How thyroid hormones affect a pregnant mother

 The hormones produced by the thyroid gland at the front of our neck contribute to a large number of body functions, and increasing or decreasing thyroid hormone levels are not good for the body. It affects the pregnant mother as well as the baby in the womb, so it is very important to maintain optimal thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy.

Hypothyroidism is a very common condition caused by an underactive thyroid gland. Thyroxine is used as a treatment for this. It is very important for women with this condition to get proper medical treatment even before getting pregnant as pregnancy may be delayed.

The fetus growing in the mother's womb does not have a thyroid gland until about 12 weeks, so the child is not able to produce thyroid hormones on its own. Therefore, the functioning of the fetus depends on the thyroid hormones obtained from the mother's blood. Because thyroxine hormone is a very important hormone for the development of the child's brain and intelligence, it is essential to maintain the proper level of thyroxine hormone in the mother's blood during this period.

A pregnant mother's first blood test with TSH test can detect if there is low or high level of thyroid hormone in the blood. According to the results of that test, it is possible to reduce the damage that may occur to the baby due to the change in thyroid hormones by taking appropriate medicines. Women with hypothyroid disease should have a TSH test immediately after pregnancy and change the dose of medicine accordingly. Again, it is advisable to do this test from time to time and use medicines according to the doctor's instructions to keep the hormone level under control.

Another condition is increased thyroid hormone levels. This is called hyperthyroidism. Some of the medicines taken for this condition are not very suitable during pregnancy, so it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately after getting pregnant and get the medicine prescribed properly. Hyperthyroidism can be caused by various causes, and depending on the cause, the treatment and its effects will vary. This condition rarely occurs due to the presence of antibodies that stimulate the mother's thyroid gland, and these antibodies can travel to the child through the placenta of such mothers and affect the pregnancy. For these reasons, it is important for women with this condition to seek expert medical advice from the beginning.