“Life is the division of human cells, a process which begins at conception”
Once the magic of conception occurs the creation of a new life inside you also begins. It follows a set path with strict time-frames for the formation of what will be your baby’s organs.
One example is your baby’s thyroid gland which begins forming around the 3rd week of gestation. At the end of the 7th week, the embryonic thyroid is in its final position in front of the trachea. Production & secretion of thyroid hormones in the blood starts as early as the 10th week of gestation.
As the thyroid gland is essential to our body’s metabolic functioning as well as hormones throughout life, it is important that your baby’s thyroid is created properly.
The mum’s thyroid health, therefore, has a direct impact on her child’s future thyroid gland – everything from hypo (low) to hyper (fast), to autoimmune conditions like Graves Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. I have previously written about the importance of testing thyroid health well prior to having a baby in order to address any imbalances that may be present.
Thyroid hormones help mum get pregnant, but they also help baby’s thyroid hormone development. Therefore, a well-functioning thyroid is crucial in pregnancy. Pregnancy places stress on the mother’s thyroid gland which undergoes physiologic changes to sustain foetal growth. During pregnancy, the thyroid gland can increase in size by 10-40%.
The wider implications of thyroid function
Thyroid function is crucial for reproduction, affecting both male and female fertility.
I have written several blogs about the importance of optimal thyroid health for both parents. If you are considering starting a family or are experiencing challenges trying to conceive, it may be worth following the recommendations in my book. Most tests are available through your GP – but you can’t know ‘why’ it’s not happening if you don’t test. This applies to both parents.
