According to a study published in British Medical Journal, having weight loss surgery before conception may reduce some of the risks associated with obesity during pregnancy.
Researchers examined records from 585 women who had undergone bariatric surgery either before or after giving birth. They then compared the rates of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (a risk factor for preterm delivery and stillbirth) in the two groups of women. The women who had given birth after having bariatric surgery had significantly lower rates of gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, and chronic hypertension during pregnancy as compared to the women who had bariatric surgery after pregnancy. The researchers concluded that bariatric surgery may have some beneficial effects in reducing pregnancy risks for moms with weight issues.
Naturally bariatric surgery isn't without risks and should not be performed during pregnancy (the moms in this study had the surgery prior to conception). For more information on bariatric surgery, read this article from About.com's Surgery Guide -- and talk the matter over with your physician if you think it might be something you are interested in yourself.
