What is Hypothyroidism|Effect Of Hypothyroidism on Unborn Child 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: ● Pre-term birth