Signs and symptoms of underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) are the same in pregnant women as in women who aren't pregnant. These include:
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Dry skin or hair
- Feeling cold all of the time
But an underactive thyroid can increase the risk of:
- Miscarriage
- Premature delivery
- Significantly increased blood pressure in the last trimester (preeclampsia)
- Adverse effects on fetal development
If you have an underactive thyroid, continue your treatment while you're trying to conceive and during your entire pregnancy. If you're diagnosed with hypothyroidism while pregnant, get prompt treatment.
Standard treatment is the daily use of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levothroid, Synthroid, others). Pregnant women may need a higher dose of thyroid hormone than may women who aren't pregnant. If you have underactive thyroid and become pregnant, tell your doctor because your dose may need adjustment. The correct dose can be determined by a simple blood test (thyroid-stimulating hormone test).
