Pregnancy and Thyroid Disease

Did you know your thyroid gland makes extra hormones during pregnancy for your baby’s developing brain and nervous system?

Hi, I’m Dr. Griffin Rodgers, the director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at NIH.

Your thyroid gland uses a mineral called iodine to make thyroid hormones. During the first 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, your baby relies on the thyroid hormones you produce. That’s why during pregnancy, you need extra iodine to support both you and your baby.

Good sources of iodine are dairy foods, seafood, eggs, meat, poultry, and iodized salt. Also, taking a prenatal vitamin with iodine can help ensure your thyroid has what it needs. 

If you’re pregnant, learn about the symptoms of thyroid problems and tell your doctor if you’ve had a history of thyroid disease. Monitoring your thyroid during pregnancy can help reduce health problems for you and your baby.

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