2Nd Trimester and Low Thyroid

Try not to worry too much, keep in mind that's why prenatal visits are scheduled to screen for conditions that can potentially be harmful to you and your baby. I have had hypothyroid condition long before I was pregnant, and despite having prior knowledge, my thyroid still fluctuated during my pregnancies. My endocrinologist told me the 'normal' ranges aren't even all that normal, because they can be redefined from year to year. Presently, the normal range is 0.35-4.00 and you stated yours in 7.31, while I'm not a nurse or doctor, you are so close to the high end of the range you're probably OK. The medication should boost you right back into normal range, and I was told repeatedly that the medication is perfectly safe. In fact it is just replacing the hormone your body is having difficulty producing on it's own. I hope you get into the specialist soon, so you will have greater peace of mind. Good luck.

I really think for any kind of complications due to low thyroid you would have to be in the extreme end of the scale. My level was at 95.82 or something like that with my 2nd and he is the most healthy beautiful little three year old. I really wouldn't worry at all :) Just make sure to take your meds and get all your blood tests during and after your pregnancy.

I have thyroid disease and my kids are just fine. My daughter is 3 1/2 and is too smart for her own good. I have had it for 13 years now and both my pregnancys were fine. Your numbers are on the high side. I am not a expert but i would say that your thyroid is working double time to make up for what your baby is taking. I wouldnt worry too much or you will just drive yourself crazy. Best of luck and congrats on your little one.

Don't freak out! I have hypothyroidism. Have had it for 6 years. When I found out I was pregnant last year, I, too, went looking online to see what possible complications there could be, how important thyroid function is to a developing baby. I was referred to a perinatologist (because I was over 40 and flunked the glucose test) and he never seemed concerned about testing my thyroid. I would insist and he would do it and the levels were always fine. They never had to adjust my meds during the pregnancy either. I've been on Synthroid since 2005, took it during my pregnancy and happy to report baby was just fine! He is now 9 months old and doing great!
The endocrinologist deals with this all the time. I think you will be in good hands. Just get your questions answered so you will feel better! Good Luck and congratulations!

Hi C.,

I'm not expert in this field, but here's what I know from a colleague's presentation.

You can't diagnose hypo- or hyperthyroidism on the basis of a single test, and you really need to know what test(s) were run. My guess is that the test result you're reporting if for TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), in which case a level of 7.31 mU/L (miliunits/liter of blood) is an indication of *probable* hypothyroidism. You need results from a T3 and a free T4 test, however, to finalize the diagnosis. Normally in pregnancy, both of these would elevated above normal, nonpregnant levels. If you are truly hypothyroid, however, one or both of these will also return a low result. Your doctor should also test for antibodies to Thyroglobulin (TgAbs) and to Thyroid peroxidase (antiTPO), both of which may be present in hypothyroidism. The testing algorithm (method) is complex, so going to see an endocrinologist for a complete work up is a good idea. Also, no test is perfect, and there is always th possibility of false negative or false positive results. If it hasn't been done already, it might be worthwhile repeating the test to see if you get a different result.

Thyroid disease is far more common than most people realize, and 80% of those affected are women. A large number of cases are subclinical, that is there may or may not be symptoms, and only the TSH measurement may be off. The only way to really diagnose thyroid disease is by doing the blood tests. Also, thyroid disease can develop with time. It is entirely possible that you were NOT hypothyroid throughout the first trimester, and that your tests are showing a subtle shift in your physiology. After all, TSH values less than 7.0 mU/L are considered normal (although values between 5.1 mU/L and 7.0 mU/L would be considered borderline hypothyroid; between 0.1 mU/L and 0.29 mU/L would be considered borderline hyperthyroid, and and less tha 0.1 mU/L would be considered hyperthyroid).

Also, make sure you talk to your doctor about testing the baby for thyroid function after birth. This is done standardly, but depending on the results of your testing and possibly ultrasound, your child's pediatrician will want to know if your thyroid results had anything to do with proper thyroid development in your baby (this is pretty rare, though).

Good luck -- I hope all goes well with your pregnancy and that you deliver a beautiful, healthy child!

I'm hypothyroid and have been for about 20 years. With my first pregnancy, my doctor didn't check my chart and when he saw that my thyroid levels were off, he ordered a new dose of medicine. It lowered my dose, when he really wanted to raise it. I'm not sure what my levels were during that time (about 2 weeks) but I was feeling really bad. I was also seeing a high risk doctor. Both doctors said that as long as I had some thyroid medicine, the baby would take what it needed first and I would get what was left. Neither one was very concerned.
My son is 2 1/2 and he has a speech delay and seems to me to take a little longer than other kids his age to 'get' things. I sometimes wonder if it's related to my thyroid mix-up, but really there's nothing you can do now, so there's no use worrying over it.
Also, your levels will fluctuate during pregnancy, your doctor will probably take your levels again in 6 weeks to see if the dose is working and may adjust your dose again.

I was diagnosed with the same thing for my son 4 years ago and then again this past year with my twins. I never was put on meds. My dr just had me come in for non stress tests. There's a really good book called the thyroid sourcebook for women for good info. Also my son is too smart for his own good and my daughters are headed in the same direction. So try not to stress too much.

I'm a tensed to be mom, I am in the same situation that u were in .I would be relieved if u shared your experience n the outcome. I started to take meds for low thyroid at 10th week is it late to start the meds and would it effect the baby anyway.