You’re planning to have a baby. You’re feeling excited and nervous at the same time. Your dream is finally coming true, thanks to the changes in your body after having bariatric surgery.
Naturally, you also have lots of questions. Is it too soon after my bariatric surgery? Will my body cope with carrying a baby? Are my vitamin supplements up to the task of supporting my health as well as that of my growing fetus?
These and any others you have are all good, valid questions you must ask your bariatric surgeon and obstetrician. After all, knowledge is power.
During pregnancy, there are even greater demands for certain nutrients, some of which your body doesn’t absorb as well as it used to. Vitamin supplements are there to help you out.
Let’s discover whether prenatal or the best bariatric vitamins are the best choice for you during pregnancy.
Table of Contents
What Effect Does Bariatric Surgery Have on Pregnancy?
The more extra weight you carry, the higher your risk of developing a range of chronic health conditions. Many of these complications can interfere with your ability to fall pregnant, carry a baby to term, and experience natural childbirth.
Weight loss surgery like gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery can improve your overall health and wellbeing, and make it easier for you to have a healthy baby.
It improves fertility in women with obesity by normalizing reproductive hormone levels and regulating the menstrual cycle. It also helps reduce the metabolic symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which causes infertility.
This is great news if you’ve been struggling to conceive. But there are some potential problems you must keep in mind.
First, it is critical to keep track of your nutritional status during pregnancy after bariatric surgery. Your reduced stomach capacity affects the absorption of essential nutrients, and a bariatric surgery vitamin deficiency can impact both your and your baby’s health.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies such as folate, vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and magnesium can affect both mother and baby’s health.
The timing of your pregnancy is also important. Experts recommend waiting a minimum of 12 months after your surgery before trying for a baby. However, it can take even longer for your weight and nutrient levels to stabilize. So your doctor might suggest delaying pregnancy for 18-24 months to reduce the pregnancy risks associated with rapid weight loss and nutrient deficiencies.
What’s the Difference Between Bariatric Vitamins and Prenatal Vitamins?
First you have to answer the question what are bariatric vitamins? Bariatric vitamins are formulated to meet the specific nutrient requirements of people who have had weight loss surgery, while prenatal vitamins are designed to support the unique needs of a mother and her growing fetus during pregnancy.
Post-surgery, micronutrients aren’t absorbed well. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that you consume enough of the following vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
- Folate
- Iron
- Calcium and vitamin D
- Vitamins A, E, and K
- Zinc
- Copper
Equally important is the form of vitamin supplement you take. Considering nutrient absorption is less efficient post-surgery, you should choose easily absorbed supplements. The best options after bariatric surgery are liquids, chewables, or tablets that dissolve under your tongue.
Although prenatal vitamins must also be easily absorbed, they are formulated for the average population with normal stomach capacity. So, they may not meet your requirements.
Their purpose is to support fetal development and typically contain nutrients like folic acid and DHA which are crucial for the baby’s brain and spinal cord development.
What Vitamins Should a Bariatric Patient Take During Pregnancy?
Your developing fetus needs the same nutrients as any other baby. However, unless you are taking the right supplements, there are less available to support healthy growth.
The most important vitamins and minerals for a bariatric patient to take during pregnancy include the following:
Iron and Vitamin B12
Your blood volume increases during pregnancy. That means your iron and vitamin B12 requirements increase too. They help prevent anemia and ensure that oxygen is available throughout your body. Bariatric patients often need higher doses due to malabsorption.
Iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy increases the chances of you going into preterm labor, having a low-birth-weight baby, and infant death.
In addition to essential nutrients like iron, folic acid, calcium, and vitamin D, bariatric patients may also need specific vitamins to address post-surgery challenges, such as hair loss. Choosing the best vitamins for hair loss after bariatric surgery can help prevent hair thinning or loss during pregnancy.
Folic Acid
Folic acid is a form of folate, a B-vitamin. It is involved in the formation of all new body cells. In early pregnancy, it is crucial for neural tube development—the structure that eventually becomes the brain and spinal cord.
Folic acid deficiency can result in neural tube defects, affecting the brain and spinal cord and causing conditions such as spina bifida.
Calcium and Vitamin D
Growing brand new bones and teeth requires a lot of calcium and vitamin D, two nutrients that are poorly absorbed after bariatric surgery. Not only do supplements support fetal bone development, but they also maintain mom’s bone health.
Can You Take Prenatal Vitamins Instead of Bariatric Vitamins?
Pregnancy is a joyful time. Yet, it places strain on a woman’s body, especially when nutrients are not well absorbed. Can anyone take bariatric vitamins during pregnancy? Yes, but it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider before combining or substituting vitamins.
Nutritional deficiencies are common after bariatric surgery. That’s why your healthcare team keeps such a close eye on your nutritional status and insists that you take the appropriate bariatric vitamins.
Your requirement for certain vitamins and minerals is increased due to poor absorption post-surgery. Most prenatal vitamins don’t contain enough of these nutrients to meet your increased needs. Bariatric vitamins typically contain higher amounts of vitamin B12, Iron, and calcium to support your body.
Remember, vitamin supplements are only useful if they are easily absorbed. Bariatric vitamins are formulated to ensure the maximum amount is absorbed even though you have reduced stomach capacity. This is not necessarily true for prenatal vitamins.
Also, don’t be tempted to take both bariatric and prenatal vitamins without consulting your doctor. It may lead to excessive intake of some nutrients, which is potentially toxic and may have adverse effects for both you and your baby.
Another question that often arises is do vitamin patches work for bariatric patients? While they may offer an alternative, it’s important to consult your doctor to determine if they provide the necessary nutrients in sufficient amounts.
So, to conclude, it is not advisable to take prenatal vitamins in place of your bariatric vitamins. It is also a bad idea to combine both formulations.
If you are planning to have a baby, chat to your doctor about it long before you conceive. Get advice about which vitamins you should take. After all, you need a healthy body to support a healthy pregnancy.
Conclusion
If you have undergone bariatric surgery and are planning to have a baby, it’s crucial to carefully consider your vitamin needs to support both your health and your baby’s development. While prenatal vitamins are designed for pregnant women, they may not provide the higher nutrient levels required for bariatric patients, who face challenges with nutrient absorption. Bariatric vitamins, like those offered by Bari Life, are specifically formulated to meet these increased nutritional needs, ensuring that your body gets the essential vitamins and minerals necessary during pregnancy.
It’s important not to substitute prenatal vitamins for bariatric vitamins without consulting your healthcare provider, as doing so could lead to nutrient deficiencies or toxic overdoses. Working closely with your doctor will help you create a tailored vitamin regimen that supports a healthy pregnancy while addressing the unique needs of a post-bariatric surgery body.
What are your tips and tricks to post-bariatric success?