Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have symptoms that take different forms. Symptoms of an under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism) during pregnancy include:
If you are pregnant and have any of these symptoms, it is advisable to contact your doctor immediately.
How Is Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism Diagnosed?
If you have any symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, it is best to consult a physician immediately.
If the physician suspects that you have a thyroid disorder, a simple physical examination will be carried out to detect tell-tale signs.
- The warning signs of hyperthyroidism detected through a physical examination include an enlarged thyroid gland and a rapid pulse.
- The physician will also look for moist, smooth skin and a tremor of your fingers. This diagnosis will be confirmed by laboratory tests that measure the amount of thyroid hormones in your blood.
- A high level of thyroxine and a low level of thyroid-stimulating hormone indicates an overactive thyroid. Your doctor may also want to obtain a picture of your thyroid through imaging for further analysis.
To diagnose hypothyroidism, the doctor will review your medical history and symptoms.
- After which, a blood test that measures the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone, and sometimes the level of the thyroid hormone thyroxine will be taken.
- A low level of thyroxine and high level of thyroid-stimulating hormone indicates an under-active thyroid.
Is It Safe To Breastfeed While Taking Beta-Blockers, Thyroid Hormone Or Antithyroid Medicines?
Certain beta-blockers are safe to use during breastfeeding as only small amounts show up in breast milk. Nonetheless, taking the smallest dose to relieve symptoms is best.
Negligible thyroid medication will reach your baby through breast milk, thus the above medications are relatively safe to take while breastfeeding.
However, it is safest to converse with your doctor and obtain their recommendation with regards to how you should go about breastfeeding while on the above medications.
What Should I Eat During Pregnancy To Help Keep My Thyroid And My Baby’s Thyroid Working Well?
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In general, eating a healthy and nutritious diet during pregnancy is important, because a good diet is linked to good brain development and a healthy birth weight.
However, specific to thyroid functionality, research has found that certain foods are closely linked to a healthy thyroid.
The thyroid uses iodine to make thyroid hormones, thus iodine is an important mineral for you while you’re pregnant. During pregnancy, your baby also gets iodine from your diet – you will need more iodine while you’re pregnant.
Iodine rich foods include dairy foods, seafood, eggs, meat, poultry and iodised salt. Experts also recommend taking iodine tablets with 150mg of iodine to make sure that you are getting sufficient levels of iodine.
If you are breastfeeding, you will also need more iodine, as your baby will get his/her iodine content from breast milk.
Conversely, do note that taking too much iodine rich supplements can also cause thyroid problems. Thus, it is advisable that you talk to your doctor to discuss the eating plan that is right for you and the supplements that you should take.
What Is Postpartum Thyroiditis And Am I At Risk Of Developing It?
Postpartum thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid that affects about 1 in 20 women during the first year after giving birth, as reported by the National Immune and Kidney Disease Association. The inflammation causes stored thyroid hormones to leak out of your thyroid gland. Initially, the leakage raises the hormone levels in your blood, following which the damage to your thyroid may cause it to become under-active.
Symptoms include irritability, trouble dealing with heat and sleeping, a fast heartbeat and tiredness.
Your health journey doesn’t end after giving birth to your child. It is important to look after your health as well. If these symptoms present themselves in the first few months after your baby is born, talk with your doctor as soon as possible.
How To Diagnose And Manage Thyroid Condition?
While thyroid problems can be hard to diagnose in pregnancy due to higher levels of thyroid hormones and other symptoms that occur both in pregnancy and thyroid disorders, keeping an eye out for symptoms and diagnosing early can allow you to have a healthy pregnancy and protect your baby’s health. As a continuation of diagnosis, you should have regular thyroid function tests and take the prescribed medication to maintain your thyroid levels.
At Speedoc, we provide services to help you monitor and manage your thyroid conditions with our Chronic Disease Home Management (CDHM)™ programme.
