Thyroid Disorders in Pregnancy - Everything You Need To Know

The thyroid is a small gland that makes the hormones responsible for controlling the body's energy use. When your thyroid gland starts producing too much or too little hormones, it leads to problems. But how does the thyroid affect you during pregnancy, and what problems it causes?

This blog will cover thyroid disorder, what cause thyroid during pregnancy, and how it affects you. So, scroll down to dig for more information.

Thyroid Diseases, Causes, and Signs:

A group of thyroid disorders affecting the thyroid gland is called thyroid disease. As thyroid hormones control your body's energy use, they affect nearly every organ, even your heart rate, weight, digestion, and mood.

Hyperthyroidism:

When your thyroid starts making too many hormones, it causes hyperthyroidism, affecting many of your body's functions. However, during pregnancy, it can lead to preterm birth and cause a baby to have low birth weight.

Thyroid storm ( a severe form of hyperthyroidism ) may complicate pregnancy. It can cause high fever, dehydration, diarrhea, rapid and irregular heartbeat, and if not treated, it can cause shock and even death. So if you are planning for a child, it is always best to consult your physician to ensure your thyroid status and treatment.

Causes of hyperthyroidism:

In pregnancy, hyperthyroidism is usually caused by Graves' disease, which is an autoimmune disorder. In this, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland by making antibodies called thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) that cause your thyroid gland to produce more hormones than your body needs.

Signs of hyperthyroidism:

Rapid heart rate, trouble with heat, and tiredness are common symptoms of hyperthyroidism that often occur in normal pregnancies. Other signs are irregular heartbeat, shaky hands, unexplained weight loss, etc.

Also Read: - https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/food-and-nutrition/foods-to-avoid-if-diagnosed-with-hypothyroidism/

How does hyperthyroidism affect babies during pregnancy?

You need extra care during pregnancy, and if you have thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism), untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to:

• Miscarriage
• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Preeclampsia- dangerous rise in blood pressure in late pregnancy
• Thyroid storm- symptoms getting worse
• Congestive heart failure

Hypothyroidism:

When your thyroid gland does not make enough hormones, it causes hypothyroidism which causes high cholesterol levels. It can also lead to myxedema, in which the body's functions get slow to a life-threatening point.

Cause of Hypothyroidism:

In pregnancy, hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune disorder. In hypothyroidism, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland by making antibodies, damaging the thyroid gland and causing inflammation, leading to lessening production of thyroid hormones.

Hypothyroidism Signs:

Symptoms of hypothyroidism vary from person to person. Still, common symptoms involve weight gain, fatigue, trouble tolerating colds, joint and muscle pain, dry skin, dry and thin hair, fertility problems, depression, and slow heart rate. You may not notice symptoms as hypothyroidism develops slowly; sometimes, signs may not even be visible for months or years.

How does hypothyroidism affect babies during pregnancy?

Thyroid hormones are crucial for your baby's brain and nervous system development. And untreated hypothyroidism leads to a baby's low IQ and problems with normal growth, especially during the first trimester. Untreated hypothyroidism can also cause:

• Preeclampsia- dangerous rise in BP in late pregnancy
• Anemia
• Miscarriage
• Low birth weight
• Stillbirth
• Congestive heart failure

Thyroid Nodules:

Thyroid nodules are an unusual growth of cells on your thyroid gland. Some thyroid nodules contain thyroid cancer, so earlier diagnosis and treatment are better.

Signs of thyroid nodules

Mostly thyroid nodules do not cause any symptoms but can grow big enough to cause symptoms like:

• Swallowing and breathing trouble
• Hoarseness
• Pain in the neck front
• Enlargement of your thyroid gland

Hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules can lead to hyperthyroidism.

Tips to control thyroid levels during pregnancy: 

Pregnancy is a different experience for a couple, especially for a woman when her body goes through various hormonal changes. During pregnancy, the risk of thyroid issues increases due to hormonal changes. During this time, the mother's body produces hormones to maintain body functions for keeping both healthy. The thyroid is one of the common diseases that affect women during their pregnancy. Untreated thyroid problem can increase the risk of placental abruption and miscarriage and affects the baby's natural development. It might be difficult to tackle thyroid-related symptoms during pregnancy while concentrating on daily tasks.

Along with your doctor's prescribed medicines, you can significantly change your lifestyle to minimize your risk of developing thyroid problems during pregnancy. Such preventive measures are:

• Exercise: Include exercise in your daily activity plan. You can at least involve half an hour of walking if your body is willing to, then you can do other exercises too, following your doctor's advice. For specific exercises and activities, you can contact your gynecologist.
• Diet: Diet is one of the most important factors that can help you to control your thyroid levels. Some vegetables can influence thyroid gland production, so before going for any random vegetable or food, know your food or contact your doctor for a safe approach.

A pregnant woman needs special attention and care. Routine checkups, like a Thyroid Test, help them identify problems so the treatment can be initiated in time to avoid complications.

Redcliffe Labs is the best diagnostic service provider from where you can book Thyroid Profile Test at home. Your comfort is our priority. So, book your test now.