Who here has gone through a pregnancy w/ hypothyroidism?

[snickelfritz]

We're discussing trying for another baby.:tongue_smilie:

 

My doctor said the thyroid medication was no big deal and really indicated that it would be a normal pregnancy. Some things I have read online suggested I should start getting my levels tested ASAP. As in, take pregnancy tests ASAP, keep taking them, and go in to get thyroid checked as soon as you get a positive.

 

I hyper-scheduled previous TTC attempts and was hoping to be a bit more laid-back...as in no Excel spreadsheets keeping track of EVERYthing.:D But the thyroid stuff has me a bit nervous.

 

I was just wondering what docters IRL had you do? I'm also wondering if I should go in and have one last level check beforehand? I've been feeling fine, so no indication that my medication needs to be changed.

[BamaTanya]

Mine were checked once a year before baby. At the first ob appt, they checked again. I can't remember if they checked after that . . . maybe mid-pregnancy when they check the glucose tolerance and all that. I know that pregnancy can throw a lot of stuff off, but it didn't seem to affect my TSH levels.

 

My ob and the baby's pediatrician were totally unconcerned about hypothroidism that is under control -- during preg. and nursing. My ob said there were *some* studies that suggested that untreated hypothyroidism during pregnancy might pose a problem for babies.

 

My big-girl-now baby is a-okay in every way!

 

Do you trust your dr? I tend to be more concerned about stuff than mine is, but he's always been right. I mean, he treats me like an intelligent person, listens to my concerns, and explains what or why. If you trust your dr and he doesn't think you should worry, I don't think you should either.

[Carol in Cal.]

I found that my body consumed thyroid hormone a little faster when I was pregnant. I think that I changed med levels up a notch at onset, after testing low, and then up again another little notch around 7 1/2 months when I was very fatigued--but also started more iron than just prenatals then. The combo worked fine.

 

Dr. had told me to change back to the original pre-preg levels after the baby was born, but that it was not urgent to do so--a few weeks plus or minus would not make any noticeable difference. So when I used up my existing meds, I switched back and got another test when DD was a month old and it was fine.

[snickelfritz]

Before that, I had been on the same dose for almost 2 years.

 

I do trust my doctor. She's family practice and sort of specializes in female hormone issues. She seems to be forward-thinking in treatment practices and goes with how I'm feeling, just as much as test results. She does do pregnancies, so I've also been trying to decide whether I would stay with her through the pregnancy--since she knows all about my hormone issues--or if I should find an OB. She said she would keep me through a pregnancy with thyroid issues, but would refer me to a specialist if I ever developed something like insulin resistance.

 

 

Did you have any increased problems TTC, if some pregnancies were with thyroid problems and some were without thyroid problems?

[Amanda's Mommy]

I was 9 years post thryoid cancer when I got pregnant. My endo checked levels every 8 weeks. I think I went up 2 doses and changed back to the original dose the morning after she was born. DD is now 6.5 and perfectly healthy.

[dragons in the flower bed]

Did you have any increased problems TTC, if some pregnancies were with thyroid problems and some were without thyroid problems?

 

 

The first time I conceived, I was on Synthroid, the second time, on nutritional and herbal supplements but not Synthroid, the third time, on a homeopathic remedy.

 

The first pregnancy was a surprise triumph over modern methods of birth control. The other two were let's-not-worry-and-see-what-happens pregnancies, but in both cases I believe I became pregnant as soon as my bigger kid weaned, during my first or second cycle.

 

All three midwives tested my levels once in the first trimester and were otherwise unconcerned. They were homebirth midwives who would not have taken a client they considered risky.

 

It seems like it would be a big deal, but really, hypothyroidism in pregnancy is not, if your medication is handling it well.

[Kanga]

With my last pregnancy I had my thyroid levels checked once a month. My meds had to be adjusted twice during my pregnancy.

 

My meds were checked monthly because I had two second term miscarriages. My last miscarrage happened while on synthroid after being stable for several years, so both my doc and I were cautious. The extra precaution was a very small price to pay for a healthy, near-full term baby.

[beansprouts]

It is no big deal, just take your meds. It probably isn't a bad idea to have your levels checked more often, but I personally didn't bother. I did need to have meds adjusted at least twice post-partum. After 4y.o. ds was born, I went through a hypothyroid "storm" where my pulse rate jumped to around 120, and I lost 20 pounds in three weeks. Not fun. With both hypothyroid pregnancies I ended up with a higher dose than I started.

[ChristusG]

Thank you for this post! With my last baby I had post-partum thyroiditis. My thyroid actually went hyper and it caused me to feel just horrible for months and months. I saw an endocrinologist and she told me that if I ever decided to get pregnant again, I would need to see her ASAP after I got a positive pregnancy test because I would probably need to go on meds. She said that the meds are no big deal in pregnancy, but that if I left the thyroid untreated, then that could cause problems.

 

I've been nervous about trying again. I'm not ready to do so yet (my little one is 21 months old), but we probably will be in the next year. So thanks for starting this thread so that I can see everyone's response to thyroid medications.

[Quiver0f10]

I have been hypothryroid since my 17 yo was a baby and on meds. I never got my levels checked, other than normal scheduled checks, or had any issues and concieved without trouble.

[Janet in Toronto]

I have been through two pregnancies on Synthroid. In both cases, my dose needed to be adjusted a couple of times, once during pregnancy and then again post-partum.

 

Keep in mind too that having well-adjusted hormone levels can help you to GET pregnant. My sister was first diagnosed hypothyroid while trying to get pregnant and going on a very small dose of synthroid did the trick.

[Quad Shot Academy]

My thyroid was extremely volatile and kept switching from hyper to hypo. I had it checked every month, through all three pregnancies. The only problem I ever had due to the thyroid was with my last. I was told my thyroid was dead and was on armour thyroid for the whole pregnancy. 6 weeks after he was born, my thyroid returned to normal, but since I was still on meds, I got violently ill. It lasted for 4 weeks, until the medication got out of my system.

[~Jenn~]

I became hypothyroid after ds was born and have been on Synthroid since (although I've been trying to persuade my doc to prescribe Armour).

 

From what I've read it really is best to see an endo. during your pregnancy if possible. The baby's thyroid isn't fully developed until approximately the 5th month so your body would naturally produce extra hormone for the baby but with Synthroid you're on one set dose so your body doesn't do that natural regulating which is why you need regular testing to make sure that your dosage is enough.

 

There have been some studies that show if thyroid hormone levels drop too low during pregnancy it could possibly effect the development of the baby.

[Penelope]

I think family practice and general practice are fine for hypothyroidism, but for pregnancy I think a specialist is the way to go.

 

The hormone levels are affected quite a bit by pregnancy and they are interpreted a little differently. My endo checked every 4-6 weeks and used a few different blood tests to monitor, one particular test that is more accurate in pregnancy but isn't part of the standard thyroid blood tests.

 

And yes it is important to call as soon as you get a positive pregnancy test. My dose needed to be increased pretty early in the first trimester and then twice more during the pregnancy.

 

One more thing-- some general docs think that a TSH of 3 or 4 is okay, when my endo told me it should be right around 1, especially if ttc. HTH!

[SnowWhite]

My first two pregnancies ended in m/c, before I was diagnosed hypothyroid. My oldest baby, I had my OB do a thyroid screen at my first appt (was during the first week after I got a ++ test). She sent me to an endo ASAP, and I had 3 or 4 blood tests to make sure my dose was correct during the pregnancy.

 

I let my Endo know I was considering conception with the latest two pregnancies. With the last one, she said I was bordering on high level, so that would give me some "leeway". I have been tested every two months since becoming pregnant, with slight dose changes.

 

Be careful postpartum as you need a dose change fairly quickly once you begin to lose the pg weight. (I got a Synthroid buzz postpartum with ds2... was hot and headachey and irritable from too much med).

[Alice]

I developed Graves disease after baby #1, had a radioablation of the thyroid and so effectively have no thyroid hormone of my own. With baby #2 I had it my endo. had me checked monthly. My dose did have to be adjusted during the pregnancy but since I make no hormone of my own I think she was more cautious than in someone who has some of their own. I had no trouble conceiving with either #2 or #3. The pregnancy with #2 was fine and post-partum I went down to the pre-pregnancy dose. With #3 she has been checking me about every 6 weeks and I've gone up once on my dose so far.

 

I haven't found it to be a real issue with either pregnancy or baby.