How to have a healthy pregnancy with Hashimoto’s
If you’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, you might be a little apprehensive when it comes to starting or growing your family. It’s true that pregnancy and thyroid health are closely linked, and there are some specific concerns that come with Hashimoto’s.
But don’t fret – these tips will help you navigate how to keep yourself and your little one healthy on the journey to parenthood.
The thyroid in pregnancy
Firstly, we need to understand a bit more about why these two are linked. If you already have a thyroid disorder such as Hashimoto’s, it may affect your ability to fall pregnant and progress to a full-term healthy pregnancy.
But at the same time, pregnancy itself can affect how your thyroid functions. This is because pregnancy places a high demand on the thyroid and can cause physiological changes in the gland. So it can be a tricky two-way street between these two!
When you have Hashimoto’s, your thyroid is already under stress from the attacks of autoimmunity. So adding in pregnancy is yet another layer of burden on the thyroid. This can not only increase the risk of not only miscarriage, but other problems further into the pregnancy including pre-eclampsia and premature birth.
A little bit of good news for you
It’s not all doom and gloom. In fact, pregnancy may temporarily alleviate your symptoms thanks to a reduction in antibodies. The immune system recognises the pregnancy and downgrades its responses to protect the baby.
With that being said, elevated antibodies during the first trimester may increase the risk of miscarriage. That’s why monitoring your levels along with some solid preconception care goes a long way.
Tips for a healthy Hashimoto’s pregnancy
Now that we know the ways that the thyroid and pregnancy influence each other, here are some simple ways to keep yourself and your baby healthy throughout pregnancy.
Monitor thyroid function throughout
In case I didn’t already make it clear earlier – knowing your levels is crucial! This is not only about your TSH, T4 and T3, but also your thyroid antibody levels.
The most important trimester for thyroid hormones is first trimester. This is because your baby’s thyroid is not developed until 12 weeks, so your thyroid is doing all of the work before then. So as soon as you know you are pregnant, it’s time to go get your levels checked. You may even like to ask your doctor for a test slip so you can get your bloods done as soon as you’ve confirmed your pregnancy.
That being said, sudden changes in antibodies or thyroid levels in second and third trimester can still be a concern. So get tested regularly as recommended by your doctor – the usual is every 4 weeks for 1st trimester and every 6-8 weeks for the remainder of pregnancy.
One important thing to note – if your TSH is on the lower side in the first trimester, don’t panic. Around 5% of women have a TSH below 0.1mIU/L by week 11 of pregnancy. It’s far more important that your T3 and T4 are adequate to support your pregnancy.
Iodine testing is also worthwhile
As you likely know, iodine is important for thyroid function. But on top of that, it’s even more critical in pregnancy. This is due to two reasons:
Increased kidney filtration means you’re experiencing greater iodine losses
Iodine also plays a role in the foetal brain and nervous system, as well as the production of their own thyroid hormones once the thyroid develops
There are many other nutrients that are needed for a healthy pregnancy. Make sure you work with a qualified nutritionist or naturopath who can test for these and help you understand how to optimise your levels.
Focus on a nutrient-dense diet
This might be tough in the first trimester if you have morning sickness. But hear me out! Eating plenty of nutrient-rich wholefoods is the best way to fuel your thyroid, your body and your pregnancy. And as a bonus, eating a good amount of protein may reduce feelings of nausea.
During pregnancy, my top diet recommendation is to have 5 small meals with protein in each, along with plenty of fresh fruit, veg, complex carbs and healthy fats. This will keep your blood sugar steady, give you the nutrition you need for yourself and your bub, and ensure your thyroid is doing its job.
Don’t neglect your stress!
Stress is a common issue for anyone who is pregnant, let alone someone juggling an autoimmune disease! But high stress can worsen your Hashimoto’s and increase your risk of pregnancy complications.
So find a form of stress management that works for you. If you need some ideas to get you started, I have you sorted here.
Prioritise rest
This is another one that is easy to overlook, particularly if you’re struggling to get everything done. But fatigue is a major symptom of pregnancy and Hashimoto’s for a reason. So instead of fighting it, embrace different forms of rest and recharge yourself. This can include:
Physical rest such as sufficient sleep and naps
Mental rest – put away the screens and read a book or enjoy a cup of herbal tea in the garden
Sensory rest – enjoy a quiet bath (not too hot!) or spend some time in a quiet room
Spiritual rest – meditation, yoga, prayer
THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS
When you receive a thyroid disease diagnosis, there’s a good chance you’ll feel overwhelmed and powerless. It could even be that you’re not clear on what’s driving it or where it came from!
But even if you’re still uncovering the cause, it doesn’t mean you need to suffer the symptoms forever! Your daily habits can make a massive difference – all you need to do is learn about your condition and empower yourself.