The thyroid gland sits in the lower part of the neck and weighs approximately 1.5 ounces. It produces about one teaspoon of thyroid hormone per year. This hormone drives the metabolic rate of every cell in the body, 24 hours a day.

Too much thyroid hormone is known as hyperthyroidism, while a deficiency of thyroid hormone is referred to as hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism can even happen in the womb. Congenital hypothyroidism refers to the inadequate production of thyroid hormone by the fetus. This can be caused by genetic mutations, a defect in the thyroid gland, or iodine deficiency.

Gestational or maternal hypothyroidism refers to when the mother suffers from hypothyroidism and is not supplying the fetus with an adequate amount of the hormone. This can occur due to autoimmune thyroid disease, damage to the thyroid gland or lack of iodine in the mother’s diet.

The incidence of gestational hypothyroidism has been reported to be between 0.2 and 2.5 percent of all pregnancies.

However, my clinical experience indicates that those numbers are much too low.

The increasing incidence of childhood neurological problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression are directly related to the rapid rise in gestational hypothyroidism.

In one study researchers evaluated 502,036 pregnant women in the United States. Of these, 117,892 were tested for hypothyroidism, and 16 percent (18,291 out of 117,892) had gestational hypothyroidism.

Potential consequences of a baby not receiving adequate thyroid hormone while in the womb include:

• Endocrine abnormalities

• Mental retardation

• Neurological problems

• Poor immune function

All of these conditions are preventable simply by ensuring adequate thyroid hormone for the developing fetus.