How to support baby’s thyroid health before they’re even born
Whether you’ve got a thyroid condition, or you have a child with one, it’s natural to wonder: is there anything I could do to reduce the risk of passing it on?
While not all thyroid conditions can be prevented and we don’t know all of the factors that play a role, there is still hope. There are ways to gently support your body throughout preconception and pregnancy, particularly when it comes to your thyroid.
You don’t need to do everything perfectly or cut everything out of your diet and life! It’s about creating a solid foundation to nourish your thyroid as you nurture your little one.
How you can support your baby’s thyroid before birth
Step one is knowing your own thyroid status
In an ideal world, you would know what your own thyroid health is like, even if you’ve never had any symptoms.
Mild and undiagnosed cases of thyroid dysfunction can impact your fertility, along with the progression of early pregnancy and key foetal development stages. And these cases are far more common than many of us realise.
Speak to your practitioner about testing for:
TSH
Free T4 and T3
Thyroid antibodies
Iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D
You may need to pay out of pocket for some of these if your doctor is not satisfied that there is a reason for it to be covered. And if they refuse, you can always seek out a naturopath who can order the tests for you, although it will cost more.
And if you’ve had previous thyroid concerns, a family history of thyroid disease or autoimmunity, or have struggled with fertility? It’s even more essential to get these tested.
Focus on thyroid supporting nutrients
It’s no coincidence that there are nutrients that play a role in thyroid health for both mother and baby! You want to ensure you’re getting plenty of:
Iodine – this one is particularly important to get enough of to reduce the risk of congenital hypothyroidism! It’s critical for the production of thyroid hormone function, but too much or too little can impair thyroid function
Selenium and zinc – these support thyroid hormone conversion and reduce inflammation, particularly in autoimmune thyroid conditions
Iron and B12 – along with supporting thyroid function, these also work to boost your energy and carry oxygen throughout your (and your baby’s) body
While we always want to start with food for these nutrients, supplements can often be warranted during preconception and pregnancy.
And if you have any deficiencies or chronic conditions that utilise more nutrients, supplements may be required for longer periods of time. However, it’s critical that you work with a qualified practitioner to choose safe and appropriate doses for your pregnancy and your needs.
Prioritise gut and immune health
Both the gut and immune system play a major role in regulating your thyroid. During pregnancy, your immune system can go a little haywire and your digestive function can be thrown off by the growing uterus. So we want to make sure that they get some extra TLC.
This can be super-simple, with tweaks such as:
Adding in fermented foods such as kefir, sauerkraut or kimchi
Increasing your plant food intake (a fun challenge is aiming for 30 different plants per day)
Minimising ultra-processed foods as much as possible
Of course, this could be easier said than done if you suffer from morning sickness or HG. That’s why practitioners often recommend 3-6 months of preconception work to build a good foundation before falling pregnant.
Don’t neglect your nervous system
It’s easy to write stress off as being all in your head. But stress in any form has the potential to suppress thyroid function and deplete vital nutrients for both the thyroid and sex hormones.
So you want to make sure you have a realistic and effective plan for coping with any stress that gets thrown your way (and let’s be honest – there’s plenty when you’re navigating pregnancy!)
So write yourself a permission slip to:
Rest without guilt – growing a human being is no small feat!
Set boundaries around anything that drains you or makes you feel anxious
Build rituals for calm into your day, even if it’s just 10 minutes to yourself
Seek professional support if you feel like you’re not coping (or if you want to be prepared for the future!)
Now Is also a great time to look into building self-regulation habits. You don’t want to be starting from scratch when your baby is earthside and you’re already overwhelmed!
Work with a team
Preconception and pregnancy are periods of big shifts and growth, and it’s not the time to be doing it all alone. Consider building a team that ticks off:
Your medical needs (such as a trusted GP, midwife or fertility team)
Your physical body maintenance (such as an osteopath, myotherapist or physiotherapist)
Your nutrition, lifestyle and supplement needs (that’s where your qualified naturopath or nutritionist shines!)
Your mental health (a counsellor or psychologist)
After all, you deserve a team that has you feeling supported through the good times and the tough times.