Mother, not many people know that autism can be influenced by complications that occur during pregnancy. Knowing what causes it early can prevent this from happening. See how pregnancy complications, especially thyroid disease, can cause autism in your little one.
Reporting from the New York Post, researchers revealed that the chance of a child suffering from autism could be greater if the mother had thyroid problems during pregnancy. A mother who has low thyroid hormone levels during the three trimesters of pregnancy will increase the risk of autism in her child threefold.
Data in America reveals that an estimated 1 in 31 children aged 8 years and over have been diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), a neurological developmental disorder that affects children’s learning, behavior and social interactions.
Know the thyroid and its hormonal functions
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The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck and just below the Adam’s apple. This gland produces hormones to regulate metabolism, energy and other vital functions, Mother. This hormone is also very important and influences the development of your little one’s brain, especially during early pregnancy.
This thyroid hormone helps neurons or brain cells to grow, move, and form connections which are very important in building intelligence and communication in the brain. In addition, this hormone supports the development of brain production structures and the production of myelin, which is a layer of fat that helps nerve signals move quickly. In short, this hormone is the key to optimal brain development, Mother.
Get to know thyroid complications
Thyroid disease is a health condition that needs to be watched out for, whether pregnant or not, which is characterized by endocrine disorders. This condition can affect the gland’s ability to produce hormones. If it occurs when you are pregnant, thyroid disease can cause miscarriage, preeclampsia, premature birth, your little one being born with a low birth weight, as well as potential long-term effects on your little one’s health.
Therefore, Bun, it is important to know from the start the risk of pregnancy complications in thyroid disease. If you experience this when you are pregnant, there is no need to worry, immediately go for routine examination and treatment with an expert. That way, mothers can have a healthy pregnancy.
“Chronic thyroid dysfunction that is treated appropriately will not increase the risk of autism in offspring. The risk of autism is more likely if hormones continue to be unbalanced and uncontrolled for a long period of time, especially during important trimesters of fetal brain development,” emphasized Dr. Idan Menashe senior lecturer at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Symptoms of thyroid disease
Reporting from NIDDK, in general, the symptoms of thyroid problems that pregnant women most often encounter are a faster heartbeat, difficulty withstanding heat, and fatigue. However, there are several other symptoms that could indicate a problem with your thyroid, such as the following:
- Heartbeat is faster and irregular
- Hands shaking
- Weight loss that is difficult to explain or occurs suddenly
- Absence of normal weight gain during pregnancy
If during pregnancy you experience symptoms like these, to prevent worse pregnancy complications, you can go to the hospital for an examination to get medical results and appropriate treatment.
How to maintain thyroid health
So that your thyroid functions optimally and is good for your little one, you must pay attention to the amount of iodine consumed. Iodine is a very important mineral and functions to produce hormones in the thyroid. During pregnancy, your little one is completely dependent on the iodine that you get from food.
Quoted from NIDDK, mothers’ daily iodine needs increase during pregnancy. Mothers must get at least 250 micrograms of iodine per day. The following are foods and drinks with the best sources of iodine that you can consume:
- Dairy products
- Seafood
- Eggs, meat and poultry
- Iodized salt
Apart from that, experts also strongly advise mothers to consume prenatal vitamins containing 150 micrograms of iodine to ensure adequate daily intake, especially if mothers do not use iodized salt. Prenatal vitamins themselves contain folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, DHA/Omega 3, vitamin B complex, and iodine which are good for supporting the mother’s health and the development of your little one.
It is better to consult a doctor about what you consume first so that the health of you and your little one is more optimal.
This is the risk of autism in babies if a mother suffers from pregnancy complications. Don’t panic and always communicate with experts so that Mother and Little One stay healthy.
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