During pregnancy, due to the influence of estrogen and progesterone on the physical constitution of pregnant women, their resistance and immunity will decrease, which can easily lead to changes in internal secretion levels and cause diseases. One of the most common diseases during pregnancy is hypothyroidism. What should be done if hypothyroidism occurs during pregnancy?
Hypothyroidism during pregnancy
The main symptoms of gestational hypothyroidism include lack of energy, drowsiness, weight gain, fear of cold, constipation, and memory loss. These symptoms are easily confused with pregnancy reactions and can be easily overlooked.
The hazards of hypothyroidism during pregnancy
Affects fetal intellectual development. During the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, the fetal thyroid function has not yet been established, and the thyroid hormones required for brain development mainly come from the mother. At this time, if the mother suffers from hypothyroidism, that is, insufficient levels of thyroid hormones in the mother's body, the impact on fetal brain development will be significant. Due to the fact that thyroid hormone is an essential hormone for fetal brain and nerve development. Therefore, a lack of thyroid hormones in the mother's body can cause fetal brain development disorders, and in severe cases, may even lead to dwarfism, manifested as intellectual disability, short stature, and limb bone deformities.
In addition, the probability of growth retardation, deformities, and other conditions occurring during the development of fetuses born to mothers with hypothyroidism will increase. At the same time, the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, malposition of the fetus, and stillbirth increases for pregnant women.
How to deal with hypothyroidism during pregnancy
Once diagnosed with gestational hypothyroidism, timely and sufficient supplementation of exogenous levothyroxine should be provided to ensure the supply of thyroid hormones from the mother to the fetus in early pregnancy, meeting the needs of the fetal brain for thyroid hormones during development.
Luthyroxine (L-T4) is the preferred preparation for thyroid hormone replacement therapy in pregnant women or women preparing for pregnancy. Luthyroxine is safe for both pregnancy and lactation, with no evidence of teratogenicity or excessive entry into breast milk.
Hypothyroidism is a systemic endocrine disease. If there are problems with thyroid function during pregnancy, it not only affects the endocrine and immune systems of the pregnant woman, but also poses serious harm to the fetus. Therefore, it is necessary to check one's thyroid function during pregnancy preparation and pregnancy to ensure normal thyroid function.
