Underactive thyroid

[edwar79]

Hi, I suffer from an underactive thyroid and am 24 weeks pregnant with my second child. I recently told my midwife that I would like a homebirth, however, she said that I could not have one because of the possibility of a 'thyroid crisis'. What I can find suggests this is only a possibility if you have an overactive thyroid. Does anyone have any experience? Thanks in advance.

I also have an underactive thyroid, which is treated with thyroxine, and I have been pregnant and given birth twice with no ill-effects. There are other people on MN who have low thyroid as well so keep bumping this thread and hopefully someone will see it and give you more info. HTh.

I also have an underactive thyroid but it was diagnosed well after having ds and dd so I can't help much but am bumping for you. Good luck!

I was refused entry to the home-from-home birthing centre at St Thomas' because I had an underactive Thyroid. They were shortstaffed and the m/w I saw (who was very nice in all other respects)said that my condition meant that I would (or could?) need extra monitoring. Unfortunately I didn't have any warning of this so my Mum wasn't briefed enough to argue my corner (I was too busy having contractions ) by the time DH got to the hospital, I would have killed anyone that had attempted to move me! I was only in there 4 hours so it wasn't a big deal in the end, but I would have been really p'd off if I'd been there any length of time.

It was never explained to me why I would need this extra monitoring Up until then everyone had said that as long as my levels stayed OK, it was no different to any other pg. Then again I didn't know until after she was born that she had the possiblity of a suppressed thyroid function because of my Thyroxine, or that I'd have to take her for blood tests until they were satisfied everything was fine.

Thanks. I too was originally told that as long as my levels were ok it would be the same as a normal pregnancy. Have also been told that the baby shouldn't need any extra tests but I guess that might change then. Would really like to stay out of hospital if I can (bad experience with first)but if there are real reasons I suppose I'll have to go in. Sometimes think that the rules get changed depending on who you speak to and when though.

There is no reason why you shouldn't have a home birth

My consultant was happy for me (I too have underactive thyroid)

I assume you are having regular thyroid tests to check your levels

I also didn't receive any extra monitoring during labour

Oops pressed post too soon

My consultant was happy for me to have a home birth (I too have underactive thyroid)

(I didn't have one in the end - my choice though)

Another underactive thyroid here, too - I take 150mcg thyroxine daily to control it. When pg with ds1 I had to see a consultant at the hospital, but he was born with no intervention or any other problems post-natally. With ds2 my care was normal - midwife led with thyroid level checks occasionally - had a homebirth with no problems. Now pg with no. 3 (due January) and again I'm being seen as normal by a midwife, with the occasional bloodtest, and am planning another homebirth.

Thats really encouraging. I won't give up on a homebirth yet then. Thanks for the replies.

Message withdrawn

Glad I found this post being hypo and wanting to have children this post sets my mind at ease about having a healthy pregnancy

Justacameragirl They put me under consultant led care to monitor growth of baby a bit more closely and did extra scans to check (not a bad thing IMO!) but all was fine. And I was allowed a home birth (although it went wrong but that's not due to thyroid) - you are meant to have the injection to remove the placenta rather than natural because of risk of bleeding but that can be done at home too.

Oh and DS was a healthy 8 pounds 2oz so no issues there!

Thew hospital I am due to give birth in have a prorocol that states cord bloods need to be taken at birth, this is for 'bog standard' hypothyoidism not more complex cases (such as people who have been treated for thyroid cancers etc and have then become hypo). Would the midwives be able to take cord bloods at a home birth?
Although the risk is very very low i believe that for people who have immune related hypothyroidism (such as hashimoto's) there is a small chance that the baby might have a damaged thyroid at birth, hence the need for more checks.

Interesting. They never mentioned it at mine but that was two years ago and I believe cord blood banking was quite a new procedure then so I guess protocol may have changed.