Hypothyroid During Pregnancy ( Indian Diet Plan to Manage weight & complications)

The thyroid gland in your body is responsible for producing hormones for metabolism. Metabolism is actually the powerhouse of energy as it controls various processes in the body. Thyroid hormones also regulate body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. a woman can have hypothyroidism before pregnancy or hypothyroidism might occur during pregnancy. Both conditions bring a lot of challenges in the pregnancy course. Here are the details that you need to know about hypothyroid during pregnancy ( Indian Diet Plan to Manage weight & complications in hypothyroid during pregnancy.)

Importance of Thyroid Hormones in Pregnancy:

The growing fetus is completely dependent on the mother for its requirements of thyroid hormone during the initial months of pregnancy. Thyroid Hormones regulate the overall development and brain growth in the fetus. In the later months of pregnancy, the fetus can make it’s own thyroid hormones.

Hypothyroid During Pregnancy :

Some women develop a mild to moderate hypothyroidism during the course of pregnancy. It mostly goes unnoticed as a large part of hypothyroidism symptoms are the same such as heat, fatigue, weight gain, and intolerance. Hence most Gynecologists get thyroid functions tested as a part of the pregnancy checkups. So, it is best to consult your doctor and get timely treatment for the same.

Complications involved in Hypothyroid During Pregnancy :

Thyroid hormones can greatly affect the fetus and lead to a lot of complications. If left untreated, it can result in the following –

• Premature baby,
• Anemia, and
• Miscarriage.
• Birth defects like cleft palate and extra fingers
• Autoimmune disorders
• Developmental delays
• Increased risk of heart, kidney, and brain-related disorders

Hence, timely treatment of hypo functioning thyroid is very important to ensure a healthy baby. Along with the regular medical treatment, the best solution is to follow a diet that can provide good nourishment to the fetus.

Medical Support in Hypothyroidism during Pregnancy:

Normal range thyroid levels will prevent the risks of miscarriage and stillbirths. It will help in the proper development of the baby’s brain. Your doctor will also recommend thyroxine tablets in order to enhance the thyroid hormones level. As pregnancy advances, the thyroid levels experience a tremendous change. So it is necessary to do the blood tests every 4 weeks during the early weeks of pregnancy.

Superfoods That Help in Hypothyroid During  Pregnancy:

Let us take a look at some of the natural home remedies that can help to restore the function of your thyroid gland during pregnancy and otherwise.

• Flaxseeds:

Flaxseeds are full of omega-3 fatty acids that help in the production of thyroid hormones. They support the sex hormones and thyroid as they have phyto-estrogenic properties. They are an excellent source of vitamin B12 and magnesium that can fight the hypothyroidism symptoms. Read more about the benefits of Flaxseeds.

• Ginger:

Ginger is one of the best remedies for treating hypothyroidism. It is rich in polyphenols, magnesium, and potassium that exhibit powerful anti-inflammatory properties that are greatly beneficial for hypothyroidism symptoms. If you are in the first trimester and experiencing indigestion, acidity and heartburns, consuming ginger in the right quantity and the right way will give you tremendous benefits. Read about how to eat ginger in pregnancy and its benefits. 

• Ashwagandha:

This wonderful herb can work wonders in regulating your thyroid hormones. It strengthens immunity and enhances the stamina of your body. It is a gift of nature and its intake can support the performance of the thyroid.

• Coconut oil:

Coconut oil is known for combating hypothyroidism by enhancing your body temperature and metabolism. It contains medium-chain fatty acids and has excellent anti-microbial as well as anti-inflammatory properties. We often just end up following a diet trend without knowing if this will really benefit you medically. It is best to learn more about the cooking oils that are safe for consumption in the thyroid or other hormonal issues before consuming what is trending in the market. Check out the best and the worst cooking oils for thyroid.

• Brazil Nuts:

Brazil nuts are in excellent selenium source which helps in the proper functioning of the thyroid. But it is important not to over-consume as they are high in fat.

• Guggul:

Guggul is known to activate compounds in the body called guggulsterone which can relieve the hypothyroidism symptoms. It has anti-inflammatory properties and can stimulate the thyroid functions. Guggul is easily available in all Ayurvedic stores.

• Kelp:

Kelp is a brown weed that contains the best elements and organic properties to cure hypothyroid effectively. It can aid in fulfilling the lack of iodine in your body. You can also take spirulina. Read about the benefits of spirulina and how to include it in your diet. 

• Iodized Table salt:

The thyroid gland is dependent on Iodine for its normal functioning. Deficiency can not only lead to goiter ( swelling of the thyroid gland) but also in hypothyroidism. Iodized salts are the best way to include iodine in your diet, especially if you are a vegetarian. If you are swayed by the benefits of Himalayan pink salt and using this salt instead of the regular table salt, then probably you are doing more bad to your thyroid gland than good. For more information regarding which salt is better for you and why you must watch this video on Table salt Vs Himalayan salt.

In addition to following these effective home remedies, it is extremely important to take regular blood tests in pregnancy.

Indian Diet Plan for Hypothyroid During Pregnancy:

Here is an Indian diet plan that you can follow for hypothyroid during pregnancy. This plan is suitable for the first trimester of pregnancy. As the pregnancy progress and your thyroid hormones come to normal levels you can follow our Indian diet plan for pregnancy.

• Early morning: 2 or 3 soaked brazil nut + 1 cup turmeric tea. ( Recipe) OR 1 cup of ginger tea without sugar.

• Breakfast: 2 vegetable idlis with chutney OR

1 bowl oats upma. OR

2-3 pieces of rawa or besan dhokla +coconut chutney. OR

1 bowl of vegetable poha. OR

1 paneer stuffed dosa+coconut chutney.

• Mid-morning: Apple slices/oranges with little sprinkled iodized salt and flaxseed powder.

• Lunch: 1 cup Quinoa +tomato+ cucumber salad ( quinoa is optional) ++

1 cup chickpeas curry/ 1 cup dal / 1 cup chicken curry / 1 cup curd  ++

2 wheat roti or 1 bowl daliya ( If you dont have Hashimoto’s ) / 2 rice four roti/ 1 bowl oats / 1 bowl quinoa++

1 cup cooked mixed vegetable

• Mid-evening: 1 glass of carrot juice with lemon / 1 glass avocado shake.

• Dinner: 1 bowl pumpkin soup / 1 bowl carrot and tomato soup

+ 1 medium bowl khichdi

+ kadhi.

• Bedtime: 1 cup Ashwagandha root powder mixed in water + 1 spirulina capsule

Pregnancy diet plan services:

If you feel you need more options or have issues that were not covered in this diet plan, you can subscribe to our personalized pregnancy diet plan.

Healthy Tips for Managing Hypothyroid in pregnancy:

Some tips that you can practice in your daily life for managing hypothyroidism are as follow-

• Relaxation methods:

There are many forms of Pranayam and yoga that help to restore a balance in the thyroid gland secretion. You can take the help of a professional in order to learn about the correct postures. Studies have shown that the practice of these methods can improve thyroid response during pregnancy and otherwise.

• Increase your water intake:

Sufficient water intake can help control the functions of all the glands present in your body. For the proper working of the thyroid gland, it is important to have ten to twelve glasses of water. It eliminates unnecessary harmful toxins and maintains the health of your kidneys.

• Exposure to sunlight:

For achieving the right balance of thyroid gland and hormone secretion it is essential to expose your body in sunlight for about 15 minutes every day. It can boost the metabolism and strengthen the immune system. Vitamin D is very essential during pregnancy. check other Benefits of Vitamin D.

• Keep moving:

Try to include light physical activity such as walking during pregnancy every day. It can help your thyroid and make you stay fit.

• Drop the mobile phone:

Talking on the mobile phone for long hours can have a negative impact on the thyroid gland which is related to the ears. It can damage the gland so it is best to use headsets and only use mobile-only when important.

• Avoid stress:

Avoiding stress by practicing meditation or yoga is one of the best cures for hypothyroidism. It can also be reduced by following a disciplined life. A good night’s sleep of 8 hours really helps.

• Have a good sleep:

Sleep plays a crucial role in the regulation of your hormones. Poor sleep patterns can disrupt the normal functioning of the thyroid which can affect not only your health but the fetus as well.

Read our other Important Articles on Thyroid and pregnancy:

• Indian diet plan for pregnancy
• How to gain less weight in pregnancy 
• Diabetes in pregnancy
• What to eat in pregnancy.
• Thyroid and weight loss; Losing weight with hypothyroidism
• Indian diet plan for thyroid. 

EndNote:

Hypothyroidism during pregnancy should not be taken lightly as it can pose various risks for you and your unborn baby. But as long as you take the right kind of treatment and follow a balanced diet there is no reason to despair. So make sure that you undergo regular screening, do not skip your medicines and incorporate the above-mentioned diet in your daily life.