Thyroid disorders in mother and baby
Thyroid gland problems are rare in pregnancy, and are usually present before conception.
Symptoms of an overactive gland (Hyperthyroidism) may include weight loss, hyperactivity, excessive hunger, aggression and insomnia. The hormones causing over-stimulation of the thyroid can cross the placenta and affect the baby’s thyroid gland for up to 6 weeks after birth. Without treatment to the mother there is up to 50% risk of intrauterine death.
An underactive gland (hypothyroidism) may lead to weight gain, lethargy, sleepiness and oedema, and can be treated by thyroid hormone replacement. If it remains untreated, it can cause miscarriage, anaemia, fetal loss, pre-eclampsia and low birth weight infants. There is also an association between untreated, undertreated and subclinical hypothyroidism in the late first trimester with reduced intelligent quotient (IQ).