Perinatal Hypothyroidism and Infant Health and Sleep
Faculty Mentor Information
Nicki Aubuchon Endsley
Abstract
Maternal untreated hypothyroidism during pregnancy increases risk for maternal preeclampsia, miscarriage, placental abruption, preterm delivery and infants with low birth weight and/or birth defects. It has been associated with long-term cognitive and motor deficits in children deprived of the thyroid hormone in utero. This is due to fetal programming based on the essential role of thyroid hormones for normal fetal brain development.
We examined the relationship between mothers with perinatal hypothyroidism and overall infant health and sleep patterns. Mothers came in for a session between 33-37 weeks gestation. They completed a questionnaire that asked whether they had a thyroid disorder. Then, 6 months postpartum, mother and baby came back and participated in a behavioral observation, and completed questionnaires about baby’s health and sleep habits. Data (n=96) was taken from the Idaho Mom Study.
An independent t-test was ran to examine whether there was a significant relationship between mothers with hypothyroidism, and babies with poorer health and sleep habits. The results for Perinatal hypothyroidism and health were t(94)=-.464, p=.644 with a 95% confidence interval of -1.32-.822. The results from Perinatal hypothyroidism and health were t(94)=-.979, p=.330 with a 95% confidence interval of -.460-.156. There was not significance found between either relationships.
Perinatal Hypothyroidism and Infant Health and Sleep
Maternal untreated hypothyroidism during pregnancy increases risk for maternal preeclampsia, miscarriage, placental abruption, preterm delivery and infants with low birth weight and/or birth defects. It has been associated with long-term cognitive and motor deficits in children deprived of the thyroid hormone in utero. This is due to fetal programming based on the essential role of thyroid hormones for normal fetal brain development.
We examined the relationship between mothers with perinatal hypothyroidism and overall infant health and sleep patterns. Mothers came in for a session between 33-37 weeks gestation. They completed a questionnaire that asked whether they had a thyroid disorder. Then, 6 months postpartum, mother and baby came back and participated in a behavioral observation, and completed questionnaires about baby’s health and sleep habits. Data (n=96) was taken from the Idaho Mom Study.
An independent t-test was ran to examine whether there was a significant relationship between mothers with hypothyroidism, and babies with poorer health and sleep habits. The results for Perinatal hypothyroidism and health were t(94)=-.464, p=.644 with a 95% confidence interval of -1.32-.822. The results from Perinatal hypothyroidism and health were t(94)=-.979, p=.330 with a 95% confidence interval of -.460-.156. There was not significance found between either relationships.