Under-active thyroid gland and pregnancy (Hypothyroidism)

The thyroid gland is situated in our necks and produces two hormones that regulate the cells and help speed up our metabolism.

In some people, the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of the hormones in question and this condition is called underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism.

There’s no reason why an underactive thyroid should prevent you from having a healthy pregnancy and baby as long as your condition is being treated. It is possible that your physician may switch you to an alternate medication or a lower dose if your usual one isn’t considered safe in pregnancy, and your levels of thyroid hormone will be carefully monitored throughout your pregnancy.

However, if your condition is undiagnosed there is a risk of miscarriage and birth defects. Unfortunately some of the symptoms – fatigue, lack of energy, weight gain, constipation – are similar to pregnancy symptoms, which might distract you from any underlying health issue. You’re more at risk of an underactive thyroid if you have a close relative with an autoimmune disease, so if this is the case and you’re feeling more tired than you think you should be, tell your OB-GYN or nurse-midwife.

If you have any unanswered questions, use our answers page to gain wisdom from other moms or our resident experts for all those pregnancy worries.