Thyroid hormone is used by the body to regulate all of the body's cells and metabolism by extracting iodine from the food we eat. It is produced in a butterfly shaped gland located around the windpipe.
Two of the most common thyroid problems are Grave's disease and Hashimoto's disease, which like all thyroid problems are autoimmune or self-attacking disorders. Grave's disease results from an overactive thyroid producing too much hormoneA complex chemical substance created in a part or organ of the body. When released it initiates or regulates activity in an organ or group of cells in another part of the body.
Hormones secreted by endocrine glands are transported through the bloodstream to their target organ. The amount of hormone secreted is regulated either by other hormones, by neurotransmitters, or simply when an excess of the organ's activity indicates a need to reduce the amount of the hormone produced.
Other hormones are produced locally by the organs themselves and are common in the digestive tract.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., causing you to become hyperthyroid and your heart rate to increase to about 180 beats per minute. The opposite condition is called Hashimoto's disease and results in the body becoming hypothyroid and your body will slow down.
If you have Grave's disease your heart rate increases to about 180 beats per minute. You may also feel hot and notice a swelling of the thyroid gland in your neck called a goiter. Symptoms of Hashimoto's disease can be harder to identify during pregnancy. A reduced pulse rate, fatigue, feeling cold, weight gain, puffiness, water retention, constipation and dry skin are all common pregnancy symptoms. You may also develop a goiter.
It is important that your doctor correctly identifies thyroid problems and accurately interprets the test results. There are a couple of tests that can be used to diagnose thyroid problems. A thyroid panel consists of blood tests, managed by both an obstetrician and endocrinologist, measures the levels of thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland. Levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which is produced at the base of the brain, is also measured. The other test, a radioactive iodine scan, which uses an x-ray study of the thyroid, should not be performed during pregnancy.
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Thyroid problems are hereditary and occur in about five percent (1in 20) of the population. The disease affects women five to seven times more frequently than men.
During pregnancy your immune system is suppressed. Because thyroid problems are self-attacking, you are at risk of developing a thyroid condition if you come from a family with a history of thyroid problems.
An untreated thyroid problem during pregnancy may cause complications during pregnancy. There is a greater risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. The baby is also at risk of developing congenital thyroid diseases.
If you come from a family with a history of thyroid problems you should tell your doctor as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed. Your doctor will manage a series of thyroid function tests during the first trimester of your pregnancy and after the baby is delivered to detect any thyroid problems early. Some studies suggest that if you have prematurely gray hair your risk of developing thyroid problems is raised. If your thyroid problems appear after pregnancy it is sometimes misdiagnosed as postpartum depression.
While the medications prescribed to control thyroid problems during pregnancy do not affect the development of the baby, it may affect your baby's thyroid function. If you are prescribed thyroid medication during pregnancy your doctor will closely monitor and test your baby for signs of thyroid problems. Because the medications prescribed to control thyroid problems may affect your baby, you should tell your doctor if you have previously taken medication to control a thyroid condition.
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If you have Grave's disease during pregnancy, a condition in which the gland produces too much thyroid hormone, your doctor will prescribe an anti-thyroid medication. Propylthiouracil, does cross the placentaThe placenta is a large disk shaped membrane responsible for providing nourishment to the fetus during pregnancy. It consists of three parts, the fetal part made up from the chorion membrane surrounding the fetus, the maternal part, formed from the decidua basalis layer of the uterine lining, and the intervillous space between the two plates. It is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord and consists of tissue from both the mother and the embryo.
Its function is complex. It has been described as a simple organ that combines the functions of a kidney-dialysis machine, heart and lung machine and intravenous drip. It consists of enormous numbers of blood vessel branches that permit the exchange of nutrition and oxygen, from the mother's bloodstream to the fetus and the removal of wastes to the mother to be excreted. The placenta's remarkable quality is that it does so without the blood of the mother mixing with that of the baby.
It also is responsible for the production of vital hormones including, estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin. After birth, the placenta is delivered, and is sometimes referred to as the afterbirth.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. to the fetus but when used under the supervision of your doctor should cause no adverse problems with the fetus. Iodide, another anti-thyroid medication, should not be used during pregnancy since it is known to cause harmful effects on the baby. Grave's disease often improves during the course of pregnancy and your doctor will reduce the dosage as necessary.
If your body is lacking sufficient thyroid hormone, Hashimoto's disease, your doctor will prescribe thyroid replacement hormone (thyroxin). Thyroid replacement hormone has no adverse affects on the fetus. Hashimoto's disease may also improve as the pregnancy progresses.
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