"My thyroid problems began after I had my first kid."
How many women do you know have said that? It's not just coincidence... it is physiology gone wrong.
Managing the integrity of a new mom's hormones, immune system and digestive tract is key to identifying and managing a thyroid condition. Let's discuss a few triggers of pregnancy-induced-thyroid disorder.
Thyroid Trigger 1 - Hormones
While a woman is pregnant, her hormones are changing. There comes a time in pregnancy (around 24 weeks) where the estrogen and progesterone hormones produced by the placenta start a rapid climb and surpass the HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone. The estrogens that are produced from the placenta are derived from mom's adrenal glands. A rapid fluctuation of estrogen is known to trigger an autoimmune response. Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune attack on the thyroid (TPO) antibodies. A whopping, 5-18% of all pregnant women exhibit elevated thyroid-specific antibodies (2).
Thyroid Trigger 2 - Immune system
During the second trimester of pregnancy, the immune system is TH-2 dominant. During postpartum, the immune systemswitches to become TH-1 dominant (3). This switch is important because the shifts in the thyroid hormones will set off an already stressed out immune system, which can lead to postpartum thyroiditis. Supporting the immune system with certain immune modulators as well as avoiding foods that can launch an immune attack are essential. A stressed out immune system is defined as one with bacterial overload, microbial overgrowth, food sensitivity/allergy, chronic infections, other autoimmune diseases, and intestinal permeability.
Thyroid Trigger 3 - Digestion
Ice cream, pickles and hot sauce - oh the cravings! Our health care providers express the importance of healthy eating for baby in utero. Healthy eating is important, however, if one can not absorb the nutritious foods then money, energy and health is lost. One of the first lines of defense against microbes and damaging toxins is the digestive tract. Certain stress hormones thin the protective lining of the stomach. If the integrity of the stomach lining is lost, healthy tissue wears away and allows for invaders to enter our bloodstream. The food we eat is usually representative of the integrity of our digestive tract. For example, if a person can not eat certain foods due to a sensitive stomach or an allergy, then the digestive tract needs repair.
Thyroid problems can be a direct result of pregnancy. Modulating the hormones, immune and digestive systems are the mostnaturally supportive ways to address a sluggish or overactive thyroid. Did your thyroid symptoms start postpartum? Are you tired of wondering, "why?" Are you ready to get some answers?
We can help.
1 Guytons Physiology Unit XIV Chapter 82, Pregnancy and Lactation, p. 1033
2 Datis Kharrazian, 2010 Mastering the Thyroid
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