Thyroid - pregnancy - advice needed pls

[daisylala]

Have posted this under pregnancy, but no-one has responded so thought maybe better off here ?

I have just received my thyroid blood test results and from the start of the first trimester to the end, my T4 levels have dropped from 17 to 9. TSH remains very low, under 0.5 Because the TSH is low, they are reluctant to increase my throxine, but I was always led to believe that T4 should be at the upper end of the range in pregnancy, especially in the early days. Can anyone advise ?

Also, is anyone under a good thyroid doctor during pregnancy (near London) who you would recommend if I wanted to seek a second opinion ?

Thank you in advance

Dr Stephanie Baldeweg at University College Hospital in London.

One of her specialities is endocrine disorders in pregnancy. She is very well respected and you literally cannot get anyone better so I am told.

PS I'm not under her, never seen her, I don't have thyroid issues, but my friend was under her for it and she was very good according to my friend.

Thank you so much A1980 - I will look into it !

The British Thyroid Foundation has advice about this. I was pg years ago and things may have changed (thinking has a bit about this I think) but then it was thought that the TSH was the most reliable indicator of what was going on because the readings for the other thyroid indicators weren't that reliable in pg.

I took a look on their website but the info is limited into, I may give them a call on Monday, thanks onceamai.

I think as my TSH is low, it should be OK, but I cant help but worry, they did not really give an explanation at to why the T4 level is not so reliable in pregnancy, whereas before it was. Perhaps something to do with the other hormones in my system right now.

Do call them because I'm sure they have a support organiser who specialises as a lay person in thyroid conditions/pregnancy and they would be able to point you in the right direction.

scroll down a way for pg related

ivykaty44 - superb link - thanks !

It says

"In pregnancy, oestrogen levels increase and thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) concentrations rise - this leads to an increase in total T4 and T3.
◦In the first trimester, serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) also falls due to the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and there may be a small fall in FT4.
◦In the second and third trimesters, FT4 and FT3 decrease, sometimes below the nonpregnant women's reference level"

That may be why the T4 is falling and they are not too bothered about it. Feel reassured, thank you.

Have a look at TTC or pregnant with underactive thyroid thread on conception x

Thanks hhg, will do.