If you know you have an underactive thyroid gland, talk to your
doctor about having a baby. Your doctor will want to check your thyroid hormone levels and make sure they are right before you start trying to conceive.
If your hormone levels are too low, you have hypothyroidism and may not be
ovulating as you should. Your doctor will recommend that you take the right dose of thyroxine, the hormone you lack, before you start trying for a baby.
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You may have discovered your underactive thyroid as a result of trying to get pregnant. Perhaps your doctor checked your hormone levels because you were having problems conceiving. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- feeling more tired than usual
- depressions
- feeling unusually cold
- putting on a lot of weight
You’re not alone in this. Up to one in 20 women who have trouble conceiving turn out to have unusual thyroid hormone levels.
Once you’ve conceived, having enough thyroxine will help you feel well during your pregnancy. It will reduce your risk of pregnancy complications, such as
miscarriage,
anaemia,
high blood pressure and
premature birth.
Make sure you take your thyroxine as described on your prescription. Your growing baby needs the hormone to develop and thrive.
However, if you suffer badly from
morning sickness, it may make sense to change the time when you take your tablets. Talk to your doctor before changing when you take your medication.
As your pregnancy progresses, you’ll need more thyroxine. Your doctor will check your levels regularly throughout your pregnancy, so that the dose can be adjusted again, if needed. She’ll do this by taking a small sample of blood, usually every four weeks to six weeks.
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You can usually just go to your GP for these blood tests. However, if your thyroxine levels do not stabilise, you may be referred to a specialist for closer monitoring. The extra care you receive will help you to have a healthy and successful pregnancy.
Check out ways to
prepare your body for pregnancy.
