Just discovered borderline hypothyroid - worried

[amelia00]

First time pregnancy here, a little past 8 weeks. So apparently I have subclinical hypothyroidism – a slightly elevated TSH in the low 3s and normal Free T4. I'm doing perhaps what I shouldn't be doing and reading all kinds of medical journals online that all seem to suggest lowered IQs, miscarriage, preterm labor, etc. even for subclinical/borderline hypo.

I guess I am just looking for some reassurance.  Has anyone dealt with subclinical hypo during pregnancy and carried on with a normal, healthy pregnancy/healthy baby?

I'm going to try to make an appointment with an endocrinologist tomorrow, and maybe it's my first-timer paranoia at work, but I am so afraid I have inadvertently done some kind of damage already! I saw the little heartbeat last week and just want to be making the best home I can in there.

[matte]

Well, perhaps not what you are looking for exactly, but my family has tons of hypothyroidism all over. Some of it was untreated in pregnancy. For example, my mother's was diagnosed midway through. I came out fine, seven lbs, and have become a successful academic with good social and motor skills... so don't panic. Subclinical hypo isn't a terribly big deal, esp if it's treated now. My thyroid is very low, and has been a bit tricky to manage during my (1st, current) pregnancy, but my dr is not terribly concerned and only had me go into see an endocrinologist at 28 wks, to begin a more focused care and follow up (the ob had been the only one managing it currently). The sense I get is that if your levels are strong enough to conceive, your baby should be just fine. What could be bad is if you quit treatment mid preg, and then your levels suddenly dropped (and it was a prolonged drop). I say all of this because I too was terribly concerned when my thyroid numbers went a little wonkier, but my dr is faculty at a major research hospital, and i've checked in with other doctors too... so, i would just treat it and not worry.

[amelia00]

Thank you so much – very helpful!!!  My first reaction was that subclinical couldn't be that bad... until I started Googling. I swear, I should just ban Google from my life for the next year.   I'm definitely going to follow up with an endo just to make sure things get to the right range. Glad to read that things are working out for you too.

[matte]

Yes, please stop Googling! I've been forcing myself not too.

But also, now that I am reading your post more alert, two things:

T4 levels are what matter (and what could affect your overall metabolism and baby). This is the level of hormone in your body, which makes some things happen. TSH is the hormone that makes your thyroid produce T4. It's not good for this to be high over the long haul, as that can cause problems with your thyroid gland (which, in ADVANCED long term, untreated cases, can lead to goiter or cancer). Your TSH levels can't affect your baby.

When I was a little less than 20 wks I got a lab in that was much like yours, TSH still high, T4 in normal range (though low normal) and I was quite concerned (for the same reasons). I asked my dr if this was something I should be concerned abt re: baby's health. She said 'not at all.' The thing to be concerned about at this point was MY OWN energy levels and weight gain. When T4 is lowish your energy levels will be lower than they would be if T4 was optimized. Similarly, you may gain weight, have dry skin, have weaker immunity, etc. This can be more draining during preg, but it's the same issue at any time. 

SO, definitely DO follow up with an endocrinologist and try to get on thyroid replacement therapy (an easy, inexpensive pill every morning, on an empty stomach). Do stick with treatment and follow up with blood tests, so that your dr can raise your dose to the highest level appropriate for your lab results and body. 

The reason for this is your own health and quality of life: the effects of low thyroid can be subtle, especially if you are not super low (but even if you are, i was INCREDIBLY low just before a recent --prepreg-- medical screening, but I was still incredibly active etc). You may not even feel tired or actually notice the effects. However, when your dosage is right you WILL notice the difference: your skin may get better (even if you thought it was good before!), your hair may get thicker, things may seem easier than they had previously, you may lose a little weight. 

As my dr said when my I had that lab that so concerned ME: now it's just about making things better for you! You'll just feel better from here on out!

[mamaki]

I have had hypothyroidism ever since being treated for Grave's Disease (hyperthyroidism) in 2001.  In pregnancy every woman's thyroid needs raise to some degree, but for most women this isn't an issue.  For women with hypothyroidism it can be more of an issue and they typically require an increase in their thyroid medication during pregnancy so should be monitored at regular intervals.

I have just had my third baby and have experienced low thyroid levels with every one of my pregnancies.  I've had regular monitoring through out the pregnancy and have required increases in medication, particularly in the second half of pregnancy.  Despite regular monitoring I have had some issues with hypothyroidism during all three of my pregnancies, which were fairly often more than just subclinical. 

My kids are 7 yrs, 4 yrs and newborn and none have them have had any of the issues that are risks with hypothyroidism.  My 7 yr old is very bright and is doing very well in school, especially with math and reading/comprehension.  My 4 yr old though a December baby so the youngest in his JK class is doing very well and reading very well for his age.  My newborn appears perfectly healthy, though he's only 3 days old, lol.

Hopefully this provides you with some reassurance.  Especially as your levels are subclinical, you really have no reason to worry.  Just make sure you get regular blood tests, at least every 1-2 months minimum.

[babygirlie]

T3 is the hormone you actually use.. not t4.

it's not very high at all. Stop worrying. Eat less soy goitergenic foods like raw brocolli and couliflour etc

[matte]

This seems very helpful and up-to-date:

http://www.hormone.org/Resources/Patient_Guides/upload/mgmt-maternal-hypothyroidism-070609-2.pdf

[LittleBirdy]

Didn't have time to read the replies but look to the left and see my beautiful, perfectly healthy baby boy born last summer - I have sub clinical hypothyroidism too.

[doulawoman]

me too, and we didn;t do much except take some kelp when we found out around 32 weeks...I think it did make me suuuuper tired for a first time mom but dd is super smart and healthy. I have a naturopath that has helepd me since the birth with it...and while i was pg i kept hearing different things because my naturopath then said it was normal numbers for pregnancy, mw's and doc said no...i was freaking out too but she was fune.