The thyroid diseases—hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism—are relatively common in pregnancy and important to treat. The thyroid is an organ located in the front of your neck that releases hormones that regulate your metabolism (the way your body uses energy), heart and nervous system, weight, body temperature, and many other processes in the body.
Thyroid hormones are particularly necessary to assure healthy fetal development of the brain and nervous system during the first three months of your pregnancy since the baby depends on your hormones, which are delivered through the placenta. At around 12 weeks, the thyroid gland in the fetus will begin to produce its own thyroid hormones. thyroid disorders during pregnancy affect both the mother and baby. Considering the importance and necessity of proper thyroid function in the mother’s body, continue with us on how to control hypothyroidism during pregnancy for a better understanding and understanding.
Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is the autoimmune disorder known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In this condition, the body mistakenly attacks the cells of the thyroid gland, leaving the thyroid without enough cells and enzymes to make enough thyroid hormone to meet the body’s needs.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism in pregnancy
Symptoms of an underactive thyroid are often the same for pregnant women as for other people with hypothyroidism. Sometimes these symptoms are confused with pregnancy symptoms. Symptoms include
- extreme tiredness
- Depression
- Modest weight gain
- Excessive sleepiness
- Dry, coarse hair
- Hair loss
- trouble dealing with cold
- muscle cramps
- severe constipation
- problems with memory or concentration
Treatment of hypothyroidism during
Treatment for hypothyroidism involves replacing the hormone that your own thyroid can no longer make. Your doctor will most likely prescribe levothyroxine NIH external link. Levothyroxine is safe for your baby and especially important until your baby can make his or her own thyroid hormone. If you had hypothyroidism before you became pregnant and are taking levothyroxine, you will probably need to increase your dose. Most thyroid specialists recommend taking two extra doses of thyroid medicine per week, starting right away. Contact your doctor as soon as you know you’re pregnant. The treatment goal of hypothyroidism in pregnancy is to maintain a thyroid hormone level within high normal range. it is routine practice to monitor the blood level of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) during pregnancy. Pregnant women who are on thyroid hormone should have frequent blood testing.
The Importance of Treating Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy
Untreated hypothyroidism during pregnancy can lead to:
- preeclampsia—a dangerous rise in blood pressure in late pregnancy
- anemia
- miscarriage
- low birthweight
- stillbirth
- congestive heart failure, rarely
- Low IQ
- Impairment of psychomotor development
Methods for Prevention of Complications of Hypothyroidism during Pregnancy
A number of medical associations and organizations have made recommendations on screening for thyroid disease. Some of the recommendations are:
- All women who are planning a pregnancy should be considered for screening of thyroid disease.
- All pregnant women with a goiter (enlarged thyroid), high blood levels of thyroid antibodies, a family history of thyroid disease, or symptoms of hypothyroidism should be tested for hypothyroidism.
- In women who are borderline, or sub-clinical, hypothyroid (for example, not in the laboratory range for true hypothyroidism, but within the low normal range) and who also have positive antibodies (which may indicate an ongoing autoimmune thyroid destruction), therapy with low dose thyroid hormone at the onset of pregnancy may be beneficial.
- Women who are on thyroid hormone replacement before pregnancy should also be tested to make certain that their levels are appropriate. During pregnancy, the medication dose required may increase by up to 50%. Increases may be required as early as in the first trimester.
- Dosing is dynamic during pregnancy and should be closely monitored by regular blood testing. As the pregnancy progresses, many women require higher doses of hormone replacement.
- The dosage of thyroid hormone replacement during and after pregnancy should be carefully monitored using the blood thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) value. The laboratory ranges for normal TSH are quite wide
https://www.medicinenet.com/hypothyroidism_during_pregnancy/article.htm
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/pregnancy-thyroid-disease
https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/thyroid-problems-pregnancy
