Thyroidectomy and Pregnancy: A Crash Course for Expectant Mothers

Last year, I had my neck cut open and my thyroid removed because I had trouble breathing and swallowing and my thyroid was swelling (in medical terms it's called goiter). Never did I expect to become pregnant after getting my thyroidectomy and never did I understand how much my pregnancy could be affected by the lack of thyroid.  For those mother's to be who have had a thyroidectomy or those who are curious, this post should answer a few questions!

What exactly is a thyroid?

If you haven't had yours removed yet, and you're a little confused about what a thyroid I have you covered. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, it's there to regulate hormones that regulate your metabolism, your temperature, your energy and your heart rate. It's hard to imagine such a small gland in your neck does so much work, doesn't it? And yes, when you're pregnant, it helps your baby's brain grow and develop, and it also helps your baby grow. If you're still a bit confused about the thyroid. I'm sharing one of my favorite places on YouTube for health-related stuff, The Institute of Human Anatomy. They're great at explaining things, and I'm almost certain they'll explain what thyroid does exactly and what one looks like. 

How Can a Thyroidectomy Affect Pregnancy Exactly?

If your thyroid is partially there from a partial thyroidectomy, not there at all after a total thyroidectomy, or not working properly, if your hormones aren't controlled properly, complications can happen. Things like high blood pressure, anemia, premature birth, miscarriage, and, low birth weight. Everything that one wouldn't want to happen during pregnancy. As long as your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is low and you're taking your thyroid hormone medications as prescribed by your endocrinologist things should be smooth sailing, hopefully. 

What to expect and look out for during pregnancy after a thyroidectomy

As someone whose TSH has been a roller, I'm no stranger to the symptoms to look out for and what to expect after a thyroidectomy. For a bit of background here the normal TSH levels for a person are 0.27-4.2 u[iU]/mL at the moment mine is 8.86 u[iU]/mL, but have been way higher than that. March it was 30, last month it was 28 u[iU]/mL. As you can see, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster, to say the least. 

If your thyroid isn't regulated, you may be more tired than normal pregnancy fatigue, weight changes, mood swings, you may be sensitivity to the cold, muscle aches, and even trouble concentrating. If any of the symptoms above, should be familiar, let both your endocrinologist and your OBGYN or midwife know you're having symptoms. 



But if you're not feeling symptoms, you're still going to get your TSH tested, at regular intervals or in my case monthly if one test is a bit off, to ensure that your TSH is right where it needs to be. Provide tips for managing pregnancy after a thyroidectomy, including diet and exercise recommendations. 

Conclusion

I know it's easier said than done, but don't panic too much if your TSH is a bit higher, just listen to your doctor's orders, know what to look out for and try to remain as stress-free as possible. Your pregnancy is too short to worry a lot about your thyroid hormones. Stay happy and stay healthy.