In order to fulfil the adequate nutrition demand to the growing fetus, the maternal physiological adjustments of
different organ systems are noticed during pregnancy. Circulatory, metabolic and hormonal changes have been
noticed in pre and post-partum mothers. Prepartum problems are found to be associated with changes in the
thyroid hormone level and this varies in each trimester. The present study is to try to find out the levels of thyroid
hormones (viz.) thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), free
triiodothyronine (fT3) and free thyroxine (fT4) in healthy non-pregnant (control) women compared to pre-partum
(pregnant) and post-partum (period following child birth) women of age between 21-40 yrs.
A decline of TSH level in the first and second trimesters in prepartum and post-partum women and an increase in
the third trimester of pre-partum mothers is noticed. There is a decrease in the mean TT3 level in the first and third
trimesters and an increase in the second trimester and post-partum women. A drop in TT4 level in the first
trimester and post-partum women and a hike in second and third trimesters are very well documented.
An elevated level of fT3 in the first trimester and post-partum women and a reduction in the second and third
trimesters is noticed when compared to the control group. A reduction of fT4 in pre and post-partum mothers is
very clear from this study.
Abstract