Thyroid and Pregnancy

[Sleeplessin2023]

Last year I had three miscarriages, last one at start of December. I've had a load of tests since then and all came back normal, except my thryoid which was sub optimal for fertility with a TSH of 3.5. Doctors can't say if it's responsible for miscarriages as apparently its not that high but still not ideal and worth treating b4 trying again.

I've been put on what appears to be a low dose of levothyroxine at 25mg.

My heads all over the place, grieving but on one hand also hoping that the thyroid is the problem and is fixable and wanting to get pregnant asap but terrified of getting pregnant and losing another baby.

I've a ton of questions in my head and hoping someone who reads this has some advice :

• has anyone been in a similar position and had multiple miscarriages potentially caused by thyroid? What was yr tsh? Did u go onto have healthy pregnancy?
• has anyone been prescribed 25mg levothyroxine? Did it make any difference to ur tsh or did u need a higher dose? How long were you on levothyroxine before your tsh levels improved?

I'll also going to post this in the infertility threads. Thanks for reading

Hi there

I had an early miscarriage when trying to conceive my second. Initial tests all fine except sub optimal thyroid- same as you. My mum is on a low dose of Levo so the GP agreed to trial me on some and see if it made a difference.

My T4 is always on the low end - average 12.
My TSH started around 3.8 so within range but higher than I had read was good for fertility.

I got put on 50 mcg initially I believe and actually got pregnant the next month 🥰 I believe the TSH level was around the 2.0 mark at that point.

The midwives upped me to 75mcg and I have thyroid checks when they do my
bloods throughout pregnancy. The last TSH result I had was 1.06!

Really really hope it works for you - sending loads of good vibes

So basically TLDR- I had one miscarriage and now am nearly 28 weeks pregnant.

I think small increments do work but Levo seems to work quickly so I think if your next bloods don’t show an improvement then definitely discuss upping with your GP/ endocrinologist.

So hard to know if it’s fluke on the month I conceived or whether the TSH made a difference but I hope
it does the trick for you x

Sorry about your miscarries op.

During IVF my consultant wanted my tsh around 1-2.

Are you seeing a proper endocrinology doctor or just your GP? I would ask for a referral if just a GP.

Ask for Steven hurrell at UCLH and you'll see one of the docs there.

25mcg sounds low but could sort it.

I was also told by my consultant to up by dose (150 five days a week and 175 twice a week) up by 25mcg a day the second I got a positive pregnancy test and they would then keep checking me. Have they said similar to you?

Have you also been advised to take baby aspirin?

I'm so sorry to read about your losses. Yep, 3 mc before starting levo. Took a while to get stable but my TSH was 7 at one point so yours shouldn't take as long to get to optimal.

In my case, thryroid was not the whole picture as I had another 2 mc although it definitely played a big part. I also went to Professor Brosens in Coventry who put me on Sitigliptin after some tests. Am now 30 weeks. I sincerely hope that levo fixes things for you though. Second the pp comment on regular testing, my TSH rose very fast during the first trimester and am now on 175mg (from 100 pre preg)

Thanks for sharing everyone.

I've been put on levothyroxine by a gynie who I think spoke to an endocrinologist before prescribing but it might be worth me trying to get an appointment directly with an endocrinologist.

I'm based in NI so I'm having to pay for this privately which is crap but our waiting list to be seen at a recurrent miscarriage clinic and have investigations is 18 months and I wouldn't have discovered the thyroid issue had I not went private, costing a small fortune tho

Hi, found out before Christmas that im pregnant (not my first pregnancy, have had 3 miscarriages and 2 chemicals and have pcos) I don’t have periods but I do still ovulate so I don’t know how far gone I am. Have done strip tests as that’s all I have known as other brands don’t work for me. With my other pregnancies I have only ever got faint positives and even had to wait for them to come up in the time frames. But this time around the line is coming up soon as the test hits the urine and is getting more darker. This pregnancy feels so different and even had morning sickness 3 times that I never had before. I have a private scan in 3 days. But I wanted to ask if anyone has been in the same situation as me.. I’m a plus size women and when I left my belly fat up all under my bell button is round just wanted to know if that’s a pregnancy belly or how a normal stomach looks anyone as I never noticed it before and it’s a bit firm. I don’t think I’m over 12/13 weeks.

have attached photo of one of my pregnancy test and pictures side by side of my belly.

hi Emma congratulations, I think the morning sickness is a good sign. Hope all goes well for you.