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Breastfeeding
kesrya
member
Thyroid meds and Breastfeeding
kesrya
member
Wondering if anyone is taking a natural thyroid medication (ie. Armor Thyroid or Nature-Thyroid) and breastfeeding?
My TSH had always been just within range, so doctors never wanted to medicate me and I always supported my thyroid health with supplements. I breastfed my son til he was 2 1/2 -- no problems, great supply, healthiest immune system on the block. But since his birth I had been having all the signs that my thyroid was slowly malfunctioning. I had an early (7 week) miscarriage that was probably due to hypothyroid last year, and when I got pregnant this year, my TSH was slightly outside of range the first week, and by the end of the first month + it had jumped 2 points outside range. So my primary doctor put me on a very low dose of Nature-Thyroid, and I must say I am feeling wonderful and I can directly relate it to the meds, and this pregnancy is going great (I'm at 22 weeks now).
But the package insert specifically states that thyroid med is transferred in breast milk so you should talk to your doctor and consider discontinuing once you give birth if you intend to breastfeed. I've talked to my doctor, who didn't know and referred me to my midwife, who didn't know and referred me to my pediatrician, who didn't know and referred me back to the prescribing doctor.
So no one knows. Should I prepare to discontinue after birth? It's so important to have proper thyroid levels to maintain pregnancy that I would think that having proper thyroid levels after birth is important too. I really don't want to go back to feeling like an anxiety-ridden zombie like I did before the thyroid meds, and while ultimately I do plan to discontinue the meds in favor of supplements again (supported and approved by the doctor), I wanted to wait a sufficient time post-partum to do so.
My TSH had always been just within range, so doctors never wanted to medicate me and I always supported my thyroid health with supplements. I breastfed my son til he was 2 1/2 -- no problems, great supply, healthiest immune system on the block. But since his birth I had been having all the signs that my thyroid was slowly malfunctioning. I had an early (7 week) miscarriage that was probably due to hypothyroid last year, and when I got pregnant this year, my TSH was slightly outside of range the first week, and by the end of the first month + it had jumped 2 points outside range. So my primary doctor put me on a very low dose of Nature-Thyroid, and I must say I am feeling wonderful and I can directly relate it to the meds, and this pregnancy is going great (I'm at 22 weeks now).
But the package insert specifically states that thyroid med is transferred in breast milk so you should talk to your doctor and consider discontinuing once you give birth if you intend to breastfeed. I've talked to my doctor, who didn't know and referred me to my midwife, who didn't know and referred me to my pediatrician, who didn't know and referred me back to the prescribing doctor.
So no one knows. Should I prepare to discontinue after birth? It's so important to have proper thyroid levels to maintain pregnancy that I would think that having proper thyroid levels after birth is important too. I really don't want to go back to feeling like an anxiety-ridden zombie like I did before the thyroid meds, and while ultimately I do plan to discontinue the meds in favor of supplements again (supported and approved by the doctor), I wanted to wait a sufficient time post-partum to do so.
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Re: Thyroid meds and Breastfeeding
Good luck and congrats again!
I didn't even think to ask a lactation specialist, but duh - that makes so much sense. I used one the first time, but we've moved since then and here I'd been thinking I don't need one again since I know how and I know I can (successfully) do it -- but that is a great place to ask this question because I'm sure if anyone knows, a lactation specialist would! Thanks for reminding me of the obvious, clearly my pregnancy brain has already set in ;-)
This is exactly me, except I've been on the synthroid/levothyroxine for 12 years and have been currently BF my LO for 18 months too.
**DD1 - 7/9/98**
**DS - 11/9/00**
**DD2 - 4/30/13**