“To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.”
-Chinese proverb
One thought that has repeatedly struck me is how much easier my journey might have been if somehow, magically, some of the things I know now I could have known when I was first diagnosed with hypothyroidism, or when my body first whispered a warning to me that something was wrong. Instead, I had to learn those things the hard way. I hope that by sharing my story, my readers who suffer from this disease, and those who suspect they have it, might benefit from my experiences and what I have learned. If my story on Hypothyroid Mom saves the life of even one baby, I will have realized my mission.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after the birth of my first son in 2006. I trusted my doctors and assumed they were the experts on hypothyroidism, especially when I became pregnant again in late 2008. This will forever be one of the biggest regrets of my life. Under their care my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) soared far above the safe range for pregnancy endangering the life of my fetus and I miscarried at 12 weeks pregnancy. The day I lost my baby to hypothyroidism, I vowed to research everything there was to know about this disease and warn women everywhere about the dangers. After over three years of intense research and a quest to find the top thyroid health experts, I am in the best health ever. I got pregnant naturally with my second son and gave birth to him in October 2010. Dreams do come true for hypothyroid moms.
WHAT WORKED FOR THIS HYPOTHYROID MOM
1. Get Thyroid Testing Prior To Trying To Conceive
My doctor did extensive laboratory testing including TSH, Free T4, Free T3, and thyroid antibodies. Her goal was to get my TSH in the range of 1.0-2.0 mIU/L pre-conception. This is in keeping with the Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy and Postpartum:[1]
RECOMMENDATION 15 – Treated hypothyroid patients (receiving thyroid hormone replacement medication) who are planning pregnancy should have their dose adjusted by their provider in order to optimize serum TSH values to <2.5 mIU/L preconception. Lower preconception TSH values (within the non-pregnant reference range) reduce the risk of TSH elevation during the first trimester.
I also started taking a prenatal vitamin several months prior to getting pregnant and throughout my pregnancy. If you are hypothyroid and taking thyroid hormone replacement, you should not take your prenatal vitamin with iron within three to four hours of taking your thyroid medication. This is because iron interferes with the absorption of thyroid hormone. I took mine at separate times of the day.
Do not assume your doctor has done a full thyroid blood panel. Read my post Top 5 Reasons Doctors Fail To Diagnose Hypothyroidism. Be an advocate for yourself and insist on proper testing. Be sure your doctor is not relying strictly on blood tests for diagnosis and treatment, but also includes an extensive look at your symptoms, medical history, family history and physical examination. The key is finding a great doctor that treats the patient not the lab results.
2. Chart Your Fertility Cycle
While some lucky people get pregnant almost as soon as they start trying, it takes longer for many couples. One good way of increasing your odds is to chart your fertility cycle using your basal body temperature. I am fortunate that I monitored my basal body temperature because I discovered immediately that my cycles were not normal. My basal body temperature was far below the normal range, typical of people with hypothyroidism. I was also ovulating late in my cycle, and my cycles were varying in length.
I was fortunate that a friend recommended Suzanne Connole, acupuncture specialist in New York City. Her Traditional Chinese Medicine approach combining acupuncture and Chinese herbs worked like magic. Soon my fertility cycles looked more like the ideal normal cycle, with predictable ovulation dates and consistent cycle lengths. I was amazed to see my fertility charts literally change before my eyes under Suzanne’s care. Thank you Suzanne for all you have done for me.
Dr. Sami David is the fertility guru to celebrities in New York City. He is a leading reproductive endocrinologist specializing in safe, alternative methods for treating infertility. He wrote an incredible book called Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility
with Jill Blakeway, Licensed Acupuncturist and founder of The YinOva Center in New York City. The very first month that I followed the recommendations in this book, I got pregnant. I have recommended this book to friends who were struggling with fertility, and they too got pregnant within the first few months of trying it. This book may just bring an end to IVF.
3. Confirm Your Pregnancy As Soon As Possible
Do NOT wait for a missed period to test for pregnancy and do NOT wait for your first pre-natal visit with your OB/GYN to test your thyroid.
I will forever remember Mary Shomon’s tip during one of my phone consultation services with her. She told me to buy the biggest box of pregnancy tests I could find. She recommended that I try to confirm my pregnancy as early as possible and to contact my doctor as soon as possible for thyroid testing. You bet I followed her instructions, and I went out and bought boxes and boxes of pregnancy tests. The store cashier must have thought I was nuts! You better believe that as soon as I started trying to conceive, my goal was to confirm my pregnancy as early as possible.
In the first part of the pregnancy, the fetus relies completely on the mother to provide the thyroid hormones for its development. In a person with healthy thyroid function, her body is able to meet the extra demands of pregnancy to provide the fetus with the necessary hormones. In a woman with thyroid dysfunction, her body may not be able to meet the increased demand for thyroid hormone during pregnancy. According to the Endocrine Society’s 2007 Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Thyroid Dysfunction during Pregnancy and Postpartum, thyroid replacement dosage usually needs to be incremented by 4-6 week gestation and may require a 30-50% increase in dosage.[2]
Most OB/GYN practitioners do not schedule the first prenatal visit until around 8 weeks pregnancy. Do NOT wait this long to have your thyroid tested. Insist on being seen sooner and have your thyroid tested. If you are currently under the care of a doctor for your thyroid dysfunction, contact them immediately as soon as you confirm your pregnancy.
4. Ensure Your Thyroid Levels Are Monitored Regularly Throughout Your Pregnancy
Given that I had miscarried before due to my hypothyroidism, I was naturally very concerned during this pregnancy. I remember well my doctor Dr. Adrienne Clamp giving me hope. She said, “You will not miscarry your baby to hypothyroidism on my watch!” That’s the type of thyroid doctor you need. She regularly tested my thyroid levels and maintained my TSH levels within the trimester-specific pregnancy ranges. I have no words to properly express my thanks to Dr. Clamp for all she has done for me.
Don’t just accept “you are fine” from your doctor. Ask the specific lab results and the normal lab ranges. Be thyroid aware.
According to the Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease during Pregnancy and Postpartum:[3]
RECOMMENDATION 2 – Trimester-specific reference ranges for TSH are recommended: first trimester, 0.1–2.5 mIU/L; second trimester, 0.2–3.0 mIU/L; third trimester, 0.3–3.0 mIU/L.
RECOMMENDATION 16 – In pregnant patients with treated hypothyroidism, maternal serum TSH should be monitored approximately every 4 weeks during the first half of pregnancy because further dose adjustments are often required.
RECOMMENDATION 17 – In pregnant patients with treated hypothyroidism, maternal TSH should be checked at least once between 26 and 32 weeks gestation.
My Miracle Boys
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism following the birth of my first son in 2006. However, my hypothyroid symptoms started well before then. I can trace my symptoms back to when I was a teenager. My symptoms got much worse after my pregnancy however I know that my thyroid was not functioning properly even before the birth of my first son. My doctors never tested my thyroid levels during my pregnancy with my first son nor did I have any idea to ask for testing. It is a miracle that he was born healthy and strong.
You have no idea how many times I’ve had dreams of myself going back in time to save my unborn baby. I can’t no matter how much I wish it, but what I can do is make sure this never happens to another baby again.
I co-authored this book, Your Healthy Pregnancy with Thyroid Disease: A Guide to Fertility, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Wellness, so that every woman will know the lab tests, optimal ranges, medications, supplements, dietary recommendations and more so that she will know more than even her doctors about having miracle babies with thyroid disease.
References:
1. Stagnaro-Green, A., Abalovich, M., Alexander, E., Azizi, F., Mestman, J., Negro, R., Nixon, A., Pearce, E.N., Soldin, O.P., Sullivan, S., and Wiersinga, W. Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy and Postpartum. Retrieved from http://thyroidguidelines.net/pregnancy.
2. The Endocrine Society. Management of Thyroid Dysfunction During Pregnancy and Postpartum: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2007; 92(8)(Supplement):S1-S47.
3. Stagnaro-Green, A., Abalovich, M., Alexander, E., Azizi, F., Mestman, J., Negro, R., Nixon, A., Pearce, E.N., Soldin, O.P., Sullivan, S., and Wiersinga, W. Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy and Postpartum. Retrieved from http://thyroidguidelines.net/pregnancy.
This made me very hopeful for my son, I am currently 14weeks, I was diagnosed with geaves disease at 20 (im 26 now) and I was taking medication till last week to lesson my thyroid hormone, which in return turned me hypo at 16.290, which is crazy high, so they stopped my medications and I was worried my son will be effected negatively, but this makes me feel so much better.
Hi I was just reading everyone feed back to get some positivey back I’m 41 this year and I guess time isn’t on my back I have been told I have a under active thyroid and on medication for that I also have mild endometriosis and pcos I has a successful ivf a few years back but had a missed miscarriage at 6 week I had 2 iui 1 was successful one was a waste of time I was hoping to hear if there’s anyone smiler to what I’m going through
Hello everyone,
An unusual situation happened to me. I am considered hypothyroid by my doctor at levels around 5.6-6.0. I didn’t take the medications even though I was advised to.
I naturally conceived at 28 and found out 3 months later I was pregnant with twins. My thyroid levels had soared to 9.6 and the doctors panicked. They told me I need to go on medication immediately. I chose not to. I delivered full term, healthy twin boys who are now 8 years old. They are studying 3 languages and very intelligent with no medical issues.
I wonder how this was possible?
I still don’t take the pills. My levels are up at 6. I would like to have another child. Wondering if I should start or not?
Whats your reason not taking the medications?
I am 27 and had a miscarriage recently. But only after that I found out that my TSH level is very high at 7.66. I found your experience similar to me, I always had these symptoms from college days itself. But I was too late to find out. Hope your book helps me in fighting hypothyroidism.
I have had 4 miscarriages, 0 children. My thyroid labs are always within range, TSH <2 always. My CD3 labs all came back normal. The only abnormal test I’ve had is TPO AB, but the women I read about who have miscarriages, their value is in the hundreds, whereas mine was only in the 60’s. I wish I could read a success story about a woman who has had her Hashimoto’s under control for ten years, is 25-35 years old, and had a successful live birth. I will buy your book to see if I am missing any bit of information that may change the outcome, thank you. Sometimes I think I need a higher dose of levothyroxine before a blood test shows it is out of range. Maybe it’s a nutrient I am low in, like Selenium or Iodine. I’ll keep hoping.
oh wow Brittany I’m so sorry to hear this about your babies. There is hope to have babies with thyroid disease. Best wishes to you, from Dana Trentini (aka Hypothyroid Mom)
I am 31, and my husband is almost 38. We have been TTC for 5years. I was diagnosed with PCOS in February of 2010. We have tried Clomid, Femara, injections and 2 IUI’s all with little luck, so i saw online about a spiritual healer name Oduma and i just had the mind set that there was not such thing as spiritual healer and pregnancy spell and cleanse , but i was out of options and i tried this online spell caster and requested for this spiritual healing and pregnancy spell and to my greatest surprise within the 2month i became pregnant and the doctor said it is a miracle they could not find anything as pcos or infertility in me, to clear the doubts of others out there who had the mind set of mine that there was no such thing as spiritual healing and pregnancy spell should think again, am a living testimony of the miracle and blessing of Oduma spells , there is never any harm in trying , for those going through similar situation as i was can contact Oduma on email :[email protected] or tel +2349067801825,website:https://[email protected] .wordpress.com, i pray baby dust on you all
Hi Dana,
Your post is very useful, Thanks for sharing the experience in such detail! I am expecting mom in my first trimester, with hypothyroidism and being treated with levothyroxine. I have a question- Is it advisable to take prenatal vitamins with Iodine of on treatment of hypothyroid during pregnancy? Will external iodine lead to thyroid imbalance? While searching information on. Te it’s to confusing. Please share your opinion.
Thanks,
Reva
I had a son in 2004 when I was only 16 years old. I was diagnosed with hashimoto’s 3 years ago. After a few years of trying to get pregnant again I finally got up enough nerve to seek help. It took a long time to get the right dose of thyroid medication in my system. I was given the ok to start trying to conceive March of this year and I haven’t had any luck yet. I’m 32 years old now and hoping with this information and working with my new OBGYN I’m able to turn my luck around, because this is my last ditch effort before I call quits. My son is going to be 15 years old in a few months and just started his first year of high school.
Hello, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease last December and also with hypothyroidism. I have been taking medication since diagnosis and see my endocrinologist a lot to help regulate everything. My cycles are normal now and I got the okay to start trying to conceive. I am actually in the 2 week wait now (not my first time) and I am really hoping that this is it. My period is expected to come on August 27th give or take a couple days.
All the best trying to conceive Kelly.
I lost my baby at 11 weeks. It was later on that i found out that i had thyroid issues and i have been on meds for more than 3 yrs. I am 36 and i am trying to have another baby I am scared but I am trying and praying for a healthy pregnancy and delivery with a healthy baby.
Hi Gina, I’m very sorry to hear about your miscarriage. Please know there is hope to have miracle babies with hypothyroidism. That is why I wrote my book “Your Health Pregnancy with Thyroid Disease”. It’s available online including at Amazon.
This article has brought me to tears. I had my thyroid tested last year to prepare to conceive my next child. My TSH was 8 and my doctor wasn’t the slightest bit concerned. I’ve miscarried twice since then… it wasn’t until I lost my second baby that my midwife decided to look thru my labs and saw my levels. She freaked out and now I finally feel some peace with everything. Thank you for posting this and for the book references. I go to see my primary in 3 weeks for testing and medication discussing, so I appreciate learning all I can before then. Thank you so much. I don’t know you but I totally love you and I’m glad you got your miracle baby.
No one talks about this. Especially if you’re poor or single. We never know, just like all the happy, healthy people. Can you imagine being “in love” and suddenly “I’m pregnant “ makes them leave. And then you miscarry and ‘they’ say “it’s for the best. We hurt , too.
Just found you, thank you for sharing.
I know the pain well, I’ve lost three babies.
2 early onset, around 8-10 weeks for my first two losses. Lost my baby girl at 23 weeks this past March.
I was just diagnosed Hashimoto’s at 12 weeks pregnant with my new baby. I had no idea. I knew something ‘was up’ but didn’t know it was autoimmune…. I’ve been very concerned and torn over this, as I didn’t get med’s until week 14. I do not want to take the med’s, knowing that I will have to be on them (potentially) for the rest of my life. That terrifies me, and I believe I can heal my body naturally.
It’s a mess, finding out I have Hashimoto’s so late in this pregnancy has been horrible on me emotionally and mentally… I feel totally lost and hate having to “wait and see” how the pregnancy goes…how baby has formed, etc. My last loss, my Libby, had bilateral club feet, bilateral cleft lip and palate… for any woman reading that has these issues with their baby, check your thyroid!!! There is a reason this has happened. All I got from doctor’s was “we don’t know why this happens.”
If I would have even been hinted at having an autoimmune disease, I could have done so many things differently leading up to this pregnancy. It’s heartbreaking, frustrating, maddening….
I’ve had several miscarriages and ultimately it was found out to be my thyroid. I have Hashi’s. Now we are trying again and I’m grateful for this article bc literally all my questions are answered! Thank you thank you!!