Pregnancy is the time when the endocrine system, along with the nervous system, is leading in guiding all the processes in the body, and the slightest disruption in the system can be fatal. In the period of carrying a baby, many hormones are released in elevated concentrations, responsible for the proper development of the fetus and the normal course of pregnancy. A special role is given to the period of gestation of the thyroid gland, failures in its work lead to miscarriage and fetal death, the development of severe congenital abnormalities. Therefore, if a woman has problems with the thyroid, she needs special supervision by specialists during the entire period.
What is the role of the thyroid gland and its hormones during pregnancy?
In the area of the front surface of the neck is a special endocrine organ – the thyroid gland. This structure has the outline of a butterfly, the “wings” of which are the lobes of the gland, connected by an isthmus, passing in the region of the larynx junction with the trachea. In the future mother, the thyroid gland weighs no more than 20 grams, however, it is extremely difficult to overestimate its function, since it actively produces hormones that are vital for both the woman and the baby.
The main thyroid hormones include T3 and T4 (tri-iodothyronine and thyroxin, respectively). These are substances that contain microelement iodine in the amount of three or four molecules. Accordingly, if this substance is not enough in the diet, there may be problems in the work of the thyroid gland. The main functions that regulate hormones of the gland are protein metabolism, energy processes, which directly affect the physical state and the nervous system. Given that these hormones affect the baby, they regulate full growth and weight gain, as well as the formation and maturation of all the structures of the nervous system, both brain tissue and peripheral nerves. Accordingly, if the thyroid gland suffers from any pathologies, it will immediately affect both the course of pregnancy and the development of the fetus, and the deficit of thyroid hormones and their pronounced excess are dangerous.
The role of iodine for pregnancy
As we mentioned earlier, iodine is part of the hormone molecules produced by the thyroid gland. Naturally, there are small reserves in the body that allow the gland to function for a certain time in the usual way, capturing iodine for the synthesis of hormones from the storerooms. However, pregnancy is a time when iodine is needed at least twice as much, since the synthesis of hormones is more active and fast, starting up for the needs of not only the mother’s body, but also the construction of the body of the fetus. Therefore, if a woman lives in an area endemic for iodine deficiency in food and drink, she needs to receive this element in addition so that her endocrine system works without failures.
On average, pregnancy requires consumption of at least 200 mcg of iodine daily, which is sometimes extremely difficult to obtain with food, if the mother does not live by the sea and does not consume sea fish, kelp and seafood daily. These products are the richest in natural iodine, but not all are available in the diet. Therefore, today programs have been developed for the additional subsidy of iodine in the form of drugs to all pregnant women living in areas that are poor in natural iodine. They are discharged by doctors on counseling, and pregnant women take them throughout the entire period of carrying the baby.
The development of the baby and the role of the mother’s thyroid gland
The baby in its development significantly depends on the full operation of the mammary thyroid gland . Its own gland is laid approximately in the period of 6 weeks, and after the 12th week it begins to accumulate iodine, independently producing the hormones necessary for development. Accordingly, for the baby to fully develop, it is important not so much the hormonal influence of the thyroid gland of the mother, as the regular and uninterrupted flow of iodine into her body, which should be enough for two. Therefore, the expectant mother is strongly advised not to refuse the drugs prescribed by the doctor if she is not sure that she will receive at least 200 micrograms of iodine from food. Iodine ingested with food stimulates the growth and development of the thyroid gland of the baby, its functional activity.
If there is little iodine in the diet, and the woman does not take the drugs prescribed to her with iodine, it threatens to form a severe congenital disease of the baby – hypothyroidism. This state dramatically slows down after birth, the growth and weight gain of the child, but the most critical effect is manifested in relation to the nervous system. The kid is strongly and pronouncedly lagging behind in mental development, he can form cretinism – severe mental retardation, leading to disability. To treat this disease will have from birth, taking thyroid hormones for life. Today, due to the wide spread of this pathology, a special screening of newborns for this disease has been introduced.
Gland hormone levels and pregnancy
The effect of thyroid hormones on pregnancy is known. In addition, their number affects the fact of its occurrence. So, it is known for certain that with hypothyroidism there is often infertility, which is overcome only when the hormonal background levels out due to treatment with iodine preparations or even hormonal ones.
Even if the pregnancy has occurred, its development from an early date will be threatened with latent (latent) hypothyroidism. With it, the hormones are barely enough to meet the needs of their own body, and at an increased load, which a pregnancy imposes on the body, a breakdown occurs. Often, these pregnancies are interrupted in the early period due to fetal death, which simply does not have enough nutrients and hormones for growth and development. The body rejects the fetus due to the fact that it can not bear the child fully, due to gross defects and developmental disabilities. In this case, the management of pregnancy from an early period takes place under the supervision of a physician and with the donation of hormones from the outside, as well as full iodine intake.