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Do TSH Levels At 3.1 During Pregnancy Negatively Affect Fetal Growth?
hi there, I m 11+6 weeks pregnant. My lab results just came back and my TSH levels are at 3.1. My doctor has started me on a low dose of medication, with a recheck scheduled in 4 weeks. Because this was caught at the tail end of my first trimester, I m very concerned about the risk of still birth and developmental issues in my child s life. Am I at a high risk for these?
Mon, 25 Apr 2016
Hello,
Thank you for your query.
A TSH of less that 2.5 is usually the target in pregnancy. Although within the normal range, a TSH of 3.1 will caution a doctor to keep a close eye on your thyroid status.
Some doctors prefer to treat with a low dose of thyroxine to prevent it from increasing, when others would wait and watch to see if it follows an increasing trend before initiating treatment.
I would check your thyroid antibody levels, free T3 and T4 levels and if abnormal would treat you with a low dose (25 mcg) of levothyroxine and monitor your TSH every month.
To answer your question, no this level of TSH will not cause any defects or growth /development problems for your baby. A TSH of more than 6 starts to hinder proper development. If the thyroid antibodies are positive, the TSH needs to be monitored very closely to administer appropriate doses of thyroxine.
Please take your medications every morning on a empty stomach and wait for an hour to eat.
If you wake in the middle of the night or early morning, you could take it even then. This way you could eat as soon as you wake up in the morning. I understand what it's like to stay hungry while pregnant. Calcium supplements or milk hinder absorption of the medicine and should not be taken within 4 hours of consuming the medicine.
I hope to have reassured you. Hope you have a safe confinement and pregnancy.
Wish you and your baby good health.
Thank you for your query.
A TSH of less that 2.5 is usually the target in pregnancy. Although within the normal range, a TSH of 3.1 will caution a doctor to keep a close eye on your thyroid status.
Some doctors prefer to treat with a low dose of thyroxine to prevent it from increasing, when others would wait and watch to see if it follows an increasing trend before initiating treatment.
I would check your thyroid antibody levels, free T3 and T4 levels and if abnormal would treat you with a low dose (25 mcg) of levothyroxine and monitor your TSH every month.
To answer your question, no this level of TSH will not cause any defects or growth /development problems for your baby. A TSH of more than 6 starts to hinder proper development. If the thyroid antibodies are positive, the TSH needs to be monitored very closely to administer appropriate doses of thyroxine.
Please take your medications every morning on a empty stomach and wait for an hour to eat.
If you wake in the middle of the night or early morning, you could take it even then. This way you could eat as soon as you wake up in the morning. I understand what it's like to stay hungry while pregnant. Calcium supplements or milk hinder absorption of the medicine and should not be taken within 4 hours of consuming the medicine.
I hope to have reassured you. Hope you have a safe confinement and pregnancy.
Wish you and your baby good health.
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