Can high thyroid levels be treated during pregnancy?

Nowadays, many women develop various diseases during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, and depression. If these diseases are not treated, they will leave sequelae and affect women's lives. Hyperthyroidism in pregnant women refers to excessive release of thyroid hormones, which can also be called hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism during pregnancy can cause fetal hyperthyroidism, which can even lead to stillbirth in severe cases. But some of them may only be caused by thyroid dysfunction, which has no effect on the fetus and is only temporary.

Here I will introduce several care methods to you.

1. Hyperthyroidism is not stable during non-pregnancy, and even during pregnancy it can easily cause miscarriage, premature birth, intrauterine growth retardation, stillbirth, etc. Hyperthyroidism drugs also have a certain impact on the fetus. Therefore, pregnant women should be guided to actively receive treatment for hyperthyroidism during the non-pregnant period, and try to wait until the disease is cured before becoming pregnant.

2. Pregnant women with stable hyperthyroidism during pregnancy should strengthen pregnancy monitoring, work with endocrinologists for management, take antithyroid drugs that have no teratogenic risk and cross the placenta in small amounts, and adjust the dosage of the drugs in time to reduce the risk of fetal hypothyroidism.

(1) Strengthen prenatal examinations: Regularly check the changes in the pregnant woman's blood pressure, weight, uterine height, and abdominal circumference. Perform an ultrasound examination every 1 to 2 months to observe the growth and development of the fetus, the size of the thyroid gland, the bones, and the weight of the fetus. Regularly check pregnant women's thyroid function, monitor placental function, etc. Early detection of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and intrauterine growth retardation.

(2) Psychological care: Stabilize the pregnant woman’s mood, ensure that she gets enough rest, and avoid physical labor. Follow the doctor's instructions and cooperate with the doctor's treatment to avoid infection, mental stimulation and emotional fluctuations to prevent the occurrence of hyperthyroid crisis.

(3) Dietary care: Strengthen nutrition, ensure sufficient daily energy, eat more high-protein and high-vitamin foods, and avoid eating iodine-rich foods or taking medicines. Drink more water when sweating a lot, and avoid smoking, alcohol, coffee and strong tea. Give nutrients intravenously if necessary.

(4) Strengthen monitoring: It is recommended to lie in the left side position and instruct pregnant women to learn to count fetal movements and prevent intrauterine fetal death. Pay attention to signs of threatened premature birth and seek medical attention promptly if any abnormalities are found. The baby should be admitted to the hospital at 37-38 weeks of late pregnancy. Attention should be paid to the prevention and treatment of fetal distress. Fetal heart rate monitoring should be performed every week and the pregnant woman should have an electrocardiogram to find out if there is any heart damage.

(5) Drug treatment care: Generally, if the mother's FT4 level increases by more than 2.5 times, treatment should be considered. Because the fetal thyroid gland can concentrate iodine and destroy the developing fetal thyroid gland, radioactive iodine treatment is contraindicated during pregnancy. PTU is the first choice for the treatment of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy. PTU has a high affinity for protein, which can reduce the transport of drugs into the fetus, block the conversion of T4 to T3, and quickly relieve symptoms.

Suitable food: rapeseed, celery, cauliflower

Avoid eating foods: ham, sausage, grass carp, onion, river shrimp

Try to avoid iodine-rich foods in your diet. Avoid smoking, drinking, and eating spicy and irritating foods. Eat fruits and vegetables

But there are solutions. You can take a small amount of Euthyrox to alleviate the symptoms, or supplement selenium regularly. Eat more light food and less seafood. Note: Hyperthyroidism medications should not be discontinued, as discontinuation may cause the condition to worsen. If some women are worried, they can go to the hospital regularly to check their thyroid function to ensure that it is normal. The above is an introduction to high thyroid levels in pregnant women. It is not easy for women to be pregnant for ten months, so they must pay attention to diseases during pregnancy.