Underactive thyroid and TTC

[babypops]

Hi
Just wondering if anyone can help I have an underactive thyroid and take thyroxine daily I am so worried about getting pregnant and any problems it may cause, i want a healthy baby/ies and it scares me. Any advice will be great :)

[KATC2010]

Hi I have been on thyroxine for 13 years. I have in the last few years had 2 healthy children - DS (3yrs) and DD (12 wks) both conceived without problems (1st month each!). I did have problems with hypothyroidism with DS and was constantly trying to catch up by increasing my dosage and it did worry me that he may be affected but all is good with him. Interestingly, I didn't have to increase almost as much with DD???

Hope this helps, and good luck xxxx

[Dessie12]

Hi Babypops,
I'm in the exact same situation, I was fine with first pregnancy and was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid after DD was born.
I am currently on 25 mg of levothyroxine a day.
We are TTC at the moment, but I have been googling and have read some pretty scary things about this on the net.
I have made an appointment with my GP for a couple of weeks time to discuss my individual case and see what he says. Because I don't want to get my hopes up if the worst things may happen i.e infertitilty and MC.
Sorry to sound so downhearted, it's just that I was so looking forward to it and feeling broody and it feels like all my hopes have been dashed.
DH says not to worry until I see my GP and hear what he says but i'm just a natural worryer. Maybe you should see your GP too, to have an informal chat.
Hope that you are ok and good luck x
P.s I'm 29

[KATC2010]

I really wouldn't be feeling like all your hopes are dashed. Well managed hypothyroidism should not be a problem for you. Just make sure you are regularly reviewed. Some consultants advise an increase in thyroxine whilst ttc but I never increased mind. Get your results from your GP so that you can see what is baseline for you.

As I said with my DD (3) I was underactive a lot of the time through pregnancy and always increasing my dose. I started that pregnancy on 100mcg per day - which I had been on for years and ended up at 200 mcg per day. After delivery I remained on 150mcg per day which I stayed on throughout my second pregnancy until the last semester when I went up to 175mcg but am now back down to 150mcg.

You may have consultant led care rather than midwife led care for your hypothyroidism and some health authorities will refer you to a endocrinologist. I went privately with my DS because the NHS wait was so long and someone had forgotten to refer me. It cost about £120 and I got an app't within a few days. He said that although my levels had been low I should not worry that they would affect the baby as I too at that time had read scary things on the internet. He did say that it is better, during pregnancy to keep on the high side of the acceptable levels when testing whereas at any other time even the very lowest levels of normal would be acceptable.

BTW I am now 39 yrs old.

Good luck and try not to worry about everything the internet says! xxx

[Dessie12]

Hi Kat,
Thanks for your words of wisdom, I really can't help worrying though, i'm just that sort of person. I think that when my GP reassures me and talks me through everything than I will feel better.
Glad to hear that everything went ok for you, take care x

[babypops]

Thanks for the replies dessie and katc2010,

I am in the process of getting an appointment with the specialist (thank god for private health insurance its a god send) I am on 50mg a day, I am 28 nearly 29! I have no symptoms of an underactive thyroid other than period problems and infertility (I think i must be an exception I am underweight and have a hard time putting on weight to!) , it was only picked up when I went to a fertility clinic, and after one cycle on a very small dose of clomid and injectables (25mg each day) I conceived but it ended in a mc :(

I right with you Dessie I am a huge worrier!! I just want everything to be ok. I am looking forward to seeing a specialist who can talk me through all my worries I have a long list for him I dont think he will know what has hit him!!

Wishing you lots of luck, let me know how things go for you

[babypops]

Oh p.s I am starting ttc/fertility treatment again April/May time! woohoo not long to go, it will be our first baby!

[Dessie12]

I wish you all the luck in the world babypops and will keep you posted on what my GP says in a couple of weeks time, we can compare notes lol x

[KATC2010]

Good luck babypops xxx