THYROID DISEASE

Read and learn more about underactive thyroid pregnancy. For more, visit the Thyroid Disease website ThyroidDiseaseWiki.com.

Q: Has anyone ever developed a underactive thyroid (hypo) during their pregnancy?
I have just found out that I have an enlarged thyroid and I am almost 6 months pregnant. They think this is like an underactive thyroid and I am worried that this was found so late and my babies development could be at risk? Has anyone delt with this?

A: I had the same issue but it was discovered with routine blood work when I was four months pregnant.

I was given meds to take daily – in fact I still take them and my little guy is now sixteen months and perfect – but my thyroid is still a mess.

Eat good foods, get rest, ask your doctor tons of questions (and certainly your ultrasounds ought to reveal if there are any issues).

Hope that helps

Q: What are the effects of an underactive thyroid during the first 2 -3 weeks of pregnancy?
There is link between mothers with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) during pregnancy and developmental delays in their babies. 20% of these children have IQ scores of less than 85 compared to 5% of the children of women with normal thyroids. Unborn babies 12 weeks and younger are 100% dependent on their mothers for their thyroid hormones.

If a woman were only 2 weeks pregnant and was found to have an underactive thyroid and was only beginning to take medication for the condition, could the baby have cognitive impairments from the mother going the first two – three weeks without receiving treatment for her hypothyroidism?

I think it’s a possibility that I have an under active thyroid, which is why I’m concerned. I’ve been extremely tired lately, usually feel cold, constipated, have heavy irregular periods and have gained 15 pounds in the past seven months. I’m not normally a hypochondriac, but if I do have that condition, I’m concerned since it’s a possibility that I may be pregnant. I am having it checked next Tuesday.

A: For underactive thyroid Thats called hypothyroidism. I was hyperthyroid and I am not balanced. The natural way to go would be seaweed or blackcohosh,walnuts. I dont believe its dangeraous to the babay but check with your doctor. Seaweed treat hypoand hyperthyroidism. Nori has the least iodine and best to eat, and contains vitamin a&c. Can start with walnuts first and then see how it goes. if not better add little bit of nori vegetable to soup, salads or steam veggies. Medication has side effects and the natural form above barely has none. God Bless.

Q: Underactive thyroid and pregnancy???
Hi I am 17 weeks pregnant and have underactive thyroid since birth,,
I am scared about the baby as I ve been told that it could have a chance of having the same problem as mine,
I feel really guilty and concerned as the midwife said they might take the baby after birth to intensive care and I am really scared about it.
Has any one here been throught the same experience as this,,pls help I just want to know how bad it is
Thanx

A: Underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, is really not a major issue during pregnancy. If you have an elevated TSH, then you should be put on thyroid hormone(synthroid) and then have your levels checked every 1-2 months during the pregnancy.

Some experts don’t even think you need to be very aggressive in adjusting hormone levels during pregnancy.

I would suggest seeing an Ob/Gyn or Endocrinologist, midwifes are usually not trained to deal with higher risk pregnancies.

Q: Can underactive thyroid function symptoms be similar to early pregnancy symptoms?

A: Yes
My sister has an underactive thyroid
Answer mine

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsKTc9xeJQWKO5dm0kKj39Xsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080827071251AANLkhb

Q: pregnancy and a underactive thyroid?
Is it possible that a thyroid condition can interfere with a accurate HPT?
Im 6 days late all 5 HPTs are neg, and im waiting on my blood work but im just so damn curious. Anyone have a idea?

A: No. Home pregnancy tests detect beta-HCG… and thyroid hormones play no role what so ever with that.

HPT will be accurate.

Q: having problem with underactive thyroid, due to birth problems in pregnancy, cant treat on medication pls help
had overactive thyroid for 3 mths, now its underactive, my TSH level is normal but T3 and T4 isnt, have seen specialist but cant go on medication as the TSH level is ok. Specialist says should go back to normal with time. Had a very bad delivery with second child which he believes caused the condition. There has to be something i can do as i cant go on medication. my hair is falling out in big clumps every day, my skin is very dry. i have mood swings. cant sleep properly, get hot flushes (menopause numbers are ok) putting on weight and am feeling depressed now. no clothes fit, i used to be very fit, used to walk an hour a day, now cant last 10 minutes. just want to sleep all day. Does anyone have any suggestions what i can do naturally to make me feel better. i cannot go on like this anymore, GP says this could go on for another few months possibly another year. i cant wait that long. Please help!!!!!

A: Iodine may help for thyroid problems. So plenty of seafood or kelp tablets. Vegemite is also rich in iodine so a large tablespoon of vegemite every day or some vegemite sandwiches every day may help.

Q: does a thyroid affect chances of pregnancy?
i take my meds everyday to keep my thyroid at normal levels. but ive been trying to conceive for bout 6 to 7 months now, and nothing. i get so upset when my period comes. could my thyroid be the problem? has anyone had babies with underactive thyroid? know anyone?
and if its not what the problem is? what could it be? my partner has two children already so i know its not him. i heard before to lay on my back with legs in the air for 10-15min any other ideas, ways helped you, if u were having trouble?

A: Sorry, Jonathan C is incorrect. A dysfunctional thyroid, whether its under or over active, CAN interfere with fertility. It can cause your female hormones to be thrown off wack so that you don’t ovulate properly. Usually, when the thyroid is being controlled by medications, fertility is restored (IF that was the ONLY problem to begin with).

So my questions to you are…. how often is your thyroid level being checked? If you’re being checked regularly and your levels have been normal, then I would say there may be something else going on. If you haven’t been checked lately, I would start there and go get a blood test.

If you know for sure your thyroid levels are fine you have 1 of 2 choices … 1) start the process of going through level 1 fertility tests (a complete hormone check, sugar level check, ultrasound of reproductive organs and a sperm analysis for your partner) or 2) give it a few more months since most perfectly healthy couples can take up to a year to conceive and you haven’t yet reached that mark. If you do decide to give it a few more months, I would strongly recommend you start charting your body basal temperatures. Your charts will help you to better manage your cycles and they can sometimes flush out an issue that you aren’t aware is going on … such as lack of ovulation or irregular ovulation. And… they provide helpful information to your doctor about what your hormones are doing throughout your cycle (if and when you see the doctor…bring them with you).

If you chart, do it for the next 6 months. You’ll either be pregnant by then, or have an idea why. And at the end of 6 months, it really will be a year that you’ve been trying. FertilityFriend.com has a great online charting program that’s easy and free. All you do is plug in your temps everyday, the software does the rest.

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/

Good luck.

Q: Can thyroid medication effect the outcome of a pregnancy test??
I take a thyroid pill everyday for an underactive thyroid and I have had many pregnancy symptoms including bloating, breast swelling and tenderness, darkening of the areola, nausiousnous etc. However I just took a pregnancy test and it came up negative…it mentions on the package that some medications may change the results does anyone know if a thyroid medication is one of those medicines??

A: I don’t believe it is. I think what the package is referring to is taking hormone-based medications.

You could be testing too early. Wait until your period is due and test again. If your period is due or even late, then wait a couple of days and test again, or just go to the doctor for a blood test.

Good luck.

Q: Help! Pregnancy and Thyroid?
I heard that having an underactive thyroid can lower your HcG levels so that its harder to get a positive pregnancy test. Is that true?
I do have hypothyroidism, and im not on the full dosage yet, do you think i’ll get bumped up?

A: If you are hypothyroid, then you need to be treated for hypothyroidism…..you need to be taking synthroid or another med, like levothyroxine (generic equiv.)

I went on levothyroxine when they discovered the disease, 4 months postpartum. I have now been taking it for the past 20 months, and am 32 weeks pregnant with baby #2 now.

I haven’t gotten many straight answers about how hypothyroidism causes problems conceiving a baby, but I wasn’t getting my period for a long time after I gave birth, because of hypothyroidism. It is a crappy syndrome, but you can turn it around.

I actually ended up having to take clomid to help get pregnant this last time. They didn’t say whether it had to do with being hypo or not.

Go get the proper medical treatment for hypothyroidism. It can really cause a lot of health problems.

I had had a miscarriage several years ago. During that pregnancy, and my first successful pregnancy, I ate a lot of food, but still lost huge amounts of weight.

In all my pregnancies I have had to PIG OUT in order to keep weight on, and my doc did tell me that whatever caused my hypothyroidism could possibly have caused the metabolic overactivity too, and the miscarriage could have come out of all that. But who really knows?

One suggestion:
You can go to fertilityfriend.com , and look at women’s bbt charts, and actually do a specific search for charts of women who have hypothyroidism. You can see how they ovulated, and whether they conceived. I loved this site when I was ttc.

And, it will help you learn to use “fertility awareness”…(charting to help you conceive). I swear by it.

edit: Face T. offered some excellent information. Very useful to me….I had never been informed of that info before.
Thanks, Face T.

Q: Are there any other women that have underactive thyroid disorder and do not get there period every month ?
I have gone almost 2 months without having my period before. I haven’t had my period since I got it on the 26th of May. I have taken pregnancy tests and they both said negative. My husband and myself have been trying to get pregnant for months now and do not want to dissapointed again. Urine tests , blood tests for pregnancy never work for me. They always come back negative , unless I am atleast 3 months pregnant. Then they say positive. Thanks

A: i know many who have very irregular menstural cycles who have hypothyroidism.

but you can still get very pregnant.

so good luck.

Q: could a thyroid problem cause false positives on pregnancy tests?
ive taken 5 and all are positive, but someone told me my underactive thyroid could cause false positives?

married and trying to conceive
i am on synthroid

A: Are you taking medication for your underactive thyroid? My dr talk me that that was 1 reason I wasn’t conceiving. If not and you are pregnant you need to see the dr and see if they recommend medication. You need to be in the best health for you and your baby. Congrats! Sounds like you are expecting!!!

Q: Thyroid during Pregnancy?
i had a underactive thyroid a year ago but it eventually corrected itself. i am now 37 weeks pregnant! BUT i am now worrying about my thyroid. i had it tested when i was 22 weeks pregnant and the results were normal at the time.

my question is can my thyroid levels become abnormal around 37 weeks? and do you think my baby is okay?

the reason i had a underactive thyroid before was because i had a dermoid cyst on my ovary that produces thyroid hormones. the cyst was removed but now i have another one.

A: I would just remind your doctor about this, and see what they say to do. I have hypothyroidism and take medication and am pregnant, and my doctor told me I should get it checked once per trimester. But at 37 weeks, you are so close to delivery, I don’t know if you should have it checked now or wait until the baby is born. Best of luck.

Q: anyone TTC with underactive thyroid problems?
I went for my pre-conception check up yesterday and they told me my thyroid levels were low (had this problem 10 years ago when i was like 14)
anyone have the same issue? did you have trouble getting pregnant or are you ahving trouble? how does this affect you and pregnancy?

A: Since the thyroid makes the hormones that influence most of the other hormonal glands, proper thyroid function is vital. Ovulation is the result of hormonal surges, which unless they occur you will never be able to ovulate or conceive.

Another concern would be the cause of the thyroid problem. The thyroid gland relies on the presence of a wide spectrum of minerals and trace elements in the body. If you have any condition, such as gluten allergy, that interferes with your ability to absorb minerals and vitamins, then you could eventually be suffering from a variety of degenerative diseases.

This condition is hardly ever diagnosed properly among adults, and is often overlooked in infants. Ironically, while the tests for adults are practically useless in identifying it, they are better indicators for infants. Infants and children with gluten allergy usually become autistic. Check the Celiac and Autism website.

Q: low thyroid preventing pregnancy?
im 21 the husband and i have been trying to get pregnant for a year(hit our 1yr mark in October) i found out i had an underactive thyroid through bloodwork and was put on medication. after my follow up bloodwork the doc called me and said “your numbers came back for your thyroid and they are stone cold normal” so that is good news.Now my question is could my underactive thyroid have made it harder for us to conceive? and now that its in check do u think i will be able to get pregnant easier? thank you to everyone in advance:) & baby dust to everyone TTC!!

A: Thyroid levels not being optimized can definitely effect your ability to conceive and carry to term.. it can also affect the development of your fetus and the growth and development of your baby after birth.

It’s more than a matter of having the levels ‘in normal range’ it’s a matter of having them at the correct levels within their ranges AND that the correct levels are being monitored.

The tests that should be taken are:
TSH
Free T4
and Free T3

If they are only monitoring TSH (which is a pituitary hormone, NOT a thyroid hormone) or are monitoring thyroid hormones other than the Frees. You won’t know for sure if your body is getting enough replacement hormone, or if your body is properly converting it to active hormone.

It is possible to have hormone levels that will allow you to conceive, but not enough to carry the pregnancy to term.

Or to have enough to carry to term, but not enough to do it in a healthy manner, in which case your body starts taking hormone from your fetus.. affecting it’s growth and development.

So it is VERY important to monitor the thyroid hormone levels, not just the TSH level, and make sure that those values are at the proper levels within their ranges for your health.. and the health of your baby.

This page will introduce you to the hormones, labs and options for replacement hormones so that as you do your research things will make a little more sense.

www.thyrophoenix.com/thyroid_101.htm

As to your actual question. Once thyroid hormone levels are optimized and your body is working correctly your body will be able to do what it could have done with a properly working thyroid gland.

I say it that way cuz there are other things that can also affect fertility… Thyroid may be a contributing factor, or the only factor.

Q: Underactve thyroid!!! Caused by Pregnancy?
I have just been told I have a severe underactive thyroid. I was wondering if being pregnant could have caued it? I still have 20kgs to lose and was wandering once I start on the meds will that weight be easier to lose because it has been so hard trying to lose it.
The doc also wants a scan and is waiting on more blood tests. I dont know why. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks heaps

A: It could be becuase of your pregnancy, but being a woman and getting an autoimmune disorder (Hashimotos and Graves both are autoimmune disorders and mess with your thyroid gland) are pretty common things. Pregnancy sometimes will activate a predisposition for an autoimmune disorder, especially one involving the thyroid gland since usually when you’re pregnant your thyroid gland gets more active then it would otherwise.

Yes having synthetic thyroid hormone will help you loose weight as well, you’ve been probably gaining weight becuase of the hypothyroidism. I would also be talking to your doctor about congenital defects if you are presently pregnant, not getting enough thyroid hormone can be devastating sometimes.

The scan is to rule out thyroid cancer. The blood tests are to see how your thyroid stimulating hormone levels are doing (THS) and your T3 and T4 levels are doing. Your THS levels will go high and your T3/4 levels will drop if you have Hashimotos – when your body attacks your thyroid gland and kills the T3 & T4 producing cells. Your THS levels could be low or high and have an appropriate response of T3/4 production if you have Graves disease. So the reason why your thyroid hormone levels are low needs to be determined, because it effects the treatment. And too sometimes women get temporary low (or even high) thyroid levels after giving birth, and not have Graves or Hashimoto’s.

After it’s determined what is going on, your thyroid levels need to be brought up but how much you need might need a lot of adjustment – again a lot of blood testing.

A lot of people live healthy lives on Synthroid (synthetic thyroid hormone), you can too.