Thyroid Problems During Pregnancy: Risks and Management Strategies

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that is responsible for producing thyroid hormone and controlling metabolic levels, heart rate, and body temperature. Thyroid disorder is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly starts attacking your healthy cells and women are more likely to have thyroid than men.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Sucheta Parte, Consultant – Obstetrics and Gynecologist at Motherhood Hospitals in Lullanagar, Pune, shared, “When the thyroid is functioning properly, it produces adequate numbers of hormones and releases them into your bloodstream. Thyroid disease occurs in pregnant women when there is an imbalance of thyroid hormones in the body, causing your thyroid to become overactive or underactive.

For beginners, thyroid disease is classified into two types –

1. Hyperthyroidism: In the case of an overactive thyroid, your thyroid gland produces excessive amounts of hormones, also known as hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism speeds up your body’s metabolic rate resulting in sudden weight loss without any reason, excessive sweating, increased heart rate, frequent bowel movements and nausea, hand tremors. Is also called.
2. Hypothyroidism: Underactive thyroid is also known as hypothyroidism; This happens when your thyroid gland does not produce hormones as per the body’s requirement. During hypothyroidism, your metabolic rate slows down resulting in weight gain, thinning or hair loss of your hair, slow heart rate, brain fog and irregular menstruation.

Thyroid and pregnancy

Dr. Sucheta Parte explains, “Thyroid hormones are equally important during pregnancy to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Thyroid hormones produced by the mother’s thyroid gland are essential for the development of the baby’s brain and nervous system. This increases thyroid hormonal levels to support the health and development of you and your baby. The baby is completely dependent on the mother’s thyroid hormones and begins to develop on its own after 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy, becoming fully mature around the third trimester.’

He elaborated, “Many women have to face many problems during pregnancy like blood pressure, diabetes or thyroid. Some women have thyroid disease before pregnancy, which is also called pre-existing thyroid condition. Some women may develop thyroid problems during pregnancy or after giving birth, even if they have no previous history of thyroid disease. Iodine is an essential nutrient required for the production of thyroid hormones. Iodine intake is very important for a pregnant woman, as it helps in the proper development of the baby’s brain and nervous system. “Insufficient levels of iodine can directly affect thyroid function, a child’s development and cognitive abilities.”

“If thyroid is not treated during pregnancy, it can lead to complications like preeclampsia, premature birth, low birth weight, miscarriage and even stillbirth,” warns Dr Sucheta Parte. There may be complications. Pregnant women should take timely intervention when it comes to their own and baby’s health. Treatment of thyroid disorders during pregnancy aims to promote hormonal balance and support a healthy pregnancy. The treating doctor may also prescribe some medicines to normalize thyroid hormone levels.

They concluded, “Pregnant women should monitor their thyroid hormone levels by getting regular timely tests and checkups during pregnancy. Also, maintain a healthy lifestyle and eat iodine-rich foods like eggs, and dairy products like milk and yogurt. Try to exercise daily, stay stress-free by doing yoga and meditation, maintain optimum weight and seek help from an expert when it comes to following a balanced diet. To avoid any side effects, choose only the medicine prescribed by the doctor.”