Underactive thyroid experiences please

[whensmydayoff]

I have had my second baby in December and just been diagnosed with under active thyroid (autoimmune type).

Doctor seems to think this isn't just related to the PG and it will be life long meds .

I think I have had it for years now undiagnosed.

I have googled (i know, bad idea) and it seems undiagnosed thyroidism is detremental to the babies brain development.

Can cause poor IQ, impaired cognitive and motor skills, learning difficulties etc.

I feel so worried for my nrly 5 month old DD and feel guilty too. I know its not my fault but you know what it's like being a parent!

Has anyone had undiagnosed thyroid problems and your child has been fine later?

Also, has anyone known they had it and went on to have a baby safely with the medication?

What are the risks?

Im enjoying my DD so much and would love a third in a few years but after all the problems I had with my DS's PG and now this plus my age im starting to think Id be mad.

[bradsmissus]

I think you should stop being so hard on yourself!

I was diagnosed with the same just after DD was born and have been on meds ever since. She is now 11 and is healthy, doing really well at school and no health/development issues whatsoever.

I also have a DS who is nearly 5 and ditto. Healthy, active and no developmental issues.

To be honest, i have never heard of such problems linked to thyroid (shameful lack of research on own health condition!) not suggesting it's not true, just woefully uneducated about side effects!

[ladylush]

I've got the same condition but don't know if I had it when pg with ds. He is fine (6 yrs old). I was on meds before ttc dd and monitored during the pg. I am sure a lot of women don't know they have the condition, yet their babies are fine. Try not to beat yourself up eh.

[guiltyandfedup]

Firstly dont forget that it is perfectly possible that you were not significantly hypothyroid during your pregnancy. It is true that babaies born to severely (untreated) hypothyroid mothers may have cognitive problems, but the fact is you would have been obviously ill prior and during your pregnancy for this to have been the case. There is some evidence to suggest that women who are slightly hypothyroid during pregnancy may have children with IQ scores a few points lower than they might otherwise have been, but it is not a given and it is not going to make or break your childs future.

My own experience is that I have had a problematic thyroid for about 15 years, swinding from slightly over to slightly underactive. I know now that this was due to my immune system periodically attacking it. Following Ds birth it has now settled into being underactive.
It is highly likely that I was somewhat underactive when expecting DS1. He is a really bright, developmentally normal little boy!

I am being monitored more closely during this pregnancy and am now on a low dose of thyroxine, which incidentally is completely safe to take during pregnancy as it is simply replacing a naturally occuring hormone.

Please try to stop worrying, so many of us walk around with underlying medical conditions when pregnant but like you, most of us end up with happy health children.

[whensmydayoff]

Thank you everyone. That has calmed me down loads.

I was just diagnosed yesterday and I know one of my main symptoms has been anxiety.
Ive felt bloody weird and really really worried and anxious about the most stupid of stuff for months. Finding it out just added to it.

It's nice to hear from both mums with healthy children and healthy PG woman with it.

Phew!

[mousemole]

Dont worry - both my children were conceived when I was on thyroxine and I am now pregnant with dc3. The anxiety is due to the underactive thyroid - it will disappear when you have been on the medication a while. Its a horrid thing but you are on the road to recovery now. Look forward to feeling much better and back to your 'normal self' at last.

[MumNWLondon]

Don't worry, I had mine diagnosed when TTC with DD, was monitored in each pregnancy (monthly blood tests...) DD now 6.5 and top of class

[Nymphadora]

Watching this as have just been told I had a borderline result on a blood test. Have been tested in the last few months so its only v recently happened

[MrsGangly]

Nymphadora - are you wanting to get pregnant or are you pregnant because the guidelines for treatment are slightly different in that case? Make sure your GP knows your plans.

Cretinism, now called congenital hypothyroidism, is a really, really condition caused by the thyroid not been formed in the baby. It has nothing to do with the mother and whatever her thyroid blood tests were so don't worry about that. It does still happen but now it is diagnosed so early so that babies can start taking thyroxine immediately so it doesn't affect their development.

Hope that helps.

[Nymphadora]

I am pg. It was part of investigations into extreme tiredness. Have had tests before due to BP problems