The thyroid is a tiny gland in your body that makes special hormones. These hormones help control things like how much energy you have and how fast your body works. When a woman is pregnant, she needs to make sure her thyroid is working well so that her baby can grow healthy and strong.
Sometimes, women can have a problem with their thyroid when they are pregnant. This is called thyroid disease. There are two types of thyroid disease that can happen during pregnancy: hypo-thyroidism and hyper-thyroidism.
Hypo-thyroidism happens when the thyroid gland doesn't make enough of the hormones that the body needs. This can lead to things like weight gain, feeling very tired, and even depression. If a woman has hypo-thyroidism during pregnancy, it can affect the baby's growth and development. It can even cause the baby to be born too early.
Hyper-thyroidism happens when the thyroid gland makes too much of the hormones that the body needs. This can cause things like feeling nervous or anxious, sweating a lot, and losing weight. If a woman has hyper-thyroidism during pregnancy, it can also affect the baby's growth and development. It can even cause the baby to have a very fast heart rate.
If a woman has thyroid disease during pregnancy, she should see her doctor regularly. Her doctor will check her thyroid levels to make sure they are normal. They may even give her medicine to help control her thyroid levels. With the right care, most women with thyroid disease can have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.