What is Hypothyroidism|Effect Of Hypothyroidism on Unborn ChildPosted by thanawalamaternity on January 24th, 2022 Hypothyroidism is commonly found in pregnant women. The condition occurs when thyroid glands start producing inadequate levels of thyroid in your body. Women in their child-bearing age are at higher risk of getting hypothyroidism than others, which is why regular monitoring of your thyroid hormones is important during pregnancy. Hypothyroidism has a strong impact on the fetus, as the unborn baby relies on maternal hormones for growth. This shows that any imbalance in your thyroid hormones can lead to complications in your pregnancy. How does it affect the Fetus? The thyroid gland of an unborn child doesn’t develop in the early stages of pregnancy. For the first few months, the fetus is completely reliant on the mother’s thyroid hormones for development. In fact, the development of the thyroid glands does not start in your fetus until the second trimester starts. Thyroid hormones are responsible for the brain development of the fetus, which means the deprivation of this hormone due to hypothyroidism can have a serious impact on your child’s growth. Women who developed hypothyroidism during pregnancy reported slow psychomotor development of their child, as well as, lower IQ problems. That doesn’t mean every woman with hypothyroidism struggles with a healthy pregnancy. If the condition is detected and managed with the right treatment plan, you can experience a healthy and normal pregnancy. Untreated Hypothyroidism in Pregnant Women There is a reason why doctors recommend you get the thyroid levels checked during pregnancy even when there aren’t any visible symptoms. Untreated thyroid can cause:
How Hypothyroidism Is Treated During Pregnancy? Symptoms Hypothyroidism often has mild symptoms that, in most cases, go undetected until the condition worsens and symptoms clearly suggest hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism has symptoms that mimic other medical conditions, especially the symptoms of ageing. You may experience fatigue, weight gain, extreme hair fall, sleepiness, and more. In hypothyroidism, there is either excessive production of thyroid hormone or little to none (because of the damaged thyroid gland). The symptoms vary depending on how much thyroid hormone is produced by your body. Treatment It is, therefore, important for women to get their thyroid checked before conceiving. A practising gynaecologist in Navi Mumbai can detect problems with your thyroid functioning and develop a robust treatment plan for the condition. If you have already conceived, schedule a visit to the maternity clinic to arrange for thyroid testing. Do not wait for the symptoms, as hypothyroidism often produces mild symptoms that may go unnoticed. For the treatment, women diagnosed with hypothyroidism are given T4. It compensates for the lack of adequate thyroxine in your body. It is important to get your blood levels in check during pregnancy and monitor thyroid levels regularly. Early diagnosis will help women get robust prenatal care and healthy pregnancy. Visit thematernity hospital in Navi Mumbaifor a comprehensive treatment plan for hypothyroidism before planning pregnancy. Visit:https://thanawalamaternity.com Address: Thanawala’s Maternity Home, 1st Floor, Mahavir Centre , Plot no 77, Sector 17, Vashi , Navi Mumbai 400703 Like it? Share it! More by this author |