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Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
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Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
As a specialty editor for the Food & Nutrition Center, Katherine Zeratsky helps you sort through the facts and figures, the fads and the hype to learn more about nutrition and diet.
A Marinette, Wis., native, she is certified in dietetics by the state of Minnesota and the American Dietetic Association. She has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999.
She is active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in pediatrics at Mayo Clinic Rochester and nutrition education related to the physiology and recommended intakes for premature infants.
Other areas of interest include breast milk and formula safety, neonatal feeding, and nutrition for breast-feeding mothers.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, served a dietetic internship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and worked as a registered dietitian and health risk counselor at ThedaCare of Appleton, Wis., before joining the Mayo Clinic staff.
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Question
Pregnancy after gastric bypass: Is it safe?
Is pregnancy after gastric bypass surgery safe? I'm worried that my baby won't get enough nutrients since I won't be able to eat as much.
Answer
from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
It is possible to have a safe and healthy pregnancy after gastric bypass surgery. However, it is recommended that you avoid getting pregnant until your weight has stabilized — about 12 to 18 months after your surgery. Rapid or persistent weight loss may deprive a fetus of the nutrients it needs to grow and be healthy.
Early reports of women who became pregnant after weight-loss surgery warned of potential complications, such as bleeding and restricted growth of the fetus. But recent studies are more reassuring, according to the March of Dimes. These studies suggest that weight-loss surgery protects obese women and their babies from obesity-related problems during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.
If you've had gastric bypass surgery, talk to your doctor before becoming pregnant. Also, be aware of your need for good nutrition during pregnancy. Gastric bypass surgery can result in low levels of iron, folate, vitamin B-12 and calcium — all of which are needed for a healthy pregnancy. For this reason, pregnant women who have had gastric bypass surgery may need to take vitamin and mineral supplements.
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