Our bodies have endocrine glands. These are hormone glands. Hormones in the bloodstream influence cells, organs, and functions. Our bodies communicate through hormones. In addition to carrying messages between body parts, they help the body grow. Furthermore, it controls the mood and helps with metabolism and reproduction.
Is There a Need for an Endocrinology or Hormonal Test While Pregnant?
You’ll get an endocrinology test once you start trying. The reason? The endocrinology test measures human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). If the results are positive, bingo! You’re pregnant!
When you’re getting ready to get pregnant, your placenta releases HCG hormones, Human placental lactogen (hPL), estrogen, and progesterone. HCG hormones cause morning sickness in the first trimester. During pregnancy, hPL hormones make breast milk. The estrogen boosts pregnancy health, while progesterone makes the uterine line thicker so fertilised eggs can get implanted. You can detect hormonal and endocrine disorders early with this test. Your healthcare provider can also help you balance your hormones.
How Do Hormonal and Endocrine Disorders Work?
During pregnancy, your body goes through a lot of changes. A hormonal or endocrine disorder makes you feel irritable, tired, and gain or lose weight – all this while worrying about your baby’s health. As a result of hormonal disorders, you may end up with pregnancy health problems like gestational thyroid, gestational diabetes, premature birth, and low birth weight babies.
Thyroid in Pregnancy
TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. During pregnancy, these hormones play an important role in regulating metabolism, heart rate, and other bodily functions. A family history of autoimmune thyroid disease and type 1 diabetes mellitus are closely related to thyroid disease.
Leaving your thyroid untreated and uncontrolled could hurt you and your baby. Despite that, the thyroid is the second most common endocrine disorder during pregnancy. Most commonly, this endocrine disorder is associated with placental abruption, pregnancy hypertension, and a baby’s growth restriction inside the womb.
To keep the thyroid under control during pregnancy, you need to take care of your health and do these things:
- intake of food rich in omega–3
- intake of food rich in Vitamin A and D
- intake of saturated fats to your meals
- Besides this, you need to stay active – brisk walking for 10 minutes, and practising yoga sana (under professional supervision)
Along with treating the thyroid naturally, you may also treat it medically with your doctor.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs in between 2% and 14% of pregnancies, according to CDC research. You may be asked to have a blood test during pregnancy between 24 and 28 weeks to assess your diabetes risk.
Even though you cannot completely prevent gestational diabetes, you can manage it by changing your lifestyle a little bit, such as eating a balanced diet and exercising daily. You can also treat diabetes during pregnancy medically. Insulin and oral diabetes medicine might be considered only after consulting with your doctor.
Premature Birth
Giving birth after 40 weeks means the pregnancy has been fully regulated and all hormones are working. Sometimes hormonal changes, pregnancy complications, and health conditions can cause preterm labour. When you’re carrying a preterm baby, there’s fetal cortisol hormone released, and the placenta releases estriol and prostaglandins.
Pregnancy is a time of transformation, and hormones are at the forefront. As mentioned above, hormone disorders can cause all kinds of complications. Keeping hormones under control is possible with a nutritious diet and regular exercise.