thyroid .....

*I found this very interesting as I have a very underactive thyroid....and developed severe pre-eclampsia.......



Question: I have a thyroid problem. Do I need to know anything special before I get pregnant?
Answer: Thyroid disease is the most common hormonal gland disorder during pregnancy. It's generally broken down into two types of problems: underactive thyroid glands (hypothyroidism) and overactive thyroid glands (hyperthyroidism).
Hypothyroidism occurs in one in 1800 pregnancies. If it's inadequately treated, you may be at an increased risk for preeclampsia, placental abruption, or an underweight or stillborn infant. Hypothyroidism is treated with levothyroxine, a synthetic form of thyroid hormone that's safe for the baby. When you're pregnant the amount of medication you need may change, so your TSH levels should be checked early in each trimester. It's now common practice to screen all newborns for hypothyroidism to avoid problems with abnormal growth and neurological development.
Hyperthyroidism is caused by a number of conditions, including Graves disease, thyroiditis, Hashimoto disease, and various immunoendocrine syndromes. Whether your treatment is medical or surgical, it should be completed (or sometimes, in the case of drugs, adjusted) before you get pregnant whenever possible. If there's any chance you're already pregnant, avoid any diagnostic tests or treatments using radioactive iodine. Since some thyroid-related disorders can be passed on to your baby, you should probably talk to an endocrinologist before you conceive.
BabyCenter Editors' Note: It may now be more important than ever to get thyroid problems under control before pregnancy. According to a study in the August 19, 1999 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, if a woman has even a very mild thyroid deficiency (hypothyroidism) while she's expecting, her child's IQ scores may suffer later in life. Such deficiencies may be symptomless, so if you're concerned, ask your doctor to screen you for any potential thyroid problems before you conceive.

Jenny, thanks for posting this. I was a few years back one of the people with hypo thyroidism and had absolutely no side effects... I can't remember why it was checked, but since then I had to take the synthetic version to supplement my production of whatever the thyroid hormone is.

I think it's TSH or something - the hormone. i don't make any or hardly any - so I have been taking levoxyl for years. There is a lot on the net about fertility and thyroid conditions. It really contributes to tons of functions. I didnt' have any problems, but then again, mine is regulated....and it took maybe 8 months to get it regulated and it needs to be checked every 3 to make sure we are on track and that is forever that I have to do that....

My mother has it as well - I understand the hypo version is genetic. I dont' know much about the hyper version.

Thanks for posting this Jenny, but I'm confused, are they saying you will have a normal pregnancy, but your child may experience side effects???

Anyway, I guess these are questions I should ask my doc when I'm TTC.

UGH! So frustrating, why do people even have to have things like THYROID disease? Makes me sad.

Jenny, TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, its a little switch that can track if you have enough thyroid hormone released, based on the metabolism. If not enough is released, then TSH is released (by your brain somewhere) to stimulate the production of the thyroid hormone. But if too much thyroid hormone is released, then that would explain how TSH is really low, you don't need to stimulate the thyroid anymore, its already in overdrive.

So if you have a High TSH, then your Thyroid hormone is low, and its the HYPO.

And if you have a Low TSH, then your Thyroid hormone is high, and its the HYPER.

Thanks for this article Jenny.

I have Hyperthyroidism, more testing will let me know if it's b/c of Graves disease for sure.

And you're right, they said I need to do treatment BEFORE I get preggo.

This is great information. I have hypothyroidism and have been taking synthriod for 2 years to regulate it. My doctor said I shouldnt have to worry as long as it is being monitored throughout the pregancy. We are only now thinking of TTC, but this was one of my fears, I had been told it could cause miscarriage.
Thanks for the article..