The information in this article was compiled from the American College of Obsetrics and Gynecology and UptoDate.
I hope it will be useful to the readers.
During pregnancy, the pregnancy hormone known as beta-hcg increases in the blood until the 12th week and this hormone
is similar to the structure of the TSH hormone, which stimulates secretion from the thyroid gland. For this reason, in the first months of pregnancy, the amount of hormones secreted from the thyroid gland, called T3 and T4, increases in the blood. As a result, there is a decrease in the TSH
rate. This transient state of subclinical hyperthyroidism is a normal finding. It is not yet known whether this
effect of beta-hcg is beneficial to the mother or the fetus.
TSH test is used to monitor the functioning of the thyroid gland. The normal level of this test
changes depending on the months of pregnancy.
In the first 3 months, TSH: 0.1-2.5
In the second 3 months: 0.2-3
In the third trimester: It is normal for it to be between 0.3-3.
As T4 production increases during pregnancy, the pregnant woman's need for Iodine increases. It is necessary to use iodized salt during pregnancy.
The effect of thyroid disease on the baby
Hyperthyroidism
1-5% of the babies of women with Graves' disease have the same disease. . This occurs due to TSH receptor stimulating antibodies passed from the mother to the baby. Symptoms such as fusion are observed.
Hypothyroidism
The most common cause is Hashimoto's disease. Other causes include iodine deficiency, subacute thyroiditis,
thyroidectomy, radioactive iodine treatment.
If hypothyroidism is not treated, growth retardation may occur in the baby. Babies of women with hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency may develop a disease called cretinism, which includes neonatal growth retardation, mental retardation, and other
neurological problems.
Thyroid hormone testing does not need to be performed routinely during pregnancy. If the pregnant woman has a history of thyroid disease or has new-onset complaints, the test is performed.
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