hypothyroidism during pregnancy?

Question

has anyone had hypothyroidism during pregnancy? im 6 months, and im going to get tested to see if thats what i've got, and by the looks of what i have, it is.. what was the outcome of it? how long did you have to take medication for it?

Answer 1

Well first congratulations on the new member of your family. I hope that all will end up okay for you God willing. Here I made some research and found some things that might be of interest to you. Please let me know if it helped you or not. God bless you.

Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy
(Thyroid Deficiency During Pregnancy)
What is the thyroid gland?
What happens with thyroid disease?
How is thyroid disease treated?
What are the consequences of hypothyroidism during pregnancy?
How early does the mother's thyroid hormone affect the unborn baby?
What can be done to avoid the consequences of hypothyroidism in pregnancy?
Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy At A Glance
Thyroid disease is particularly common in women of child-bearing age. As a result, it is no surprise that thyroid disease may complicate the course of pregnancy. It is estimated that 2.5% of all pregnant women have some degree of hypothyroidism. The frequency varies among different populations and different countries. While pregnancy itself is a natural state, and by no means should be considered a " disease," thyroid disorders during pregnancy may affect both mother and baby. This article focuses specifically on hypothyroidism and pregnancy. After a general description of normal and abnormal thyroid function, recent data on long term consequences in children of mothers who had hypothyroidism during pregnancy will be reviewed.

What is the thyroid gland?

The thyroid is a gland weighing about 15 grams (about half an ounce) that is located in the neck just below the Adam's apple (crycoid cartilage). The thyroid gland is responsible for the production of the body's thyroid hormone supply. The thyroid responds to hormonal signals from the brain in an attempt to maintain a constant level of thyroid hormone. The hormone signals are sent by specialized areas of the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary).
Answers to Your Questions About Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy

What is Hypothyroidism?

The thyroid is a small gland located in your neck that produces an important hormone for controlling growth, heat production, and the ability to get pregnant. If the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone, a medical condition called hypothyroidism occurs.

Hypothyroidism occurs in about 4-17% of women during their childbearing years. Low thyroid hormone levels are concerning because if untreated, they can cause problems in pregnancy and your baby’s development.

This article answers questions about hypothyroidism during pregnancy. It should not replace the advice of a physician or certified nurse midwife.

My health care provider told me that I have hypothyroidism. Is there anything special I need to do now that I am pregnant?

See your doctor or midwife as soon as you find out you are pregnant, or at least by 10 weeks of pregnancy. Ask how he or she plans to treat your hypothyroidism during pregnancy.
Try not to worry! With proper care and treatment, you have every chance of having a healthy pregnancy and birth.
Take your thyroid medication each day as directed. Be careful not to miss a dose.
Have your blood thyroid levels (TSH, T3 and T4) checked at least every 3 months, or more often as needed to keep them in normal range during pregnancy.
Expect that you may need to change the dose of your thyroid medication during and after your pregnancy.
Can low thyroid levels increase a baby’s risk of low IQ?

Babies born to mothers with untreated hypothyroidism during pregnancy are four times more likely to have low IQ or other learning difficulties. However, when the mother’s thyroid levels are within normal range, her children have IQ test scores similar to children born to mothers without thyroid problems.

I worry about taking any medicine during pregnancy. Is it really safe to take my thyroid hormone pill?

It is not only safe, but very important to take your thyroid replacement medication during pregnancy. These medications (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Armour, or Thyrolar) replace the normal hormones you need for a healthy pregnancy. Without enough thyroid hormone, there is a higher risk of miscarriage, high blood pressure, preterm labor, and problems with the baby’s brain development.

Can I take my thyroid medication with my prenatal vitamin, or with food?

Prenatal vitamins, iron supplements, antacids, and certain foods interfere with the body’s absorption of thyroid hormone. When you are pregnant your body must get enough thyroid hormone. Take your thyroid medication on an empty stomach at least one hour before or two hours after meals. Do not take prenatal vitamins or antacids within two hours of your thyroid medication. Be consistent. If you cannot take your thyroid pill without food, it is better to take it every day with food than to miss some days. If you can’t keep your thyroid pill down because of morning sickness, be sure to tell your care provider.

I have heard about the many benefits of breastfeeding. Can I nurse my baby while taking thyroid medication?

Yes, nursing is the healthiest choice for feeding your baby. Mothers continue to take thyroid medication and check their blood thyroid levels while nursing. With the correct dose, thyroid medication will not harm your baby. With a normal amount of thyroid hormone, your body will make plenty of breast milk for your baby.

Will my baby have hypothyroidism too?

All babies are tested for hypothyroidism soon after birth. Hypothyroidism is very rare in infants and children. If thyroid disease is passed on genetically, it usually does not appear until later in life.

http://www.medicinenet.com/hypothyroidism_during_pregnancy/article.htm
http://health.utah.gov/rhp/pregnancy/preged/duringpreg/hypothyroidsim.htm

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Most of the women will get hypothyroidism during pregnancy. However, the fair thing is, to take medicine for hypothyroidism during pregnancy time. During the pregnancy, it is must to take the medication for hypothyroidism otherwise, the baby will have a chance to born with brain related issues like low intelligence, etc. Here I found information that is more useful at http://seahealth.org/hypothyroidism.

Answer 4

I had it before I got pregnant the first time. After I delivered each of my babies, the hypothyroidism got much worse. (My hypothyroidism happens to be cause by an autoimmune disorder call Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.) Hypothyroidism is a lifelong condition. The symptoms are: hair loss, cold intolerance, infertility, absence of periods, dry skin, constipation, and fatigue. It can be corrected by medication you take EVERY DAY. The process is slow, though. After my last child, it took 8 months for my thyroid levels to normalize.

As long as you take your medication faithfully, your thyroid levels should stay constant, and it won't affect the baby at all. A word of caution: don't take your thyroid pills with your prenatal vitamins. I did this and found out the hard way that the vitamins make the thyroid pills ineffective. Also, thyroid pills need to be taken on an empty stomach.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 5

I found out i had hypothyroidism after i had my last child.

The medication which is really a tablet a day for me will be a lifelong thing. Dont let that get to you. Just enjoy your child. I breastfed etc. and was told that it would not affect the baby. You will need to do periodic tests.

The important thing is that it is amazingly treatable tho not curable yet. Check the websites given in the other answers.

All the best.

Answer 6

You have to take meds for that for the rest of your life. I dont have it, but it runs in my family and usually the woman get it during their pregnancies. Just do eveything the doctor says, if you end up having it and your baby should be just fine.

Answer 7

It may or may not go away. I showed all the symptoms of it, too but my numbers came back normal. It may go away after delivery, it may last 18 months after delivery, it may never go away. It's really just hard to tell. If it does go away after delivery, you're at a higher risk of it coming back (from what I understand). It's somewhat like gestational diabetes in that way.