Under active thyroid and pregnancy

[Jadewhitcombe]

hi has anyone got any advice on how to manage with under active thyroid whilst pregnant?

[HealthStarDust]

Congratulations.

1. be sure your GP tests TSH and FT4 at minimum as soon a pregnancy and than again at 4 weeks.

There is some literature but not national guidance (UK) on raising dose when pregnancy is confirmed, but you are best being guided by levels through blood tests.

I must admit, I am unsure of what you mean about how to manage.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

your post 3 months ago

TSH 37

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Did you get full thyroid and vitamin testing

[FallingInReverse]

Are you pregnant, and if so, exactly how many weeks?

Whether you are or are just planning to - you must get tested as other replies indicate.

Fetuses only start making their own thyroid hormone at about 20 weeks. Before that they rely entirely on maternal hormones.

A significant part of fetal development (particularly neurological) happens at 5-6 weeks, well before many women know they are even pregnant, and needs sufficient thyroid hormone.

Time is of the essence if you are pregnant right now. Please read other replies for opinions on what you might do.

[Art3mis92]

When you're pregnant your GP will immediately increase your levothyroxine dose and you will be considered a high risk pregnancy (as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia etc are very common when you have hypothyroidism regardless of your BMI and diet/lifestyle). You will also be referred to endocrine and you'll see an OB and endocrinologist every so often. I was last pregnant in 2019 so I don't remember the exact frequency but I want to say it was every 4 weeks in the second half of my pregnancy.

[Tginger]

Hi, I'm currently in the same situation. 12 weeks pregnant, have been on thyroid medication since 2017. Been properly treated for the last 3 years. Unfortunately, my endocrinology consultant has gone and they have no replacement for him. Had a couple of phone appts with other consultants, who appered to be completely useless. Don't want to test me or adjust the dose. So, I'm doing my tests privately, which showed my FT4 and FT3 dropped massively to the bottom of the range. I've googled hypothyroidism in pregnancy, and they say you have to test regularly and in most cases patients needed 30%-50% increase of their levo dose at the beginning of pregnancy.