THYROID, PREGNANCY and the Immune System
The health of the thyroid gland is dependent on several factors (e.g., nutrition, blood sugar regulation, the immune system, and the health of the adrenal glands). Pregnancy and delivery place many metabolic and immunologic challenges to the thyroid and adrenal glands. Throughout pregnancy, the immune system of the mother undergoes changes to accommodate fetal tolerance. In other words, for the mother’s immune system not to attack the fetus as if it were a foreign invader, there is a natural immune suppression that takes place. Consequently, pregnancy often results in improvements of autoimmunity, including thyroid autoimmunity.
Delivery and Post-Delivery
Weeks prior to delivery and post-delivery, there is a shift in the mother’s immune system that causes the return or a rebound of existing autoimmunity and often the development of postpartum thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Grave’s disease in women with no prior thyroid condition. Some of the symptoms that you may notice are fatigue, anxiety and palpitations, depression, weight gain, hair loss, dry skin, constipation and heat intolerance. Below are some key steps that a mom can take to improve her health prior to conceiving and during and after pregnancy to optimize the health of her thyroid.
1
Seek proper care to improve the health of the mother’s adrenal glands
2
Proper medication and dose facilitates regulation of thyroid response
3
After delivery it is important to follow-up with your naturopathic physician
Care of Thyroid Health
Because pregnancy increases the demand on the body overall, it is no different for the adrenal glands. Entering pregnancy with an existing adrenal dysfunction may overwhelm the pituitary gland, thus creating the potential for a thyroid dysfunction later. It may also cause mom’s body to draw adrenal hormones from the baby. In this case, the newborn may be born with adrenal dysfunction and struggle with food intolerances and eczema. It is important to keep your thyroid hormone levels adequate before and during pregnancy to avoid the following risks:
- Gestational Hypertension
- Preterm Delivery
- There are different types of thyroid medication:
- Miscarriage
- Low Birth Weight
- Synthetic
- Placenta Abruption
- Fetal Abnormalities
- Compounded Medication
- (Combination of T4/T3 or T4 and T3 only)
It is crucial to identify the proper medication!
After delivery, it is important to follow up with your naturopathic physician. Due to an increase in mom’s immune response after delivery, an aggravation of thyroid autoimmunity postpartum is predictable in women with existing thyroid disease. Additionally, women with no prior thyroid disease may develop postpartum thyroiditis within one year after delivery. Women with transient low thyroid hormone status are also at risk for a permanent hypothyroid disorder. In all of these cases, the health of the mom and the thyroid gland should be carefully evaluated and treated by your qualified and licensed naturopathic physician.
