Thyroid issues cause a risk out for homebirth??

[harli]

I"ve been dealing with known hormone problems since at least the middle of this year when I was diagnosed with lactational atrophic vaginitis.  Now after several weeks of fatigue and mysterious joint pain that started a few days ago I went to a new doc.  After being very interested in my hormone issues she very quickly found a very small bump on my thyroid.  Now I don't yet know what has caused this.  I'm currently undergoing tests and I'm sure a trip to the endocrinologist is in the works.  But right now at least the most probable solution seems to be hypothyroidism at this point, it may or may not be long term.  It's possible that this is related to my having problems conceiving dd however I went on to carry and deliver her with no problems.

While I delivered dd at the hospital with no problems I was assaulted by the chief of obstetrics at the hospital, he lied to get me to okay a manual removal of the placenta, the only reason for which was to get him out of the delivery room as fast as possible.  He did this with no pain medication and the whole thing resulted in me having PTSD and many nightmares and sleepless nights.  I also know of at least 3 other women this was done to by various doctors at this hospital. Unfortunately there are only 3 hospitals that deliver in my area, 2 I will absolutely not deliver in and the 3rd doesn't sound so great either.

I CAN NOT deliver at this hospital again,  and I'm VERY leary of delivering at any hospital, especially the less then stellar ones around here.  Obviously my DH and I need to wait until my hormones are figured out and we weren't going to try for a little while yet anyway but are controlled thyroid problems a reason for risking out of a homebirth? 

I know I'm speaking in generalities right now but we wanted another baby so bad and on top of being scared of what is wrong with me I"m worried I wont' get my homebirth. 

[camprunner]

As long as you take your meds, get your blood work done every 8 weeks or so, and have everything under control, you should be fine. At least this is what I was told and I'm currently dealing with this since I didn't take my meds. 

[purplepaisleymama]

I had my 2nd dd in October, I was diagnosed with Thyroid issues at 10 weeks of pregnancy with her.  I had been suffering with the symptoms of Thyroid issues since early puberty but had never been taken seriously or diagnosed.  It took my neck swelling three times it's normal size before they tested me.  I was monitored every month throughout the pregnancy and needed to take medication from week 21 on.  I had no issues with delivery, I had a homebirth and my MW was fine with everything. I was honest with all of my Doctors, my Endo was happy that I was so pro-active with my health and was fine with me having a homebirth as long as I was stable.  I was more tired during the pregnancy than I had been in my previous pregnancies, but whether it was the thyroid I can't be sure..... I was older this time and had five kids at home. 

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

~laura

[no5no5]

So you're not pregnant now?  Then I'd say no, as long as you have it well under control and test your levels regularly to ensure that it stays under control, there is absolutely no reason that hypothyroidism should complicate labor or delivery or make you ineligible for homebirth. 

[greenmama66]

Been hypo my entire life- 5 children all born at home including my twins (first two) and I WENT OFF thyroid when I was preggo with them (young and dumb) and things were fine. Girls not retarded in any way. Just get bloodwork done every 6 weeks or so (I go every 4 weeks) and things should be fine. It has never affected my pregnancies or birth outcomes as I've had easy labors and births as well as healthy babies.

[emily11megan]

I have attended a lovely homebirth of a woman who has Hashimoto.

[GoBecGo]

I have Hashi's.

Had DD1 at home pre-dx (but with clear symptoms for years before) and was untested and unmedicated.

Had DD2 at home post-dx.  GP checked my thyroid every 4 weeks and i reported numbers to MW.  Everything was great, birth was fine.

Don't worry!  I too had this huge panic at diagnosis (when DD1 was 5 or 6 months old) that she would be my first and last HB baby, but here i am now, knowing it makes very little difference so long as you're properly medicated.

[harli]

Ladies you all are a God send. I

read a few  websites that said you shouldn't have a homebirth if you have thyroid issues but I can't see why that is since it shouldn't complicate delivery.  Thank you so much you have all lifted a huge weight off my shoulders now I just have to get the issue straightened out.  

[mariacm]

Just to echo others... I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism during my last preg at about 20 wks (my  hypo is secondary, not hashimoto's or other primary).  Was seeing birth center/HB MW's for pregnancy and endo for thyroid.  Put on meds, tested a couple more times and meds adjusted, and was never told by either endo or MW's that out of hospital birth was  a problem.  Delivered at home. =)  Shouldn't risk you out of HB at all.