Birth defects associated with deficiency in bariatric surgery patients

Birth defects associated with deficiency in bariatric surgery patients

The following cases are exactly what I was terrified of happening to my post weight loss surgery baby.  You must be on top of your own nutrition and supplementation post surgery, and take PRECAUTIONS in avoiding pregnancy too soon -- or if your body is already seriously compromised.  (Says the girl who did not.)

Source -

The January 2010 issue of SOARD reports on 2 cases of birth defect that appear to have resulted from severe maternal vitamin deficiency after malabsorptive bariatric surgery.  The first case was of a baby born at 33 weeks to a 27 year old mother 16 months post-op from a biliopancreatic diversion (BPD). The mother was deficient in vitamin A, D, K, protein, selenium and zinc. The infant was delivered prematurely with multiple defects including bone malformation, cleft palate, facial hypoplasia, and respiratory insufficiency. The baby died at 3 months of age.  The second case was of a full-term infant born to a 26 year old mother 11 months post-op from a roux-en-y gastric bypass. The infant was born with multiple defects of bone and cartilage as well as hearing loss which were attributed primarily to maternal vitamin K deficiency.  While most of the recent reports of pregnancy after weight loss surgery have been positive in terms of both fetal and maternal health, these cases should remind us that nutritional deficiency in pregnancy can lead to grave results.  Both of these patients had been counseled about waiting 18 months to 2 years before becoming pregnant, one even having signed a consent form prior to bariatric surgery. Because of the significant impact that massive weight loss can have on fertility, it is likely that more young, obese women will opt for bariatric surgery to not only improve their overall health, but also to assist with pregnancy. Clinicians and patients alike need to be made aware of the problems that can arise when women who are not adequately nourished become pregnant. Reference: Kang L , Marty D, Pauli RM, Mendelsohn NJ, Prachand V, Waggoner D. Chondrodysplasia punctata associated with malabsorption from bariatric procedures. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2010 Jan-Feb;6(1):99-101. Epub 2009 May 23. Abstract: Click Here

 

Reviewed and Prepared by:
Jacqueline Jacques, ND
Chief of Scientific Affairs
Bariatric Advantage

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Hey MM! Funny to see you posting here! Thanks for the info.

I'm 13 weeks and vitamin D deficient. I sure hope it doesn't cause any problems. I've added more Vitamin D supplementation and added some more vitamin D foods.

So where in TX do you want to move? I've lived in TX for most of my life. Great for mild winters, but summers BITE! LOL

Hi Allie.

I don't know - I am so cold.  LOL.  I'd settle for anywhere today.  ;) 

Allie

Make sure the D you are suplimenting with is a dry form rather then the oil based pills... I was D defficient for several years battling with the wrong stuff... evidently we dont absorb the oil based post surgery.  Not to plug any one brand but once I started taking Bariatric Advantage Dry D 5000 IUs... my blood work improved to ideal... My doc now has me taking 1 a day and 2 ever other day now that I am preggo... so far the blood work is good. 

Good luck with that...

Colette

Thanks for the info. I upped my calcium citrate. It has D and magnesium in it too, so that's how I'm getting the additional D. Well, and I've started eating yogurt which I don't like, but the vanilla isn't so terrible. With my horrid nausea and vomiting, cheese and milk are going badly right now. Hopefully that will stop soon and I can get back to my cheese and milk eating and drinking.....lol HOPEFULLY the sun will start coming out soon and I can get outside and soak me in some Vit D from the sun's rays.....but since we have like 8 inches of snow right now (in TX mind you), I don't think that will be happening anytime soon! LOL But I'm in TX, you never know! LOL

wow -thanks for posting! Going to take my vites like a good baking mama. I am 3 years post op and just had labs drawn so I hope that baby is going to be just fine!!

Liz

Makes me sad that 2 babies could have been saved of having these issues had the mothers listened to their doctors and had waited the time to become pregnant.  In light, it teachs new bariatric patients that there are risks and you should not risk your childs life to do it. 

My partner and I have both decided that I wait at least 18 months post-op to try.  It will more than likely be more like 24 months before I try.   I couldn't imagine at this point trying to be all on top of my vitamins for myself but also for a baby growing inside of me.  It is already a struggle to take all 7 of the vitamins I have to take a day and there have been days where I will forget them at home and not take any for the whole day - those are the days I hate....I can tell I become exhausted and just don't feel right.


Thanks for posting MM.

God, that scared me.  :(

Omg. Omg. Just what I want to hear. I go to my doctor tommorrow and im going to attack my doctor with ?'s. He actually dosent seem to worry about running my levels at all. Im so terrified of something being wrong with my baby, because it would literally be all my fault!

It is really amazing how people dont do everything they can to not get preggo... before the aloted time...  I know my husband and I were the King and Queen of birthcontrol methods for the first 3 years just in case... besided I wanted to have the oppertunity to enjoy and experience my new thinner self before watching my self grow a baby in there...

Please make sure all you ladies talk to your OBs about this article... make sure they are completely aware of your surgery and time out from it... and make sure they are testing your blood for deficiencies at every visit... it is SOOOO important...

OK off the soap box!!!

Good Luck Future Momas!