Hypothyroidism

A goiter is any visible enlargement of the thyroid gland.

The thyroid gland, straddling the trachea (windpipe), produces thyroxin, a hormone that regulates the metabolic activity of the body. The thyroid is controlled by the pituitary gland, which secretes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in response to the amount of thyroxin it finds in the blood. TSH increases the amount of thyroxin secreted by the thyroid and also causes the thyroid gland to grow.

According to the Mayo Clinic, hormones produced by the thyroid gland have an enormous impact on health, affecting all aspects of metabolism — from the rate at which the heart beats to how quickly we burn calories.

"Depression that occurs during pregnancy or within a year after delivery is called perinataldepression." "... researchers believe that depression is one of the most common complications during and after pregnancy. Often, the depression is not recognized or treated, because some normal pregnancy changes cause similar symptoms and are happening at the same time. Tiredness, problems sleeping, stronger emotional reactions, and changes in body weight may occur during pregnancy and after pregnancy. But these symptoms may also be signs of depression."