What might a pregnant woman experience regarding her thyroid function?

During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes various physiological changes to support the developing fetus, including adaptations in thyroid function. The correct understanding is that there is increased thyroid function during pregnancy. This is primarily due to the increased demand for thyroid hormones that facilitate fetal development and maintain various metabolic processes in the mother.

As the pregnancy progresses, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels rise, which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormones. Additionally, the production of thyroid-binding globulin increases, leading to elevated total levels of thyroid hormones, even if the free levels of hormones may remain stable. It's essential for the thyroid function to be adequately regulated during pregnancy to ensure both maternal and fetal health.

While other options might reflect certain aspects of thyroid health, they don’t accurately represent what typically occurs during pregnancy. For instance, stable thyroid hormone levels may occur, but it does not capture the dynamic increase in function that is characteristic during this period. Decreased thyroid function does not align with the general physiological shift that necessitates increased hormone production. Lastly, while thyroid function may decrease postpartum due to various hormonal changes, this does not pertain to the pregnant state itself, which is why that option does not apply to the context of the question.