hypothyroidism in pregnancy

[lem31]

Hi
I've had interactive thyroid for 10years, controlled with levothyroxine. found out I am pregnant (6 weeks) but concerned about my gp advice. He said I would need to reduce my dose right down so the baby can produce thyroxine on their own. This seems to go against NHS advice, doesn't it? Regardless, Noone has suggested blood tests or to keep an eye on it. Just said midwife will be in contact between 8 and 10 weeks. I am sure I read somewhere that levels should be tested every 4 weeks in first trimester? Really worried cos I'm tired and putting on a lot if weight, both could be just pregnancy, but could be my thyroid levels going down...

What advice did your gp's give you? I don't want to start telling my gp how to do his job but want to make sure baby is ok too.
Please help!

[magentastardust]

I have an underactive Thyroid , when I found out I was pregnant the midwives recommended my doctor upped my dosage by 25mg automatically . Apparently this is what's advised. Check it out with the midwives too.
I think until the baby is 3 months or so it can't develop it's own thyroxine so it uses yours and if you have an underactive thyroid there is an extra strain obviously ?

[Oldandcobwebby]

Unusually for a man, I suffer from a severely underactive thyroid. I can't understand how limiting your intake of Levothroxine would cause the baby to produce its own throxine. Seems damned stupid to me. It's known that the thyroid hormone dosage requirement can increase in the early part of pregnancy due to the increased oestrogen levels of early pregnancy. So your dosage of Levothyroxine should in all liklihood INCREASE, not the other way round.

I know from experience that without Levothroxine, I get rapidly confused, lose control of my temperature, and fail to function usefully. I cannot imagine what would happen if I was pregnant, too (apart from making medical history, of course!)

I think you need to see another doctor pretty damn quickly and get this confirmed before you possibly harm yourself and your developing baby. Good luck! x

[Fairylea]

Usual practice is to increase your dose even to the point of doubling it. You need a second opinion swiftly.

But for me personally I only needed to stay on the same dose the whole way through.

[yummumto3girls]

My dose increased by 25mcg in the last trimester, but that was as a result of seeing an endocrinologist when I developed gestational diabetes, not sure if they would have increased it earlier. Would certainly speak to midwife or ask for a referral to an endocrinologist as GP does not sound right

[lem31]

Thankyou for your replies-i will talk to my gp and see if I should get more blood tests done to check levels. If he tries to drop my dose down again I'll ask for second opinion X

[HazleNutt]

That is really odd advice and contrary to what I've heard from any other source so far. Many sources now recommend increasing the dosage as soon as you know you're pregnant, even before testing the levels, as most women on thyroxine require adjustment at some point.

The baby does NOT produce its own thyroxine until about 10-12 weeks.
From American Thyroid Association: What is the interaction between thyroid function of the mother and the baby?
For the first 10-12 weeks of pregnancy, the baby is completely dependent on the mother for the production of thyroid hormone. By the end of the first trimester, the baby?s thyroid begins to produce thyroid hormone on its own.

[fruitscone]

Your GP is WRONG! You need to act now and get a second opinion. An underactive thyroid makes your risk of miscarriage slightly higher compared to a 'normal' person. For a person with an underactive thyroid your levels should be monitored throughout pregnancy and most likely you will need to increase your dose. If you do not keep tabs on your levels and medicate accordingly, your baby could suffer.

I don't mean to worry you but I have had two pregnancies with an underactive thyroid and have two healthy babies at the end of them and very much hope you will have the same!

Please don't fanny about here out of some misplaced subordination to your GP. See someone else and soon!

[fruitscone]

A couple of links for you! All the best and hope I wasn't too harsh in my previous email.

www.babycentre.co.uk/preconception/beforeyoubegin/underactivethyroidwhattoknowexpert/

www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/thyroid-problems-pregnancy

[lem31]

Not harsh at all fruitscone-it is very hard to tell a gp he is wrong so good to get confirmation that im not being stupid from others who have been through it.
As it is I started some light spotting today so have scan booked for Wednesday to check if everything is ok. Keeping my fingers crossed it'll be ok. If everything is as its meant to be I will ask there as they will know about pregnancy. Only 1 gp at my doctors and dont get referred to midwife until 8 weeks so hopefully they will give me advice on what to do. thanks again for all replies-makes me feel more confident in myself. X x

[magentastardust]

Hope you are ok Op. Don't wait for your 8 wk appointment with midwife -call them and explain about your underactive thyroid and being pregnant to make sure you get the sufficient thyroxine your body will need to carry your baby.
Good luck -just be pushy you need to make sure you and your baby are looked after.