Hyperthyroidism can appear before or during pregnancy, and when left untreated it can cause problems such as preterm delivery, hypertension, placental detachment and abortion.
This disease can be detected through a blood test, and its treatment is done with the use of drugs that regulate the functioning of the thyroid. After delivery, it is necessary to continue medical monitoring, as it is common for the disease to remain throughout the woman's life.
Complications for mother and baby
When untreated, hyperthyroidism can cause complications for both mother and baby, such as:
- Premature birth; Low birth weight; Hypertension in the mother; Thyroid problems for the baby; Displacement of the placenta; Heart failure in the mother; Abortion;
It is important to remember that in most cases women already had symptoms of the disease before pregnancy and therefore do not notice the changes caused in the body when they become pregnant. The most common thyroid disease during pregnancy is Strikes' Disease, so see its symptoms and treatment here.
Symptoms
The symptoms of hyperthyroidism in pregnancy are often confused with the natural symptoms that occur in the woman's body due to hormonal changes, such as:
- Excessive heat and sweat; Tiredness; Anxiety; Heart racing; Nausea and vomiting of great intensity; Weight loss or inability to gain weight, even if eating well.
Thus, the main sign that something may be wrong with the thyroid is the lack of weight gain, even with an increase in appetite and the amount of food consumed.
How to diagnose
The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism in pregnancy is made through blood tests that assess the amount of hormones T3, T4 and TSH in the body. When these hormones are elevated, it can be a sign of thyroid disease.
However, it is important to remember that the hormone T4 may be elevated due to the high levels of beta-HCG in the blood, especially between the 8th and 14th week of pregnancy, returning to normal after this period.
How to treat
The treatment of hyperthyroidism in pregnancy is done with the use of medications that regulate the production of thyroid hormones, such as Tapazol or Propiltiouracil.
At the beginning, larger doses are given to control hormones more quickly, and after 6 to 8 weeks of treatment, if the woman improves, the dose of the medication is reduced, and may even be suspended after 32 or 34 weeks of gestation.
Postpartum care
After delivery, it is necessary to continue taking the drugs to control the thyroid, but if the medication is discontinued, new blood tests should be done to evaluate the hormones 6 weeks after delivery, as it is common for the problem to reappear.
In addition, during the breastfeeding period it is recommended that medications be taken in the lowest doses possible, preferably right after the baby is breastfed.
It is also important to remember that children should undergo routine tests to assess thyroid function, as they are more likely to have hyper or hypothyroidism.
After the baby is born, see how to treat hyperthyroidism.
See feeding tips to treat and prevent thyroid problems by watching the following video:
