What to do if you have hypothyroidism at 14 weeks of pregnancy

Every child is the apple of his parents' eyes. Parents always pay close attention to every stage of their child's development, from the moment he first appears in his mother's belly. However, some mothers are diagnosed with hypothyroidism at 14 weeks of pregnancy. Hypothyroidism may have a great impact on the child's intellectual development. What should they do at this time? Should medication be used? How much should the medication be? Do the dosage need to be increased? Will not taking medication in the first three months affect the intelligence of the fetus? Are there any dietary taboos during medication? How long should the medication be taken before a follow-up examination? This question deeply troubles every prospective parent.

Hypothyroidism (abbreviated as hypothyroidism) is a disease in which the body's metabolism is reduced due to reduced synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones, or insufficient physiological effects. According to its cause, it is divided into three categories: primary hypothyroidism, secondary hypothyroidism and peripheral hypothyroidism. In the early stages of fetal development, thyroid hormone is very necessary, so the problem is still relatively large! Because the thyroid hormone needed for fetal brain development in the early stages of pregnancy is completely dependent on maternal supply, if the expectant mother develops hypothyroidism at this critical time, it will be more serious and will affect the future intellectual development of the fetus. At this time, you must consult with the attending physician to see how to better treat hypothyroidism without affecting the fetus.

How to diagnose and treat hypothyroidism:

1. Lifelong replacement therapy with thyroid preparations: Early mild cases are mainly treated with oral thyroid tablets or levothyroxine. Test thyroid function and maintain TSH within the normal range.

2. Symptomatic treatment: In addition to oral thyroid tablets or levothyroxine, severe cases in the middle and late stages require symptomatic treatment such as oxygen supply, infusion, infection control, and control of heart failure.

3. Diet therapy: 1) Suitable food selection: For hypothyroidism caused by iodine deficiency, you need to use appropriate amounts of kelp and laver, and you can use iodized salt, iodized soy sauce, iodized eggs and bread to add iodine. When cooking, please note that iodized salt wood should be placed in boiling oil to prevent iodine from volatilizing and reducing the iodine concentration. Protein supplements can be obtained from eggs, milk, various meats, and fish; plant proteins can be complementary, such as various soy products, soybeans, etc. Providing animal livers can correct anemia, and it is also necessary to ensure the supply of a variety of vegetables and fresh fruits.

2) Supplement iodized salt: In China, 1 gram of potassium iodide is generally added to every 2 to 10 kilograms of salt to prevent and treat goiter, which significantly reduces the incidence rate. It is suitable for areas where goiter is prevalent. In addition, childbearing women should pay more attention to the supplementation of iodized salt to prevent their offspring from suffering from cretinism due to maternal iodine deficiency.

3) Supply sufficient protein: Each person needs at least 20 grams of protein per day to maintain the body's protein balance. Amino acids are the basic components of protein, and about 3% of protein is constantly renewed every day. In hypothyroidism, the renewal rate of the small intestinal mucosa slows down, the digestive juice secretion glands are affected, the enzyme activity decreases, and the general albumin decreases. Therefore, essential amino acids should be supplemented to supply sufficient protein to improve the condition.

4) Correct anemia and provide rich vitamins: People with anemia should supplement their diet with iron-rich foods and vitamin B12, such as animal liver, and if necessary, folic acid, liver preparations, etc.

2. Foods that patients with hypothyroidism should not eat:

1) Avoid choosing foods: Avoid all kinds of raw goitrogens, such as cabbage, Chinese cabbage, rapeseed, cassava, walnuts, etc.; avoid foods rich in cholesterol, such as butter, animal brains and offal, etc. Limit the intake of high-fat foods, such as cooking oil, peanuts, walnut kernels, almonds, sesame paste, ham, pork belly, sweet cheese, etc.

2) Avoid eating raw goitrogens: Avoid eating cruciferous vegetables, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, rapeseed, cassava, walnuts, etc. to prevent goiter.

3) Limit fat and cholesterol-rich diet: Patients with hypothyroidism often have hyperlipidemia, which is more obvious in primary hypothyroidism, so fat diet should be limited. Daily fat supply should account for about 20% of total calories, and cholesterol-rich foods should be limited.

What is hypothyroidism and how to diagnose and treat it? I believe everyone should have some understanding through this article. Hypothyroidism may not be particularly serious for ordinary adults, but for a special group such as expectant mothers, hypothyroidism is more serious. So, expectant mothers, if you find that you have hypothyroidism, you must go to the hospital for a comprehensive diagnosis as soon as possible, and treat it as soon as possible, which is extremely responsible for yourself and your children.