Women who give birth less than two years after having bariatric surgery have a higher risk of perinatal complications compared to women who had the surgery less recently, research shows. 

The study published in JAMA Surgery found women giving birth in this time frame had an increased risk of their infant being premature (14% v 8.6%), needing neonatal intensive care (15.2% v 11.3%), being small for gestational age (13% v 8.9%), or having a low Apgar score (17.5% v 14.8%) than women who had given birth more than four years after bariatric surgery. 

However, these risks fell over time and approached the baseline population risk within 2-3 years.

“Undoubtedly, bariatric operations result in many health benefits for morbidly obese women of childbearing age and reduce obesity-related obstetrical complications. Findings from this study should not deter bariatric surgeons from offering such therapy to this population,” the researchers wrote.