Evaluation of the fetal maternal binomial after bariatric surgery

Abstract

 Bariatric surgery is a treatment that is currently in evidence and is increasingly used to control obesity. Being the pregnancy a special period, in which nutritional requirements are increased, the nutritional status of mother and fetus may be compromised due to the surgical procedure which the mother was previously submitted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional aspects related to the period after gestation in women who underwent bariatric surgery. It was possible to note that, for the 35 women studied, the majority showed high level of education. Weight loss after surgery was effective, with significant reduction in body mass index (BMI). Among the study sample, 54% became pregnant between 1 and 3 years after surgery. All of them used vitamin supplements after surgery and during pregnancy. Regarding conditions of the babies' birth, cesarean delivery was prevalent (88.6%), 50% of the babies were born below the appropriate weight for the gestational age, weighing 37% between 2500 and 2999g and 23% weighing less than 2500g (small for the gestational age, SGA) Regarding the practice of exclusive breastfeeding, 68.6% breastfed for less than 6 months, and of these, 43% less than 2 months. 14% of the infants studied had some type of complications after birth. Results suggest the need for greater monitoring and nutrition intervention in the prenatal period in patients submitted to bariatric surgery.