{"product_id":"congenital-hypothyroidism-and-your-baby-he1091","title":"Congenital hypothyroidism and your baby - HE1091","description":"\u003ch4\u003eYou have just learned that your baby has congenital hypothyroidism. The information in this leaflet will help you understand more about this condition and answer some of your questions.\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCongenital hypothyroidism \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCongenital hypothyroidism is a condition where a baby is born with a thyroid gland that does not work properly. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ at the base of the neck. Its job is to make thyroxine hormone that helps the cells of the body function correctly. A normally working thyroid gland is critical for normal growth and brain development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA small, under-developed (not fully grown) thyroid gland or one that is missing altogether are the commonest causes of congenital hypothyroidism. The reasons why the thyroid gland does not develop properly in the fetus are not known.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes congenital hypothyroidism is caused by the absence of an enzyme in the thyroid gland, preventing it from making thyroxine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne case of congenital hypothyroidism occurs in about every 2,300 babies born in New Zealand so there are about 30 babies born with this condition each year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTreatment\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs soon as you know your baby has congenital hypothyroidism, baby will be given thyroxine suspension. Enough thyroxine is given to your baby to increase levels to those of unaffected babies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the first two years of your baby’s life your paediatrician (doctor for children) will arrange frequent blood tests (usually weekly for six weeks then monthly until one year of age) to make sure that the thyroxine levels are normal. The thyroxine suspension will be given in different amounts for the first few months of life depending on the thyroid blood results.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe thyroxine suspension has to be made up by a pharmacist each week as it won’t work reliably for longer than this. As it is a suspension it needs to be shaken well before using. The suspension should always be kept in the fridge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour baby will also have regular checkups to make sure they are growing and developing normally. As your child becomes older, blood tests and hospital checkups are needed less often.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSome Answers:\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does the thyroid gland do? \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe thyroid gland is responsible for making thyroxine which has 3 main functions:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThyroxine helps develop your baby’s brain in the first two years of life. A lack of thyroid hormone during this time will lead to intellectual disability.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThyroxine is needed for normal growth, so not having enough can lead to poor growth and short height as an adult.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThyroxine is the ‘get-up-and-go’ hormone – a child without it may feel cold, tired, and be constipated (not able to move their bowels).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill my child be normal when they grow up?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere can never be a guarantee. With careful monitoring and treatment with thyroxine every day your baby has the best chance of achieving their full potential in growth and development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere does congenital hypothyroidism come from? Is it inherited?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe more common forms of congenital hypothyroidism such as an under-developed or absent thyroid gland are not inherited. Only conditions where the thyroid gland enzyme is absent are inherited. Your paediatrician can talk to you about this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCould congenital hypothyroidism have been prevented during pregnancy?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The reasons for underdevelopment of the thyroid gland are not known, so we do not know if there is any way of preventing it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat are the symptoms of congenital hypothyroidism?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the first weeks after birth, a baby with congenital hypothyroidism may have no obvious symptoms and be difficult to distinguish from an unaffected baby. However, babies born with congenital hypothyroidism may be very sleepy and feed slowly. They may have a tendency to be constipated and suffer from yellowing of the skin that lasts a long time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCongenital hypothyroidism can be diagnosed by a blood test before the baby develops any symptoms and signs of the condition. The blood test (heel prick test) is done as part of the Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy are babies screened for congenital hypothyroidism?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe aim of screening is to identify as soon as possible which babies are more likely to have congenital hypothyroidism so that treatment can be started. Most babies with congenital hypothyroidism are not obviously different from unaffected babies. Without a screening test your child may be months or years old before you find out. This delay in diagnosis and treatment will lead to intellectual disability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere can I go for further information?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTalk with your paediatrician\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisit \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.newbornscreening.info\/ch-congenital-hypothyroidism\/\"\u003eCH (Congenital Hypothyroidism) – newbornscreening.info\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFor more information about newborn screening, go to: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tewhatuora.govt.nz\/health-services-and-programmes\/newborn-metabolic-screening-programme\"\u003eNewborn Metabolic Screening for professionals – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"HealthEd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48703765807332,"sku":"HE1091","price":0.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0102\/6916\/3582\/files\/HE1091.png?v=1775778116","url":"https:\/\/healthed.govt.nz\/products\/congenital-hypothyroidism-and-your-baby-he1091","provider":"HealthEd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}