
There is slight enlargement of thyroid gland in women during pregnancy but it is considered as normal and is not detected by medical diagnosis. It is mainly due to hormonal imbalance that leads to higher level of thyroid hormone in the blood. Increased level of thyroxin hormone in the blood and enlargement of thyroid gland causes symptoms like feeling hot, excessive sweating, emotional excitement, nervousness, vomiting or an increased heart beat, fatigue and restlessness that can be considered as common symptoms for both pregnancy as well as thyroid disorder.
If you are suffering from hypothyroidism during pregnancy, it becomes quite important to go for proper medical treatment because hypothyroidism may increase the chances of some further pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, premature labor, and hypertension that hinder the development of proper growth of fetus. If not properly treated hypothyroidism can also severely impair the normal development of the fetus. In fact, studies have revealed that women with untreated hypothyroidism have a higher risk to deliver a child with a low IQ.
Treatment for hyperthyroidism involves lowering the amount of thyroid hormone back to normal level. Propylthiouracil is a common drug that can be taken during pregnancy and is quite safe. It is important to monitor your thyroid level regularly during pregnancy.
As your thyroid levels can vary constantly, it becomes important to adjust your medication dosage at various points during pregnancy and hence thyroid and pregnancy forms an important basis of the treatment.