I have recently found out that I am pregnant (currently 6.5 weeks). I currently take 75mg of Levothyroxine every morning (I have been taking this for about 3 years). I have been taking separate folic acid and vitamin D tablets for a couple of months whilst trying to conceive (with my evening meal) and I am now looking into taking pregnancy vitamins (in particular the Vitabiotics Pregnacare Max) which I would take with my evening meal instead of the separate folic acid and vitamin d tablets to make sure that I am covering everything the baby might need. Are these tablets ok to be taken with Levothyroxine (making sure that they are taken hours apart)? Has anyone else here taken Pregnacare Max whilst also taking Levothyroxine?
I know that my thyroid levels have to be closely monitored during pregnancy which I have mentioned to the doctor and briefly the midwife on the phone. I have my booking in appointment with the midwife in a couple of weeks and assume that my levels will be checked then? I thought they would be tested straight away but the doctor and midwife don’t seem to be rushing to do this and I just wondered if anyone had any idea what is normal with NHS.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated 😊
Thanks xxx
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Littlebee1986
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Hi Littlebee1986, when I became pregnant my gp upped my thyroxine by 25mcg straight away without a blood test. I was then carefully monitored throughout my pregnancy and then had the dose reduced again once I’d given birth. Also I would think the pregnacare max would be fine to take xxx
Thanks for replying Sarahlouise1980. When did you have your first blood test after you found out you were pregnant? Was that at the midwife booking in appointment? I had a blood test in August and my TSH was 0.69 which the doctors said was right for trying to get pregnant (apparently it should be under 2) but nobody seems in a rush to check it again or increase my Levothyroxine dose now that I am pregnant and it’s staring to worry me a bit! Thanks xxx
Hi , I have just been told I have underactive thyroids and it’s all new and confusing for me , I had my implant removed last Thursday as I was having very weird periods etc .. but myself and partner of 7 years are trying for our 3rd baby! We already have a little boy who’s 5 and a little girl who’s 3 .. can you tell me how long you waited for your levothyroxine to start working and how long it took you to conceive please , I’m getting very upset as I don’t no if I’m going to be able to have anymore as all Iv been told is that having underactive thyroids means you don’t have enough hormones x
I would not recommend you take that Vitabiotics Pregnacare Max - or any other multi-vit, come to that - for a number of reasons:
* If your multi contains iron, it will block the absorption of all the vitamins - you won't absorb a single one! Iron should be taken at least two hours away from any other supplement except vit C, which is necessary to aid absorption of iron, and protect the stomach.
* If your multi also contains calcium, the iron and calcium will bind together and you won't be able to absorb either of them.
* Multi's often contain things you shouldn't take or don't need : calcium, iodine, copper. These things should be tested before supplementing.
* Multi's often contain the cheapest, least absorbable form of the supplement : magnesium oxide, instead of magnesium citrate or one of the other good forms; cyanocobalamin instead of methylcobalamin; folic acid instead of methylfolate; etc. etc. etc.
* Multi's do not contain enough of anything to help a true deficiency, even if you could absorb them.
* When taking several supplements, you should start them individually at two weekly intervals, not all at once as you would with a multi. Because, if you start them all at once, and something doesn't agree with you, you won't know which one it is and you'll be back to square one.
With a multivitamin, you are just throwing your money down the drain, at best, and doing actual harm at worst. Far better to get tested for vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin, and build up your supplementation program based on the results.
There's no such thing as a good multi. They just don't exist. You need to get your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested for the basics. Post the results and ranges on here, and people will advise on a supplementation regime. It's not that difficult, really.
Thanks Greygoose, Yes I can and I’m doing that because I’m fortunate in having access to this forum. I’d like to have found a reputable source of quality vitamins for family members eg elderly adults.xx
Yes, I understand what you want. But, that doesn't change my answer: no, it's not possible. I explained why it isn't possible above. And Susie explains it even better.
Besides, just taking 'vitamins', is not likely to help anything. Supplements only help if you need them. If you don't need them, they're not going to do anything for you. More is not better. So, the whole concept of the multi-vitamin is ludicrous. It's not going to do anything.
I wonder , is there any company/brand whose vitamin supplements are both high quality and deliver therapeutic doses of multivitamins?
It's not possible, because we could have a low level or deficiency of one vitamin but another could be at an optimal level.
A lot of multi's have 100% of RDA and as Greygoose frequently says these types of supplements are aimed at the "worried well". They aren't going to fix any low levels.
All we can do is test the core vitamins and address any low levels individually.
Hiya probably a Very daft question but I’m trying to understand my under active thyroid condition and wonder how do you know if it Hashimoto's or something else ? thanks 😊
Hi Yogibo - I suggest that you post a question on a new thread, rather than on a very specific thread started by someone else. You will be more likely to get a helpful response that way.
Thank you for sending through the link, that is really useful. I have increased my levothyroxine by 25mcg from this morning and I have managed to get a blood test booked for next week. I had the Medichecks Thyroid Check Ultravit blood test in August and that all came back that everything was ideal for trying to conceive (other than being low on Folate and Vitamin D which I then got a prescription from my doctors for). I’m so happy I posted on here because otherwise I think I would have got to 8/9 weeks pregnant without doing anything different and without any blood tests! Thanks again xxx
I am currently 7.5 weeks pregnant and had a total thyroidectomy in 2016, about 10 months after I had my first child.
I was referred to an Endocinologist following a miscarriage in June. He advised that if I become pregnant again to immediately up my Levo dose by 25mcg. I was on 75/100 on alternate days so upped to 100/125 when I found out a couple of weeks ago.
Luckily I had my follow up endo appt booked for last week anyway. When I entered the room, he asked straight away if I was pregnant. When I confirmed he referred me to the ante natal endo who will see me within 6 weeks. He sent me straight for a blood test (and was supposed to call with the results next day but didn’t!) and gave me a form to get another blood test a week before my appt with the ante natal endo. The endocrinologist also asked why I wasn’t taking Pregnacare, my B12 is borderline low and he suggested all the vitamins should help - I am taking the Max now and will check with the Midwife/ante natal endo when I see them.
I did get a message last night from the GP though advising me to lower my levo dose as my hospital blood test showed I was over medicated - I am likely to ignore her as she isn’t aware of my situation and prior to my miscarriage in June she also tried to advise the same thing which goes against any guidance I’ve read.
I do think you need a blood test straight away, the first 12 weeks are very important. My GP in June was going to let me book in with the Midwife early at 6 weeks as she said that they would be the ones to refer to Endocinology. This time around annoyingly I can’t even get an appt until I’m over 10 weeks.
Those links are really helpful too SlowDragon - thanks!
Hopefully some of the above helps? Best of luck with it all!
Thank you so much Laurenlondon, your reply is really helpful. Congratulations to you too! 😊
I have managed to book a blood test for next week and I have decided to increase by Levothroxine by 25mcg from this morning.
It’s hard to find information about what you should be doing but the link from Slowdragon is really useful. The doctor I seen a couple of weeks ago was a locum who said that most women never change their Levothyroxine dose during pregnancy and that all he would do was refer me to hospital to start ante natal care. I’ve got my booking in appointment with the midwife in a couple of weeks (by which time I will be almost 9 weeks pregnant) but you have given me the push to request an earlier blood test so thank you for that!
Thank you for the link - it sets out the guidelines more clearly than the American (ATA) Guidelines. Two important things they point out are testing Free T4 and that TSH may become suppressed “as a normal process”.
What’s mentioned in the ATA Guidelines but I didn’t see here (though I may have missed it) is that the developing baby needs T4 and can’t utilize T3 - an important point for someone taking NDT or T3 only.
There’s also a need for adequate iodine as baby transitions from using Mom’s T4 to making their own. This can be a problem as more people use less (iodized) table salt or use “designer” salts which may not have adequate iodine.
It can be challenging to use targeted supplements instead of a multi but what has been pointed out about calcium binding other minerals is true. As we tend to eat calcium rich foods at breakfast taking levo at night instead of in the morning can help this, and taking things which can cause stomach upset like B vitamins and iron with an evening meal instead of early in the day might help lessen morning sickness. If you have a good, varied diet with lots of veggies, fruits, some fish and meat and add a trace mineral supplement that provides daily needs but not excessive amounts and iodized salt, you should be covered.
I am a strong advocate for including T3 and I’ve read and respect a lot of Robinson’s positions. But I wouldn’t bet my baby’s neural development on one article about a single subject.
There have been a few others who have posted on the forum saying that they took T3 during pregnancy who had perfectly healthy babies. A couple of these posters have said that they took T3 only all the way through. But sadly I never bookmarked them.
I can quite understand why you wouldn't want to take T3 on the say-so of a couple of total strangers on the internet.
Congratulations ! Your Dr will want to raise your T4 dose . Once you will have you bundle of joy your Dr will probably lower your T4 dose . Throughout the pregnancy you will probably be closely monitored. Nutrients are very important here too . You will want to discuss it with your Dr.
B vitamins they shouldn't be taken alone ie folic acid/B9 the real problem with that is the are both independent and interdependent like B6 B9 etc requires B2 B3 to optimise them if I were you I'd take a good B Complex, I use Natures Best their B50 where most are 50mg, obviously folic acid and B12 are a lot lower... Vitamin c and Magnesium are also nutrients to look at, B Vitamins are essential for development of the child...
Regarding the thyroid and adrenals, their heavily dependent on B vitamins, vitamin c and magnesium conversion of T4 to T3 requires Selenium and Zinc
Most people are deficient in stomach acid, this is often a cause of nutrient deficiency and absorption... Hope that helps...
If you start a new thread of your own and post your latest thyroid and vitamin results (including reference ranges) and say what medication/supplements you currently take, then members will be happy to help.
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