What are the risks to an unborn baby in pregnancy if you have hypothyroidism?
I am 2 months pregnant with baby #1 and recently found out that I have hypothyroidism. My doc says it’s okay to take the meds she prescribed w little affect on the baby…but this is the same hospital that told my Grandpa he had bronchitis for a month-he died 2 months later of lung cancer. Is my doc right?
Not to worry! It is safe to take Synthroid while pregnant. In fact, to not take it could harm your baby. Just be sure that you have routine TSH levels drawn to be sure that your levels are good. Also, ask your doctor for some hand outs on this. You will feel better once you have a little information.
Good luck and congrats
By the way, one of my good friends has thyroid problems and had no issues at all while being pregnant. She does have to have her thyroid removed in a few weeks ( the baby was born in Dec).
Hypothyroidism MUST be treated. The medication is COMPLETELY safe, and necessary. You could lose your child if you don’t take the medicine. This is absolutely nothing to mess around with.
I guarantee it wasn’t the same doctor who told your grandpa that… unless you’re seeing the wrong type of doctor.
If you don’t trust the doctor, find a new one. Either way, TAKE THE MEDS!
i would get a second opinion personally. i know of one lady with hypothyroidism and she has gone into pre term labor with both of her children. i don’t know about the meds that she is taking though, sorry. go get another opinion from another doctor, just to be safe.
If this is uncomfortable for you, then see another doctor for another test. Thyroid problems can be high or low, but still in a normal range.
For over 100 years, physicians have known of a link between mothers with hypothyroidism during pregnancy and developmental retardation in their children after birth. This was particularly seen in mothers who came from iodine deficient areas of the country (iodine is necessary to produce thyroid hormone and is now a common component of the salt in our foods) and was also observed in mothers with autoimmune thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Well, when it comes to your health (or anything, for that matter) ALWAYS listen to that inner voice. Meaning, if you have any doubt about your care – then get a second opinion, or even a third, if necessary.
Anyway, I was worried about my thyroid and asked to be tested at my first OB appt yesterday because i was just reading about this (and how common) in my pregnancy book – what to expect when expecting. You will definitly want to have this treated as some issues of not are a significant increase for chance of miscarriage, pre-term labor and low birth weight and the subsequent issues those can cause developmentally, and a greater chance for child not to reach full intellectual development.
It is common and from what I understand, easy to treat the medication is safe – but you will want to take this seriously. If treated, you should be able to have a normal, healthy pregnancy and a beautiful, healty baby. It is really common, which is why they routinuly test for it many places now-a-days.
Congrat’s on your pregnancy and managing this issue!!!
BTW – there is a website called safefetus.org in which you can get more unbiased info. on what medicines are safe to take in pregnancy or not. Also, do an indepth search on the particular medicine side effects to be extra careful. It is probably one of those things where the benefits greatly outweight the risks.
Best!