Thyroid Imbalance During Pregnancy: Lifestyle Changes to Control It

Pregnancy brings several challenges with it. You will feel tired, moody, swollen, etc. Thanks to the soaring pregnancy hormones. There are also thyroid hormones producing similar kinds of symptoms. Thyroid disorder during pregnancy can be the result for them.

What is Thyroid and How is It Affecting Pregnancy?

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland near the neck. It impacts the heart rate, body metabolism, and immunity. The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) controls this gland and produces the thyroid hormones.

Too much thyroid hormone is hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid. Too little thyroid is hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism occurs between 0.2%–0.4% of pregnancies. Hypothyroidism takes place between 0.5%–3.5% of pregnancies.

Uncontrolled thyroid impacts your pregnancy and developing baby’s health in several ways. Preeclampsia is quite common. You may also face placental complications. Expect premature birth of the baby and low birth weight baby.

There are preventive measures to check the thyroid during pregnancy. All you need to do is make a few adjustments to your lifestyle. 

The Lifestyle Changes That You Need to Take to Control Pregnancy-Induced Thyroid

The thyroid levels, in the first trimester, should be between 0.2-<2.5 mU/L. 

In the remaining trimesters, it should be between 0.3-3 mU/L. 

Get a few blood tests done to keep your thyroid hormones within this level. The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), T3 & T4 Test, and TSI Test) are important.

 The tests will decide the to-dos and not-to-dos:

The To-do-list

To control your thyroid you need to take care of yourself medically, and naturally. Follow the list:

Take Medicines

If your thyroid is severe, giving you medicines is the only way out. Antithyroid medicines in the lowest effective dose is the doctor’s recommendation. Take the medicines in the first 3 months of your pregnancy. Alterations in the thyroid will alter the dose. If medicines don’t work, surgery and radioactive iodine treatment would.

Have a Thyroid-nurturing Diet

Eating in balance and the right quantum is an absolute must. Coconut, primrose oil, and cod liver oil are helpful:

Coconut oil is beneficial in several ways during pregnancy. 

1. Manages weight
2. Manages stress
3. Manages cholesterol
4. The fastest point of action is taking care of high TSH levels. 

• Primrose oil keeps your hair healthy. It prevents you from inflammation while combating the lower levels of TSH levels.
  
• Preparing food in Cod liver oil also boosts the body’s immunity.

Include Vitamin A and D

Eggs are the best source of Vitamin A. Have carrots or pumpkins if you’re a vegetarian. You can also expose yourself to the sun for at least 15 minutes a day to get Vitamin D.

Add Saturated Fats to Your Meals

Butter, oil, and ghee are the right sources of saturated fats. It nourishes the body, reduces inflammation, and controls the TSH levels.  

Intake of Food Rich in Omega-3

Omega-3 helps in building the foetal brain and retina. These are some of the side effects of thyroid. Besides this, intake of Omega-3 helps prevent perinatal depression, controlling immunity and inflammation. So, consume meat, fish, eggs, milk, and milk products to take Omega-3 fatty acids.   

Pay Heed to Whole Wheat Food Items

Food made out of whole wheat grains is the perfect fit for your lower TSH levels. Have white bread, white rice, barley, oats, etc.

Stay Active

Not just the diet, keep your thyroid levels in control by working out.

1. Go brisk walking for 10 minutes in your neighbourhood or the park of your block. Do you have your sneakers ready?
   
2. You can lie down and massage your diaphragm for not more than 5 to 10 minutes.
   
3. Do 10 leg lunges in which you stand with your feet apart and try to bend your knees.
   
4. Lift one leg and touch the ground gently. Practice this at least 10 times a day.
   
5. Including yogasana (Bhujangasana and Setu Bandhasana) is the most necessary. Yogasana improves the functioning of the thyroid gland. It helps stimulate the circulation of blood while boosting the body’s muscles.
   
6. Joining stress management classes can be helpful. Stress has a big role to play in the thyroid functions of your body during pregnancy.

The Not-to Dos

Avoiding a few unnecessary things can also control the TSH levels. So, as a part of the not-to-dos:

1. Avoid gluten-rich food. Gluten can trigger thyroid inflammatory responses.
   
2. Stay away from caffeine or caffeinated drinks. As per research, less than 200 mg of coffee is the doctor’s recommendation during pregnancy. That is not more than 1 or 2 standard cups of coffee. Replace coffee with herbal tea. Ginger or cinnamon tea also supports the thyroid gland.
   
3. Stay away from fasting. Recent research has shown that fasting can drop TSH levels.
   
4. Remember cabbage, cauliflower, soy, etc is not good for pregnancy-induced thyroid.
   
5. Try to avoid toxins. Exposure to the environment disrupts thyroid functions in pregnancy.
   
6. If you smoked before you became pregnant, quit smoking immediately. Cigarette smoking in early pregnancy influences thyroid hormonal balance.

Bottom Line

Thyroid balance is key for a healthy pregnancy. So, you should be aware of the thyroid symptoms. Follow the above-mentioned precautions. Don’t miss the doctor’s appointment.

After all, pregnancy is the most beautiful moment in your life. Take control of your lifestyle by keeping all your health conditions in balance.