What is overactivity of the thyroid gland in pregnancy?
Overactivity of the thyroid gland is also called thyrotoxicosis or hyperthyroidism. Overactivity of the thyroid gland occurs in approximately 2 in every thousand pregnancies. What happens when the thyroid gland becomes overactive? When the gland becomes overactive the thyroid gland produces extra thyroid hormones which is a bit like a car being in overdrive. When the thyroid gland is overactive you may experience a number of symptoms. Some of the more common symptoms are listed below Loss of energy Nervousness, agitation, irritability Sweating, dislike of heat Tremor Weight loss Palpitations or fast heart rate Diarrhoea Muscle Weakness Skin Changes Swelling in the throat Dry gritty eyes, painful or protruding eyes Double Vision Each patient is different and you may experience only a few of these symptoms What effect does overactivity of the thyroid have on my baby? If the overactivity is not well controlled you may go into early labour and your baby may be smaller than expected. What c
