Thyroid

The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland situated in the neck. The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones which are extremely important as they influence almost all the metabolic activities in the body. Hence, abnormal production of thyroid hormones causes various health issues and ailments.

Thyroid problems can range from harmless issues like goiter to serious conditions like thyroid cancer. However, most common of the thyroid problems are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism which are caused due to over secretion and under secretion of thyroid hormones respectively.

Why Thyroid Health Matters in Pregnancy

Thyroid in pregnancy plays a significant role in your baby’s brain and nervous system development, particularly during the first trimester, which is why thyroid function is checked closely in pregnancies considered higher risk. Both an underactive and an overactive thyroid can affect how a pregnancy progresses if left unmanaged. Existing thyroid conditions diagnosed before pregnancy also need closer monitoring once you conceive, since hormone requirements typically increase as pregnancy progresses.