was associated with an increased risk of fetal growth restriction.

To compare the results of maternal and perinatal pregnancies of obese women after bariatric surgery.

A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out on 63 women who had undergone bariatric surgery and 73 obese women (control). Demographic data, the characteristics of the bariatric surgery, and the maternal and perinatal results were evaluated. The Student's t-test and chi-square test (χ2) were used to compare the groups. The gestational complications of the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus, anemia, and preeclampsia were analyzed using simple and multivariate logistical regression and odd ratios (OD) with their respective confidence intervals (CI) of 95%.

The average body mass index (BMI) at the 1st prenatal appointment of the control group was 34.6±3.3 kg/m2 and that of the post-surgical group was 26.5±4.2 kg/m2. The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass was used in 100% of cases; no complications were observed during or after the surgeries. The average weight loss in patients with a prior bariatric surgery was statistically significant (P=0.000). The average weight at birth of the control group was significantly higher than in the post-bariatric surgery group (P=0.017). The women who had a prior bariatric surgery had a higher chance of anemia (OR=3.5; CI 95%: 1.5-8.3) and a reduced chance of macrosomia (OR=0.2; CI 95%:0.1-0.5), and prematurity (OR=0.3; CI 95%:0.1-0.7).

Those women who had been submitted to bariatric surgery presented better maternal and perinatal results when compared to obese women.