A child with good health and well-developed intelligence is the main dream of every couple. But in order for such a baby to be born, a coincidence of many conditions is necessary. One of the most important factors is hormonal balance. Several organs are responsible for maintaining the balance of such substances. Among them - the thyroid gland, which is a kind of "leader" of all systems of the human body.
Hypothyroidism: characteristics and common causes
According to medical research, this disease is one of the most common. It occurs in people living in various countries of the world. However, the largest number of patients suffering from this disorder are citizens of countries with low living standards. This thyroid pathology is associated with insufficient iodine in the body. Therefore, people who eat enough fish, seafood and algae rarely have a similar problem.
Hypothyroidism during pregnancy is observed in approximately two percent of women. The presence of such a disease in the expectant mother means that specialists need to be attentive to her condition, appoint regular examinations and examinations. Indeed, in the absence of timely treatment, the disorder can worsen the health of a woman carrying a baby.
What threat is the problem? This is described in detail in the following sections of the article.
Causes of hormonal imbalance during pregnancy
It is known that the state of all other systems of the human body depends on the thyroid gland. This statement is explained by the fact that it produces substances necessary for the normal functioning of organs. The combination of hypothyroidism and pregnancy is a danger to the well-being of the mother and the health of the fetus.
What factors can lead to hormonal imbalance? The causes depend on the varieties of the disease. Several common forms of hypothyroidism are distinguished:
- Primary (occurs as a result of damage to the structure of the organ or its incorrect activity). Triggers that provoke this type of pathology can be inflammatory processes in the thyroid gland, surgical interventions, formation defects, the influence of microorganisms or drugs based on iodine.
- Secondary (due to the weakening of the pituitary gland - one of the important endocrine glands).
- Tertiary form (observed with impaired activity of another ZHVS - hypothalamus).
- Transient type (occurs as a result of inflammatory processes that occur in the gland after delivery).
- The peripheral variety of hypothyroidism during pregnancy is extremely rare, due to adverse heredity. The disease is associated with a decrease in the body's ability to absorb thyroid substances to a sufficient degree. In such cases, regular monitoring of the condition of the expectant mother is required before conception and throughout all stages of gestation.
Other reasons
Speaking of hypothyroidism and pregnancy, it is worth adding that external factors play no less role in the development of the problem than internal disturbances in the activity of organs and hormonal balance. Negative effects of the external environment can cause serious dysfunction of ZHIV. Such phenomena include uncontrolled medication, which contains iodine. These drugs must be used in a strictly prescribed dosage, only after consulting a doctor.
Of great importance to the health of the thyroid gland and the proper production of the necessary substances is a balanced diet. This is especially true for a woman who is going to become a mother. Food, including marine fish, shellfish, kelp helps to avoid such problems.
Signs of a disease
Pregnancy with hypothyroidism of the thyroid gland is dangerous because many of the manifestations of the pathology of this organ of the endocrine system of a woman are explained by the peculiarities of their position. However, ignoring these symptoms is highly discouraged. After all, only timely examination and therapy can prevent the development of possible consequences in the future. The characteristic phenomena that occur with this disease include the following:
- Rapid weight gain, which many expectant mothers take for weight gain caused by a period of gestation.
- A constant and inexplicable feeling of cold.
- Reduced cravings for food.
- Severe fatigue, delayed reactions, severe deterioration in attention, memory.
- Anxiety, depression.
- Weakness due to a lack of iron and vitamin B, which many do not pay enough attention to. After all, this symptom is also observed in healthy women during pregnancy.
- Slow heart rate.
- The delay of the chair.
- Swelling of the skin around the eyes. Hands, feet, face also swell.
- The fragility of hair, a tendency to hair loss, up to the formation of bald patches.
- Respiratory disturbances during sleep, snoring may occur.
Subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy
This form of the disease often reduces a woman's chances of procreation. This is due to the fact that the monthly cycle is disrupted, and the ability of the egg to mature often worsens. In this case, in order to conceive a child, it is necessary to be examined and determine the tactics of treatment (as a rule, drugs are prescribed that make up for the lack of hormones). If subclinical hypothyroidism has arisen already in the process of gestation, it does not manifest pronounced symptoms. This is the danger of the disease. In some cases, this type of pathology leads to spontaneous interruption of the fetal life. However, you should not worry too much. If you choose the right therapy, it is possible to solve this problem. In fifty percent of cases, babies are born healthy. Although in the future they have disturbances in the immune system.
Thyroid Disease and Future Conception
Speaking about pregnancy planning for hypothyroidism, it should be emphasized that the presence of this disorder is an occasion for regular medical examinations and laboratory tests. If, even before the birth of a new life, a woman shows a pathology, treatment should be carried out. During the gestation period, the symptoms of thyroid disease are often overlooked, so it is better to carry out all measures in advance. Lack of hormones and an upset of organ activity can lead to serious developmental defects in the infant.
It is possible to control the content of substances produced by the thyroid gland using a laboratory blood test. A similar procedure is recommended for all women even before the birth of a new life. After all, a mild degree of disturbance may not be accompanied by severe symptoms and does not interfere with conception. Nevertheless, any disorder of the VHV provokes negative consequences.
Possible harm to the body of the expectant mother
In this condition, complications are often observed associated with the period of gestation, delivery.
Patients who have such a dysfunction in the thyroid gland, are faced with the following phenomena:
- Severe lack of iron in the body.
- Spontaneous abortion in the early stages of pregnancy.
- Premature discharge of the placenta.
- Weak ability of the uterus to contract during childbirth.
- Loss of a significant amount of blood.
If a woman has hypothyroidism during pregnancy, the consequences of the disease can be extremely unpleasant. The saddest of them are the birth of a dead baby, the death of a baby immediately after birth.
Threat to the fetus
Disorders of the thyroid gland in the expectant mother pose a serious danger to the baby's health. He has a lack of weight, improper formation and growth of body parts. The nervous system also suffers, defects of mental development are observed. If a woman develops hypothyroidism during pregnancy, the consequence for the child may be the occurrence of such a disease in the first year of life.
Necessary medical assistance
A patient who is suspected of having this disorder should be observed in two categories of medical workers during the entire period of gestation. The first - a specialist in diseases of life-threatening diseases - is engaged in monitoring laboratory tests, assessing the well-being of the expectant mother, and selecting therapy. The second (gynecologist) carries out diagnostic measures to determine possible defects in the fetus. Careful observation of specialists can prevent the occurrence of negative consequences.
Who needs to be extremely careful about their health?
Speaking about the combination of hypothyroidism and pregnancy, it should be emphasized that at the planning stage, regular and careful monitoring of the condition with the help of analyzes should carry out:
- Women who have other disorders in the work of the thyroid gland.
- Patients with diabetes.
- Girls having trouble conceiving.
- Persons with an unfavorable inheritance for diseases of the life-threatening diseases.
- Expectant mothers with elevated antibodies to thyroid gland.
Delivery
Expectant mothers who have been diagnosed with this are usually able to give birth to a baby naturally.
Surgical intervention (cesarean section) is performed in some cases on the recommendation of a specialist.
The danger of the disease lies in the high probability of bleeding. Therefore, after childbirth, a woman is prescribed drugs that prevent the occurrence of this problem.
Methods of combating pathology
Treatment of hypothyroidism during pregnancy is the use of drugs that restore the balance of hormones. Among the most famous drugs that are recommended in a similar situation are the following:
- "Iodomarin."
- "Iodine asset."
- "L-thyroxine."
About the use of these tablets during pregnancy with hypothyroidism, the reviews of doctors are rather contradictory. Some experts believe that this technique of combating pathology is the most effective. According to other doctors, such drugs in such cases are strictly prohibited.
The fact is that some patients do not adhere to the normal dosage of drugs and begin to drink them uncontrollably. This leads to various complications. However, the correct use of funds is permissible not only at the stage of bearing the baby, but also when breast milk is fed.
How to prevent the development of the disease?
Continuing the theme of the combination of hypothyroidism and pregnancy, it should be added that there are a number of rules that will help avoid possible problems in the mother and fetus.
These include:
- Regular examination by a specialist in violations of the vital functions at the planning stage and in the early stages of gestation.
- A balanced diet, including a sufficient amount of marine fish, shellfish and algae.
- Replacing table salt with a product with a high iodine content.
- Reception of hormonal drugs (if necessary).
A woman should not worry about the fact that drugs can adversely affect the condition and development of the fetus. The substances that make up them are considered safe. Many doctors prescribe "Iodomarin" for hypothyroidism during pregnancy and after childbirth.
It is only necessary to adhere to a certain regimen of medication intake and dosage and not to change the treatment regimen independently.