What you need to know:
The thyroid is a gland that is located in your neck, in front of your windpipe. It makes hormones that affect the workings of many of the body’s organs. About 2 percent of pregnant women have a thyroid disorder, though many have no symptoms. In some cases, the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism); in others, not enough (hypothyroidism).
An untreated thyroid disorder during pregnancy can be harmful to both mother and baby. But with proper treatment, most women with thyroid disorders can have a healthy baby.
What you can do:
If you have a thyroid condition (either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism), see your endocrinologist and the health care provider who will take care of you during your pregnancy. It is best if you do this before you are pregnant.
If you are already pregnant, continue taking your medication and talk to your provider as soon as possible. While the medications used to treat thyroid conditions are generally safe to take during pregnancy, your blood levels need to be monitored and the amount of medication you take adjusted as your pregnancy progresses.
At this time, health care providers do not routinely perform thyroid screening for women who are planning to get pregnant or who are newly pregnant. If you think you might have a thyroid condition (see below for symptoms), ask your provider if you should be tested. Thyroid disorders are generally diagnosed with a blood test.
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Thyroid Conditions and Pregnancy
What You Need to Know The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in your neck, in front of your windpipe. This tiny gland plays a huge role in your health. The hormones produced by the thyroid gland influence your heart rate, your metabolism, and many other aspects of your health. Sometimes the thyroid gland produces too much or too little of the thyroid hormone (thyroxine) that keeps the body functioning normally.
In the U.S., about 8 million women have either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism that is unrecognized and untreated. Some women have a thyroid disorder that began before pregnancy. Others develop thyroid problems for the first time during pregnancy or soon after delivery. An untreated thyroid disorder during pregnancy is a danger to both mother and baby. For mothers, the risks include a pregnancy-related form of high blood pressure (called preeclampsia) and other pregnancy complications. For babies, the risks include preterm birth, decreased mental abilities, thyroid disorder and even death. But with proper treatment, most women with thyroid disorders can have a healthy baby. What You Can Do If you are already pregnant, continue taking your medication and talk to your provider as soon as possible. Many medications used to treat thyroid disease in pregnancy are safe for a fetus. But radioactive iodine, which is sometimes used to treat hyperthyroidism, should not be taken during pregnancy. In addition, your blood levels need to be monitored and the amount of medication you take may need to be adjusted as your pregnancy progresses. Health care providers do not routinely perform thyroid screening for women who are planning to get pregnant or who are newly pregnant. If you think you might have a thyroid condition—or if you have a family history of thyroid disease—ask your provider if you should be tested. Here are symptoms to watch for. Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Many of these symptoms are also related to other health conditions. So having some of them does not always mean you have thyroid disease. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, be sure to tell your health care provider. For More Information January 2007 |
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| © 2008 March of Dimes Foundation. All rights reserved. The March of Dimes is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Our mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. | ||||
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