A stage of life with special demands

Pregnancy is a time of intense physical change for every woman. For women with Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism, there is an additional dimension: the thyroid plays a decisive role in the healthy development of the child, and the changed hormone balance during pregnancy can intensify existing thyroid problems or bring them to light.

Why the thyroid matters so much in pregnancy

In the first weeks of pregnancy, before the child has developed its own thyroid, it depends entirely on the mother's thyroid hormones. These hormones are essential for the development of the brain and nervous system. A deficiency in this early phase cannot be fully reversed. This is why good thyroid management before and during pregnancy is so important.

At the same time, the demands on the thyroid rise considerably during pregnancy. The body needs significantly more thyroid hormone to supply both mother and child. Women whose thyroid is already working at a reduced level can therefore slip into a more pronounced deficiency.

What can change

For women who already have thyroid disease and receive hormone treatment, it is important to know:

• The need for hormone often rises in the first weeks of pregnancy
• Close monitoring of thyroid levels is necessary throughout the pregnancy
• TSH target values during pregnancy differ from those outside pregnancy
• Women with Hashimoto's who have not needed treatment so far should also have their levels checked regularly

Hashimoto's and the risk of complications

Untreated or poorly managed hypothyroidism during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of various complications, including miscarriage, premature birth, high blood pressure in pregnancy and developmental delays in the child. That sounds worrying, but there is an important counter-message: with good medical care and optimal hormone management, most women with Hashimoto's have uncomplicated pregnancies.

Many women only learn about their Hashimoto's during a pregnancy, because thorough thyroid levels are measured for the first time. An early diagnosis is then also an opportunity.

Well prepared is half the battle

Anyone with thyroid disease who is thinking about becoming pregnant benefits from talking to an experienced gynaecologist or endocrinologist early on. The aim is to be well adjusted before the pregnancy, with TSH values tailored specifically to this stage of life.

During pregnancy, regular check-ups are not a sign of problems but of care. Women who pay active attention to their thyroid health are well equipped for this special stage of life.