Hypothyroidism In pregnancy- experiences?

[GinMama400]

Hi all, I’m 5+6 and just found out I have hypothyroidism. Never had any (known) issues with my thyroid before and I am worried what it means and how can it affect the pregnancy. I started the medication yesterday after getting the prescription from my doctor promptly after the blood results came back.

does anyone have any experiences, how did it affect you and the baby?

I found out exactly the sane as you in very early pregnancy. I was put on 100mg of thyroxine for pregnancy and monitored . Dd was absolutely fine. I reduced dose to 50mg and then came off it. But a few years later after ds I just stayed on it and I'm still on it a few years later. Ask me anything you need- please dont worry.

@Silverbirch2 thanks so much for sharing your experience, great to hear all was well with your dc!

It’s like with everything, you get hit with a diagnosis and panic in the first instance.

So is it the case that as long as I take my meds it should be ok and it’s worse if it’s undiagnosed? Did your have to get your levels checked out regularly? Did you get extra scans because of potential concerns for the baby?

My TSH came back as 6,39 and Ive been out on 75mg. I guess they may have to adjust it later.

Yes I did have a few extra scans to check size, much better that its been caught as you will feel better and baby should grow as normal as long as you take meds. Yes extra bloods- cant remember how often now. Also now I have yearly bloods to check all is ok.

I have had hypothyroidism before I got pregnant so I’ll listen in as well.

In the past my condition have me troubles with low metabolism etc. I am on 100 ml thyroxine now. I am early in pregnancy and concerned about implications for the baby.

@Tryingat47 if you haven't done so already I would make your GP aware that you are pregnant and ask for your thyroid levels to be checked. That's what I did when I found out i was pregnant, the GP then made the referral to Endocrinology and they sort blood tests and make sure my levels are right thoughout my pregnancy. The same happened in my last pregnancy.

I developed hypothyroidism after my first pregnancy, had zero issues with my 2nd pregnancy and zero issues so far with my third pregnancy. Levothyroxine was increased in 2nd pregnancy, and decreased back to pre pregnancy levels after I had the baby. And levo has been increased by 75 to 175 in this pregnancy. So long as your condition is well managed there should be no issues as far as I'm aware.

Same, if it is due to hashimotos then you'll be deemed high risk and get extra scans/put under consultant care, but really the extra risk of growth restriction, preterm labour etc is minimal when you're comparing to other autoimmune conditions. I'm 32 weeks with a baby who is tracking on 90th percentile according to scans, which would be the same as her older brother.

You need 4 weekly blood tests to check your TSH and the reference range in pregnancy is lower, I've had my meds upped three times but it has never been massively out.

You’re lucky they picked it up and are medicating it as unmedicated it increases the risk of miscarriage.

However, now you are being monitored you don’t need to worry. All will be fine - you’re unlikely to have any issues.

In pregnancy I was referred to consultant endo and monitored every four weeks.

You need to push for that, anything less isn’t enough.

You’re lucky it’s been picked up

I was diagnosed when gp suggested tests when I was struggling TTC. Started taking thyroxin and was pregnant within a couple of months. That was nearly 10 years ago
and obv I’m still on thyroxin.

it’s all been fine except for the hassle of the tablets and getting blood tests now and again. Free prescriptions though (for anything not just thyroxine 😳). Pregnancies (2) were fine just had a few extra consultant appointments I think. I did not get extra scans. Births were unaffected as were the dcs.

Hey I have hypothyroidism and have done for years before I fell pregnant. I've now got 3 children with no issues. I was initially consultant led for all 3 but moved back to midwife led once they established the thyroxine levels were correct and stable. My dose increases in pregnancy and drops back down again afterwards.

Good luck - you'll be fine.

I already had it diagnosed about 5 years before I was pregnant. As my BMI is high and I have thyroid problems thrn inwas under consultant care. In my case then it was good for me as the consultant was able to put the dosage up quickly. Apparently GPs are only allowed to raise it by 25mg at a time before they retest but consultants can put it to wherever they need.

It has helped control the low thyroid and I am now on 150mg which is keeping it level. Just hoping I can lose the weight now its under control

Sorry I meant to say it will likely just be a case of a few extra blood tests to make sure the thyroxin is doing it’s thing. Undiagnosed hypothyroidism in pregnancy is a worry. Medicated hypothyroidism is not.

My TSH level was 97 and even then my doctor wasn't worried. Take your meds as directed, they'll likely book you in for bloods in a few weeks to check up

I was diagnosed 4 weeks after I had given birth. I had actually put on weight after having baby. Be aware though that when you go through menopause your thyroid issues get worse. I had to go from 100mcg a day which I had been stable on for 12 years to 175mcg daily.

Hello! 36 weeks pregnant here and also hypothyroid (pituitary cause rather than thyroid itself, but the effect is identical). I’m on 100mcg levothyroxine (was on 75mcg before pregnancy) which has not needed to be upped beyond that first increase and baby has been growing well.

agree with pp’s saying you and baby will be absolutely fine now it’s been detected and treated, and that you need regular blood tests to monitor your levels.

Another thing I would add is to be aware as your pregnancy progresses that there are different reference ranges for both TSH and free T4 depending on which trimester you are in. This is worth checking (your hospital’s lab will have trimester specific reference ranges), as it’s possible that not everyone you speak to about your results will necessarily be aware of this.

good luck and don’t worry- you’ve got this under control now!

Here is the correct guidance for TSH levels etc: www.btf-thyroid.org/pregnancy-and-thyroid-disorders-guidance-for-patients

T4 and T3 should also be within a certain range but the doctors will know what that should be. It’s the TSH that is often wrongly allowed to be too high in pregnancy.

My GP decided that a TSH of 7.8 was fine! It was only when I researched it and found out it was too high, then highlighted it, that they upped my thyroxine and referred me. So you are lucky your dr has a better understanding.

@KSAM thank you, will have to push for that!

What I have found over the years when I was still getting my diagnosis is that GP is looking at the very basic hormones level so it’s better to speak with a consultant who will look at a wider spectrum of blood work and will fine tune your dose.

Did anyone need to reduce their levothyroxine in the second trimester? I had my Levi dose increased by 25mg in week 10 and I’m back to pre-pregnancy levels but worried it means by body isn’t working hard to grow the baby anymore as it seems like a massive swing. I expected tsh to reduce but not by that much