[NocturnalDaze]

I'm currently taking hydrocortisone for adrenal insufficiency and Armour for hypothyroidism.<br><br>
I was hypo before I had my daughter so I know that won't stop me from being able to have a midwife.<br><br>
I was wondering if a midwife will take someone with adrenal insufficiency? I plan on having a homebirth. Do you think this will be possible?

 

[NocturnalDaze]

Does anyone have any thoughts?<br><br>
Thanks!!

 

[Midwife Kris]

I guess I don't know anything about it... how does adrenal insuffiency affect your life and health?

 

[NocturnalDaze]

This site gives a pretty good explaination...<br><br><a href="http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/adrenal_insufficiency.htm" target="_blank">http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/ad...ufficiency.htm</a><br><br>
Mine was caused because my thyroid has been undertreated for the last 10+ years.<br><br>
My biggest symptom was extreme fatigue.<br><br>
I currently take 20mg of hydrocortisone for it broken up over 4 doses a day. That is considered a physiological dose and not associated with many of the problems that hydrocortisone causes at higher doses.<br><br>
It is bioidentical to our own cortisol and is replacing that hormone just as my armour is replacing my thyroid hormones.

 

[Maggi315]

yes, I have had experience with this both personally and as a midwife. I would not hesitate to take someone with this problem. In fact, I believe these problems, both adrenals and thyroid problems, are much more common, just underdiagnosed.<br><br>
The midwife I worked with, who is also a naturopath, recommended high doses of adrenal gland supplements for hyperemesis, which I have, and has some older studies to support this.<br><br>
I hope you aren't excluded from homebirth, in my area, it would be something we wouldn't blink an eye at.<br><br>
How are you afraid it will affect your labor and birth? I haven't noticed any problems/consequences. Unless your thyroid is undertreated and you don't make enough milk. And maybe more fatigue than normal. What else?

 

[NocturnalDaze]

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How are you afraid it will affect your labor and birth? I haven't noticed any problems/consequences. Unless your thyroid is undertreated and you don't make enough milk. And maybe more fatigue than normal. What else?</div>
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There is very little information online about pregnancy and adrenal fatigue. So, I'm not really sure what to expect.<br><br>
One study that I've heard of says that I should be doubling my dose of Hydrocortisone in the second trimester and I know I'll need more during labor (obviously due to the stress).<br><br>
All I can find is info about patients with Addisons disease and from what I can tell they need an IV drip of cortisol (I'm not sure what the actual medication is called) during labor. I was hoping I could just take a certain amount of HC orally and be all set.<br><br>
Have you had any experience with women taking Hydrocortisone while pregnant?

 

[Maggi315]

no, I haven't had experience with hydrocortisone, just adrenal glandular supplements and thyroid meds. Do you have an endocrinologist? They should be helpful, I hope. My endocrinologist is supportive of homebirth, in fact, he is the one who told me that iv insulin drips (which they do with gestational diabetes around here for someone who is on insulin) were the things that caused most of the problems. He told me just to stop taking the insulin and eat and drink normally.<br><br>
if you don't have an endocrinologist, maybe you can ask your question on an endocrinology or adrenal board? There are several general health boards you can google that might have some info.<br><br>
Sorry, I don't have more about that, let me know what you find out so I can keep that info for furture clients.

 

[splunky]

Nocturnaldaze,<br>
I just stumbled on this post when looking for my own info on Adrenal Fatigue. I know this is old, when are you due? Have you had the baby yet?<br><br>
I ask because I had my 4th baby just 6mo. ago and when she was 3 mo. I was diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue and Hypothyroid, amongst many other things. I had a homebirth with no problem! In fact, it was wonderful! Noone poking at you, the ability to walk around or lay anywhere you want! I wouldn't change it for the world.<br>
On the down side, I had PPD for the 1st time, but I beleive it was due to everything I mentioned before but it was not diagnosed yet. Dr. said it was going on for some years already.<br>
That saidm, you should have a fine time with a homebirth, in my opinion.<br>
If you have any questions feel free to ask. Gotta go, kiddos are calling!

 

[NocturnalDaze]

Splunky,<br><br>
I don't know know how I missed your reply....<br><br>
I assume you weren't taking Hydorcortisone once you discovered the adrenal insufficiency if you were already pregnant?<br><br>
What did you do for you adrenals while you were in labor?<br><br>
I've been looking all over the internet and I can't find anyone else in this situation!!<br><br>
If you have any advice please let me know.<br><br>
Thank you!!

 

[splunky]

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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>NocturnalDaze</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8667623"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Splunky,<br><br>
I don't know know how I missed your reply....<br><br>
I assume you weren't taking Hydorcortisone once you discovered the adrenal insufficiency if you were already pregnant?<br><br>
What did you do for you adrenals while you were in labor?<br><br>
I've been looking all over the internet and I can't find anyone else in this situation!!<br><br>
If you have any advice please let me know.<br><br>
Thank you!!</div>
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I am glad I stumbled back here, haven't checked this thread since I posted it.<br>
As for adrenal insufficiency and pregnancy, I didn't know when I was pregnant, only found out when I was 6wks PP and had PPD. I take an Adrenal Formula right now. It's safe for b'feeding, so would assume it's safe for pregnancy. Also I take a Magnesium/Calcium supplement which is extremely helpful as well as a super does of Vit. C. The Magnesium is really helpful for the sleep issues.<br>
I don't think the labor was complicated, but it was the recovery period that was difficult. I am just now getting back to normal. I tell my husband "I feel like I am coming out of a deep dark winter". Again, you already know you have this and are familiar with it. This came at me afterwards and hit me like a rock, so I was unprepared.<br>
Sorry I can't help more, let me know if you have more questions. (((hugs)))

 

[cfiddlinmama]

I have no info for you about pg and labor but I wanted to tell you that my son's adrenals were working at about 30% when he was 2. His thyroid, thymus, and stomach were effected. It was horrible. I didn't go the conventional medical route. (They refused to say there was even a problem. I KNEW there was though.) He saw a kinesiologist. She put him on Royal Jelly, Bee Propolis, Gotu Kola, Licorice, and this wonderful Vit C/ antioxidant supplement called Berry Healthy from Nature's Sunshine. She also gave him some flower remedies to help him when he crashed. I could tell the difference about 20 min. after the first dose. I can give you more particulars if you would like. I would definitely recommend finding a kinesiologist to help you. They can help you determine exactly what supplements are beneficial to your body. Best wishes for your pg and birth!

 

[tanyalynn]

NocturnalDaze, I just stumbled over here myself. I'm not sure how much my situation will help, but I wanted to share my good homebirth with you. My thyroid and adrenals went out during my pregnancy (I recognized the thyroid problem, but couldn't get a doc to so I didn't get any treatment) and I hadn't heard of adrenal fatigue back then--wasn't diagnosed until the little one was almost a year old, but based on my symptoms, the problems came on at the same time.<br><br>
I wasn't treated during my pregnancy at all, so from around 4 mos pregnant onward, I was really tired, had nausea/vomiting (nausea every day, vomiting once every week or two throughout the pregnancy), lots of stuff that made me feel miserable but not catastrophically ill. Because I was so run down, though, I got a cold at the end of the pregnancy I couldn't shake, and that made me ill-prepared for labor (so it was a darn good thing I was at home). All things considered (me sick, so sick my midwife said I should go see a doctor, and that's not normally her style), not walking much for the last few weeks due to a back that hurt a lot (I think baby got in a funny position because I wasn't moving much, which caused the long labor), down mood--it went great. Labor was long, 31 hrs from first contractions to baby in arms, and that was without any treatment for either the thyroid or the adrenals. I tried to nap when I could, eat and drink some when I felt like it, but nothing special in that regard.<br><br>
My midwife is the one who got me through the pregnancy. She was majorly supportive--lots of research on borderline/early hypothyroid, she listened a lot and was really helpful, I think the B vitamins and vitC she suggested were really helpful too.<br><br>
I think if I could have a successful labor without being treated for either, I think you can do great since you've been taking care of yourself all along.