Pregnancy causes a series of changes in the women's body, which continues even after childbirth. There occurs postpartum thyroiditis in women. That is inflammation of the thyroid gland after delivery of the baby. It happens 4-8 months after delivery and lasts up to 9-12months. 1 out of 10 women have Thyroid after the delivery, and a lot of them do not understand the changes; either they get diagnosed wrong, or they are unaware of the issues behind the problems.

Women keep searching everywhere to know more about the changes in their bodies. Some women have never had thyroid issues before, but after pregnancy, the problem starts. Others may have experienced Thyroid before pregnancy. Let's have a quick look at the things revolving around pregnancy and Thyroid:

The thyroid hormone is vital because it controls various metabolic functions of the body like hair follicle growth, regulating proteins and mucopolysaccharides synthesis. So it's essential to check thyroid hormone levels regularly during pregnancy and post-pregnancy. The thyroid hormones need to be in the average level range for normal metabolic functions.

• ‣ If there is an enlargement of the thyroid gland during pregnancy, it is normal. But if the growth persists after delivery, it is essential to check that.
• ‣ Thyroid disorders are of 2 types; hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. According to studies, about 5 per cent of women with hyperprolactinemia have hypothyroidism.
• ‣ What is hyperprolactinemia?? It is a condition that occurs during pregnancy and elevates after childbirth due to breastfeeding. It is common in 15percent of all anovulatory women.
• ‣ Hypothyroidism is usually permanent, so it is essential to have prevention rather have a cure.

Is Thyroid more common in females?

Approximately 1 in 8 women will be affected by a thyroid condition at some point in their lives. The risk for women is about 10 times higher than for men. One reason is that thyroid disorders are often triggered by autoimmune responses when the body's immune system starts to attack its cells. We still don't understand what causes these responses, but we know that autoimmune conditions are more common in women than men. Another reason for the prevalence of thyroid disorders in women is an interplay between thyroid hormones and the hormones that fluctuate during the menstrual cycle. Thyroid problems can happen at any time, but they are widespread in women during and after menopause when hormone levels change.

Foods to avoid if you have Thyroid:

Cruciferous vegetables: They are full of fibre and other nutrients, but they may interfere with thyroid hormone production if you have an iodine deficiency. Eating them in reasonable amounts is not a problem. This includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips and rutabagas. These vegetables do not contain much iodine (except for iodized salt), but they can reduce the amount of iodine your body can absorb if you eat them raw. So, if you love raw cruciferous veggies, make sure that you cook them. Some people also choose to avoid eating crucifiers even while cooking.

Gluten: People with hypothyroidism may want to consider minimizing their gluten intake, a protein found in foods processed from wheat, barley, rye, and other grains. Gluten can irritate the small intestine and may hamper thyroid hormone replacement medication absorption. Also, be sure to take your hypothyroidism medication several hours before or after eating high-fibre foods to prevent them from interfering with the absorption of your synthetic thyroid hormone.

Fatty food: Fats have been found to disrupt the body's ability to absorb thyroid hormone replacement medicines. Fats may also interfere with the Thyroid's ability to produce hormones. Some healthcare professionals recommend that you cut out all fried foods and reduce your intake of fats from sources such as butter, mayonnaise, margarine and fatty cuts of meat. Avoid saturated fats and oils, as they are high in cholesterol. Instead, choose lean meats, poultry or fish. Ask your doctor if there are any restrictions regarding the intake of dietary fat or supplements you should be aware of when taking thyroid medications.

Sugary products: A slow metabolism may hold you back from getting the body you want, and in the case of hypothyroidism, it's even more important to avoid eating foods that slow down your metabolism. Sugar is a simple carbohydrate, which means it lacks nutrients and is high in calories. Therefore, it's best to avoid excess sugar intake whether you have hypothyroidism or not.

Packaged or frozen food: Processed foods typically contain a lot of salt, and people with hypothyroidism should avoid excess sodium intake. Having an underactive thyroid increases your risk for high blood pressure, and too much sodium further raises this risk. People with an increased risk for high blood pressure should restrict their sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams per day.

Coffee: Caffeine has been found to block absorption of thyroid hormone. This can cause a rebound of your thyroid levels and worsen the symptoms of an overactive or underactive thyroid gland. Patients with abnormal thyroid function should take their medication with a full glass of water and wait 30 minutes to an hour before having any caffeine.