During pregnancy, some major changes happen in the levels of hormones secreted by the thyroid glands. Due to this reason, it is very much possible that thyroid disease in pregnancy and after childbirth can be very common.
In the thyroid gland, two hormones are produced: T3 and T4. These hormones regulate metabolism, which is how your body consumes and stores calories. Hypothyroidism is a medical term used to describe a thyroid condition that does not produce adequate thyroid hormone. It certainly means that your gland will produce low TSH in pregnancy.
Hypothyroidism in pregnancy can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby if it goes untreated. It is because the thyroid hormones produced by a pregnant woman are essential for her health and her unborn child's growth. A pregnant woman with unmanaged hypothyroidism may experience high blood pressure, anemia, muscle soreness, and weakness, among other symptoms. Not only this, but there is also a higher chance of miscarriage, early birth, and even stillbirth because of the medicines consumed.
What are the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a prevalent condition among women. If the symptoms are minor, the disease may go undiscovered. Hypothyroidism is characterized by the thyroid being underactive and producing inadequate levels of thyroid hormones. When hypothyroidism initially reveals itself, the symptoms can be modest and might take time to emerge. The following are the most frequently observed signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism:
- Inability to stand cold temperatures
- Feel tired and fatigue
- Swollen face
- Hoarse voice
- Changes in skin and hair, such as hair loss and cracked or dry skin
- Weight gain
- Irregular menstrual syndrome
- Trouble in concentrating at work
- Recurrent muscular cramps
One might get confused between the symptoms of pregnancy and hypothyroidism. Thus, it is mandatory to check with your thyroid doctor at Jeevam Health. The experts here will assess the hormone levels and suggest the appropriate treatment with a functional approach to getting better day by day during pregnancy.
How Does Hypothyroidism Affect the Fetus?
However, if you fail to take quick action, the lowered thyroid hormone can affect the fetus.
It is because the thyroid is essential for the proper development of the brain and nervous system of the baby. In the first trimester - the first three months of pregnancy, your baby is dependent on your supply of thyroid hormone - delivered through the placenta to the developing fetus.
The baby's thyroid begins to function on its own at around 12 weeks of age, but it does not produce adequate thyroid hormone until 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Consequently, we can say that hypothyroidism can have a huge impact on the fetus.
Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy
We recommend curing the root cause for females suffering from hypothyroidism rather than just focusing on eliminating symptoms. That is why, in this article, we ensure not just to blurt out some chemical names of the medicines required for thyroid treatment but rather help you begin from the beneath.
Medical conditions like hypothyroidism do not happen overnight, but a long list of risk factors over the years leads to it. Be it stress, genetics, lifestyle habits, or deficiency of vitamins and nutrients; a lot contributes to the development of hypothyroidism.
To begin with, we recommend that pregnant females take up the functional approach to cure the inappropriate and low levels of thyroid hormone. Moving on further, we will be talking in detail about how to cure thyroid with a holistically-planned treatment proposed by the experts at Jeevam Health.
Analyze the Root Causes
You may play a role in ensuring the health of your baby as well as your own. Working with your pregnancy care provider and your endocrinologist, an expert who handles hormone-related issues, will ensure that you receive correct medical care prior, during, and after your pregnancy.
Since a woman is already suffering from hypothyroidism, there is certain evidence that she might be experiencing problems due to reduced thyroid hormones. To confirm it once, the patient can undergo routine lab tests and other much-needed diagnostic examinations after approval from the doctor.
After finding out the results from the lab reports, the next step as per functional medicine is to evaluate the root causes for hypothyroidism in the patient. Once the main cause of lowered levels of thyroid hormones is detected, an expert can only look forward to attaining a permanent cure for it.
Functional medicine aims to keep the hormonal level in the range and make this last for a lifetime so that the patient's dependency on medications decreases. And, in the case of a pregnant woman, it becomes significant since it affects both the mother and the baby.
Eliminate the Causes of Thyroid Problems
Diet is a good place to start with when it comes to removing the causative factors. For example, soy foods and gluten-rich food have all been linked to thyroid dysfunction, even though they also provide various other health benefits.
Likewise, different food items might impair thyroid function. You can always consult with a medical professional to identify and avoid certain dietary elements that aggravate hypothyroidism during pregnancy.
Doctors can suggest the pregnant mother opt for biomarker analysis. For your clarity, a biomarker is an element that helps assess the functioning of an organ and see how it is working.
With the help of this test, you can be aware of the elements that your system lacks, along with the ones found excessively. The results will make it easier for the medical expert to plan ways to help you stay fit and healthy during pregnancy.
Consume Foods that Support the Thyroid Gland
As stated above, diet is the best way to heal your body since it includes the balanced nutrition that your body requires.
Experts recommend consuming foods high in nutrients, which will benefit your thyroid. Iodine and omega-3 fatty acids are must-haves for the proper production of the thyroid hormone. Selenium is needed to convert inactive T4 to active T3. Vitamins A & D are required for bindings of T3 to the receptor on the nucleus and turn it on.
These nutrients can be found in a whole-food diet and are low in processed foods. The vegetables, which include iodine, are good sources of thyroid-boosting nutrients. Fish is a good source of iodine, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D. Vitamin A can be found in mustard and other dark leafy greens.
Patients must also change their lifestyle, such as exercise, to keep the body active. And, also take complete sleep of 7-8 hours a day.
You need to follow it for two to three months to get the desired results. Then, ensure to revisit your thyroid specialist to get yourself checked again.
Exercise Regularly but With Limits
Experts at Jeevam Health focus on exercising regularly while ensuring that the patient also listens to their body and never overdo it.
If you are just getting started with an exercise regimen or still struggling with hypothyroidism symptoms, low-impact aerobic activity, and strengthening exercises are the best options, to begin with.
You can consider trying these activities:
- Yoga: Stretching and strengthening your muscles are two benefits of doing so. It also helps you concentrate on your breathing. In one study, researchers discovered that persons suffering from hypothyroidism had improved lung power after practicing yoga breathing for six months.
- Strength Training: Building muscle helps you burn more calories, even when you're just sitting idle. It can help you lose weight. Muscles also help relieve joint pressure.
- Walking: This is one of the simplest workouts you can do. All you need is a pair of comfortable sneakers to start. It gets your heart pounding while also burning approximately 280 calories each hour.
There are numerous health problems associated with stress, so it should be no surprise that it puts a load on the thyroid. You release cortisol when you are stressed, and too much cortisol is detrimental to your thyroid health. Stress management may be beneficial in the management of hypothyroidism symptoms.
So, if you are wondering how to cure thyroid permanently, then we would answer that – it depends!
One of the best things about Functional Medicine is that it is customized for every patient, and hence, no one treatment works for all. To get any treatment to work perfectly, the experts require a combination of experience, research, investigation, and previous experience. And, at Jeevam Health, we have it all.
Over the years, we have helped many pregnant women get rid of hypothyroidism in pregnancy by helping them suggest a personalized treatment plan as per their body requirements.
Not only did they notice a rise in the thyroid hormone levels, but they also managed to reduce the medication dosage to 25 mcg. According to the recent stats, Jeevam Health has helped 75% of females cure hypothyroidism and have a healthy pregnancy experience.
Are you also facing problems during pregnancy due to constant fatigue and unwanted weight gain? If yes, then get in touch with us for further assistance towards attaining better health for yourself and the baby.