The fourth-largest American city, Houston, TX is located in Harris County and covers 579.4 square miles. As of July 2009, 2,257,926 lived there. This marks a population increase of 15.6% since 2000. Of those residents, 19.5% lived in poverty. There is a nearly even balance between males and females in the city. 42.7% of the population is Hispanic, with the other majority balancing between White and Black. Just 5.4% are Asian.
The median age of a Houston resident is 30.9 years, slightly younger than that of the state of Texas. The state's largest city, Houston boasts many zip codes including: 77001, 77002, 77003, 77004 and 77005. The median income per household is $44,315 Renters pay a gross average of $775 per month in rent.
Houston, Texas is home to an impressive array of hospitals including the Menninger Clinic and The Institute for Rehabilitation & Research. The city also houses the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world. The facility boasts 13 hospitals, including Texas Children's Hospital and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Known for its innovation in medicine, the city hosts patients from all over the world. Countless disciplines are represented, including ear, nose and throat, neurologists, plastic surgeons and cardiologists.
Women of childbearing age who have undergone weight loss surgery are still capable of having healthy pregnancies and breastfeeding their babies, provided that certain precautions and processes are carefully followed.
It is not safe for women to become pregnant before their weight has stabilized after weight loss surgery. Women should wait one to two years after weight loss surgery before attempting to become pregnant.
In general, pregnancy after weight loss surgery is safer for both mother and baby than pregnancy during obesity.
In general, pregnancy after weight loss surgery is safer for both mother and baby than pregnancy during obesity.
Sexually active women of childbearing age should use contraceptives for a minimum of one to two years following weight loss surgery. Oral contraceptives are unreliable for weight loss surgery patients because they are processed through the digestive system, which has been modified. The effectiveness of oral contraceptives are also affected by the hormonal changes brought on by rapid weight loss.
Your weight loss surgeon or OB-GYN can recommend the appropriate contraceptive for you.
Pregnancy after weight loss surgery can actually be safer for mother
and baby than becoming pregnant while obese -- if the proper precautions
are followed. Inform your OB-GYN of your weight loss surgery, the type
of surgery you underwent, and any type of complications you have had,
whether or not you think they might be relevant.
Carefully follow your
weight loss surgery specialists' instructions before, during, and after
your pregnancy to ensure that you have a healthy baby.
Pregnancy after weight loss surgery vs. pregnancy while obese
Obese pregnant women have a much higher incidence of complications for themselves and their babies than non-obese pregnant women. Obese women have a higher incidence rate of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. The latest research shows that weight loss surgery poses no risk to women or their babies if the appropriate measures are followed.
In general, it is safer for the mother and baby for an obese woman to have weight loss surgery, get down to a safe and stable weight, and then become pregnant than for an obese woman to have no weight loss surgery and become pregnant while obese.
Prenatal nutrition and vitamins after weight loss surgery
Many weight loss surgery patients have difficulty tolerating prenatal vitamins, often experiencing esophageal ulcers or heartburn. These patients must take either liquid or chewable prenatal supplements during pregnancy.
Prenatal malnutrition can permanently harm both mother and fetus. It is imperative that you receive proper nutrition during your pregnancy. Your OB-GYN, weight loss surgeon, and nutritionist will carefully assess and monitor your prenatal metabolism and nutrition to ensure that a proper balance is maintained.
You must take prenatal vitamins and other supplements during your pregnancy. Your weight loss surgery specialists will tell you exactly what to take, but common supplements are as follows:
- iron
- folic acid (foliate)
- calcium
- vitamin D
- vitamin B12 injections
The importance of weight gain during pregnancy
Weight gain during pregnancy is required for the health of the fetus. This fact is true for all pregnancies, not just those of mothers who have had weight loss surgery. Mothers who do not gain weight or do not gain enough weight during pregnancy risk birth defects for their fetus including mental retardation and other abnormalities. As with nutritional supplements, your OB-GYN, weight loss surgeon, and nutritionist will carefully monitor your weight gain during your pregnancy to ensure that you have a healthy baby.
Your weight loss surgery specialists will give you a target amount of weight to gain during your pregnancy and the total number of calories that you should ingest each day. The average caloric intake for a pregnant woman is 300 calories above that of a non-pregnant woman. However, overweight and obese women should ingest fewer calories, and underweight women should ingest more. The average amount of weight to gain during pregnancy is 25 - 35 lbs. Overweight and obese women should gain less weight, and underweight women should gain more.
New mothers who have had weight loss surgery before pregnancy are able to successfully breastfeed their babies. As with all lactating mothers, your breast milk quality is affected by the level of nutrients you ingest. For the baby to receive proper nutrition, you must ingest a sufficient number of calories per day, continue your regimen of prenatal vitamins and supplements, and drink at least eight glasses of water per day between meals. Your OB-GYN, weight loss surgeon, and dietitian will continue to monitor you to keep your breast milk at the proper level and quality.
The average caloric intake for a lactating mothers is 500 calories above that of a non-pregnant woman. However, overweight and obese women should ingest fewer calories, and underweight women should ingest more.
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