Taking Armour Thyroid Medication While Pregnant

I would definately ask you doctor!

If you don't like just one opinion, get another from a totally different practice.

I am in a medical disabilities Special Education class and one of the last chapters I read said that thyroid medications can be harmful to the fetus.

Hi, I understand your concern; however, thyroid hormone is not only safe during pregnancy, it would be extremely harmful to you and your baby if you didn't take it as needed. Low thyroid can cause developmental and other problems.

I was diagnosed as hypothyroid well before I got pregnant. Under my doctor's advice, I waited to try to get pregnant until my thyroid levels were stable for several months (It took a while to find the right dose that I needed: Armour didn't work well for me, so I take Levothoroxine). When I became pregnant, I had my levels checked, and my dosage was increased. As your blood volume increases during preganancy, you will likely need more thyroid hormone. I had a great doctor and midwife, and we checked my levels about every 8 weeks and then regularly after delivery as the levels changed again. I breast feed as well. Once my dosage was lowered too much and I experienced a slight reduction in milk production, but that was corrected when I was taking the right dosage.

Undiagnosed/untreated thyroid problems pose a much greater risk. Most medical sites have similar information, but I can tell you from personal experience that my pregnancy was wonderful and my little one (now 15 months) is extremely healthy, bright and happy. Best of luck to you!

Hi,
I have pretty severe hypothyroidism, and took Levothyroxine throughout my pregnancy. I am pretty anti-medication, and wish I didn't have to be on this medicine for the rest of my life! The thing is that your hypothyroidism can worsen throughout pregnancy. They should check you regularly.
The thing to remember about your thyroid medication is that it is a synthetic version of a hormone that your body makes. Of course it would be better to have that natural hormone, but your body needs it. You will have a healthier pregnancy being on this medication.
Good luck!
K.

I developed hypothyroidism after my first child and was on Levothyroxine throughout my second pregnancy. My Dr. told me that it was very important to remain on my medication during my pregnancy. I had my TSH levels checked every two months during my pregnancy and everything was OK. Good luck.

Hi H.,
I am a SAHM of three little ones. I have hypothyroidism and have been taking medication since I was 19. I had my first child when I was 34 yrs old. I continued with my medication throughout all my pregnancies. It is important to have the correct level of medication while pregnant. I was tested every 2-3 months during my pregnancy. With my two boys ( 1st and 3rd pregnancies) I required an increased dosage in the third trimester. While pregnant with my daughter I did not require a dosage change, go figure. After all my pregnancies I went back to being tested every 6 months. Everything was fine. Maintaining the correct thyroxin level in your body is extremely important to be healthly, especially while you are pregnant. Don't forget to pack your thyroid medication in your hospital bag. Good luck.

H.,

A friend of mine, L., read your posting and sent it to me because I have hypothyroidism, take armour thyroid, and recently just had a baby boy. I am responding under L.'s log in, but my name is Denise.

I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism since I was 12 years old(I am now 35) and have had phenomonal doctors along the way that has suggested armour thyroid because it is a natural thyroid and not sythetic. The synthetic thyroid does not deliver a consistent dose of thyroid to your system like the natural armour thyroid. Also, if you take thyroid, either synthetic or natural, when you are pregnant will be good for the baby. Thyroid conditions tend to be genetic, and taking thyroid while you are pregnant reduces the chances of passing on a thyroid condition to your child.

I took thyroid throughout my pregnancy and saw my family doctor one a month to monitor my thyroid levels while I was pregnant. My son is 6 months old now and in perfect condition. He is healthy and active. Overall I would highly suggest that you take the armour thyroid when (or if) you decide to become pregnant again.

If you have any other questions, I would be glad to give you some more of my personal insights. My name is Denise and my email is ____@____.com. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best of luck.

Denise

I took thyroid medication the entire time I was pregnant with my now 8 month old daughter. I had no problems at all. I just had to be checked more often than usual during the pregnancy to monitor my levels. I did have to increase my dosage a couple of times. What I have learned from reading is that it is important to take the medication for the health of the baby. After the baby is born, you will still need to be checked often until your hormones level off.

Hi H.,

I was diagnosed with hypothyroid after the birth of my first daughter. I took Synthroid through 2 more healthy pregnancies. I stopped taking it for several years then resumed a regular dosage after the birth of my fourth daughter, and am still on it four years later. I have had dosages between .05-.10mg per day. All my information indicates that it is safe to use. Most women who are hypothyroid have trouble establishing or maintaining pregnancy without correction to the condition.

Hope that helps :)

K. L
Assistant Midwife, Lactation Consultant, Childbirth Educator

I don't have any experience with Armour, but took Synthroid all throughout my pregnancy without any issues. I would assume that Armour is similar to Synthroid in that it's imperitive to continue taking your thyroid meds during pregnancy in order to avoid complications. My OB monitored my thyroid levels during my pregnancy and adjusted my meds accordingly. Hope this helps!

Hi H.! I have hypothyroidism, and I started taking prescription thyroid supplements about a year before I got pregnant with my daughter. When my doctor learned that I was pregnant, he consulted an endocrinologist and then encouraged me to continue taking the thyroid meds through my pregnancy. I did, and now my daughter is a completely healthy 15-month-old. My doctor told me that a developing fetus needs the thyroid hormone, and if the mother isn't producing enough, that could be a problem. I wouldn't hesistate to take the meds through another pregnancy! Hope this helps!

J.

I was on levothyroid for most of my first pregnacy (I took it to shrink a cyst on my thyroid) and had no problems at all. I currently take Armour thyroid and I think it works better then the synthetic. If your OB says it's okay to take then your are pretty safe, because the last thing any doc wants is to be sued, especially OB's, because their malpractice insurance is already really expensive.

I took thyroid medication all during my pregnancy with no complications. My doctor told me I needed to regulate my thyroid in order to become pregnant (it helps regulate your body's temperature). I would definately speak with your doctor before trying for another baby.

I just had my second baby on August 7th and she was perfectly healthy weighing 6 lbs 13 oz. I was on Levoxl for my hypothyroid and I didn't have any problems or complications. My doctor told me that is fine to take because the medicine is just like a normal hormone that is supposed to be occuring in your body. My advice is to keep taking your medication because in my experience everything will be fine.
My first child was 3 1/2 months early. I don't know if my hypothyroidism had anything to do with it or not because the doctor never found out what caused me to go into preterm labor, since My pregnancy had been perfectly normal up until the night I had my son. I didn't find out about my hypothyroid until my son was about 7 or 8 months old. I hope this helps.
KC

All the other responses have pretty much said it. I have been hypothyrois for about 5 1/2 years and two babies. Not taking your meds while pregnant can actually CAUSE complications with the baby and the pregnancy. Also, have you levels checked often while you are pregnant because when it's off it can actually cause premature labor. As much as we all want that baby to come as soon as possible, it is really best for baby and mom to make to at least 37 weeks! Good luck.

I'm not familar with the brand, but I'm hypothyroid and take Levothroid all the time. When you are pregnant it's critical to take your meds and they usually test you each trimester to make sure your levels are stable. Good luck!

Hi,
I have three kids and took synthroid with two of the pregrancies with no problem...though my third was born in the car (we didn't make it on time to the hospital).

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