Thyroid and Pregnancy

The thyroid is a small gland in your neck that resembles a butterfly. A gland is an organ that produces compounds that support the functioning of your body. The thyroid produces hormones, which are molecules, that are vital to your wellbeing. Thyroid hormones, for instance, can influence your metabolism and heart rate (how quickly your heart beats) (how well and fast your body processes what you eat and drink).

Some hormones are occasionally produced by the thyroid gland in excess or insufficient amounts. You have a thyroid condition when this occurs. Thyroid issues in some women start before getting pregnant (also called a pre-existing condition). While pregnant or shortly after giving birth, some people may experience their first thyroid issues.

Thyroid issues may not affect a pregnancy if they are treated. While you are pregnant and after delivery, untreated thyroid disorders can harm both you and your unborn child.

Pregnancy-related hyperthyroidism

What signs of pregnancy-related hyperthyroidism are there?

• Faster heartbeat, discomfort from heat, and fatigue are among signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism that frequently appear throughout normal pregnancies.
• Other indications of hyperthyroidism include the following:
• Rapid and erratic heartbeat
• Shaken hands failure to gain weight normally during pregnancy or unexpected weight loss

Handling pregnancy-related hyperthyroidism

Each patient receives highly individualised treatment for hyperthyroidism. Keeping thyroid hormone levels normal is the aim of treatment. The course of treatment could include:

Thyroid levels should be regularly monitored when pregnant.

Using anti-thyroid medications to help reduce blood thyroid hormone levels (certain drugs may affect the foetus and cause birth defects and should not be used)

The thyroid’s portion is surgically removed (if you have an overactive nodule)

What role do thyroid hormones play in pregnancy?

Thyroid hormones are crucial for the normal development of your baby’s brain and nervous system. During the first trimester—the first 3 months of pregnancy—your baby depends on your supply of thyroid hormones, which come through the placenta NIH offsite link. At around 12 weeks, your baby’s thyroid gland starts working on its own, but it doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone until around 18-20 weeks of pregnancy.

Two pregnancy-related hormones – human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estrogen – cause higher measured thyroid hormone levels in your blood. The thyroid gland enlarges slightly in healthy women during pregnancy, but usually not enough for a doctor to feel during a physical exam.

Thyroid problems can be difficult to diagnose in pregnancy due to higher thyroid hormone levels and other symptoms common to both pregnancy and thyroid disease. Some symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism are easier to spot and may prompt your doctor to test you for these thyroid disorders.

Another type of thyroid disease, postpartum thyroiditis, can occur after your baby is born.