Post-Partum Thyroid Issues & Breastfeeding

[nynaeve_sedai]

I have a complicated thyroid problem. I'm currently 33wks4d and as I get ready for labor and delivery, I'm faced with a tough decision post-partum. I get that no one here is a doctor, but maybe you all have some insight or resources??

Comments

[kelj99]

I don't have any experience with this but my *opinion* (FWIW) is that you should breastfeed as long as you can and when it becomes untenable, either due to supply or mental health, stop.

If you can make it a few weeks, great! Your baby got some good nutrition and antibodies from you.

If you make it longer, fantastic! You rock.

If you make it a week and PPD or other issues are interfering with your ability to function, stop. Kid needs a mama who is capable of handling much more than feeding them breastmilk. Kids are so much work and energy and I know I am a better mother when my mental health is stable.

So, play it by ear. Plan to breastfeed. Put baby to breast at birth. Build a small stash in case you don't get far and want to wean to formula slowly. Keep an open mind and a positive outlook as best you can and give it an honest chance.

But mostly, hang in there. Breastfeeding is fantastic for your child, but sometimes there is a bigger picture that needs attending to.

[kelj99]

Also, I don't know what your financial situation or insurance is like, but donor milk is an option as well.

[tostones]

i agree with this entire thread.

[nynaeve_sedai]

Thanks for the encouragement. The hardest part is that I'm in the middle of the depression and everything seems so very overwhelming. I want very much to breastfeed, but at the same time, I know it won't do much for me emotionally if I'm bawling my eyes out and unable to care for him or my older one.

The suggestion to store some milk is a good one. I have a pump, I just need new tubing for it and if I could work it out, I could pump and freeze extra. :)

[xotiffany]

I am the opposite with Hashimotos/hypo and I'm on synthroid but I haven't had issues bf'ing. I agree with the PP about doing it for as long as you are able to and approaching other options if you get to a point where you need too. Taking care of yourself so that you can provide for your child is the #1 priority.

[nynaeve_sedai]

That's good to hear. I know thyroid issues can affect a person differently and it's not a guarantee on anything. I'm hoping since my body doesn't react "like it should" according to the numbers, but instead works great, that it won't affect my milk supply or let-down.

[demure]

Your mental health comes first. You gotta take care of you. There's nothing wrong with trying to breastfeed, if it doesn't work out, so be it. Having a mother in a good mental state is more important for your baby.

Different reasons, but I've already made peace with the idea of sacrificing breastfeeding if need be to get my emotional stability back on track. I've trimmed medications while pregnant, and it's been hell. Everyone is different, but I know that if I can't take care of myself, I can't take care of my baby.

[nynaeve_sedai]

That's how I feel. My husband and I are both tired. We knew this was going to be a tough road, but now that we're getting to the end of the marathon we're both ready to be done. I miss being able to smile and feel good about life!

[hjart]

I am T4 hyper due to thyroid cancer. Total thyroid removal and suppressive T4 replacement. There is very little info out there that doesn't say Please have hyper fixed. My endo and I have worked out a level she's almost happy with and lets me sleep at night. From what I could glean online and personal experience, Hyper actually increases supply, but interferes with let down. #2 is about half breast fed, which is way better than my first son whom I had pre-cancer with "normal" thyroid levels.

I would personally take the T3 from the get go and be a sane happy mommy to two kids. Two is tough enough with out bad mental health issues. Hell, two practically is giving me mental health issues and I consider myself to usually be a mentally normative human being. It does what it does and breast feeding isn't an all or nothing. My daughter nurses and then takes a bottle. I figure some is better than none and we both enjoy the closeness.

[nynaeve_sedai]

I've read about the let down issue as well. I was trying to find out if there was a way to mitigate it, but, as you said, there's not much out there except "GO GET IT FIXED!" - so it's possible that someone is hyper but doesn't have let down issues, but doesn't realize they're hyper or something :P

[jaspcwpbby1]

After my second pregnancy (born in feb), I had severe post partum thyroiditis. T4 were so high TSH was 0.01 (essentially completely suppressed). I have had no issues breastfeeding from a supply standpoint. In fact, this time around, the breastfeeding relationship has been much better than with my first. My primary care doc was concerned with my T4 being too high as it could affect baby's TSH and thus T4 levels, but his newborn screens all came back normal. My endocrinologist wasn't concerned with treating the high T4s and encouraged me to continue breastfeeding.

So as far as supplemental T3 - I'm no help. But from a high T4 and effects on breastfeeding - I haven't experienced any thus far (15 weeks pp).

[nynaeve_sedai]

That's good to hear! It seems like let down seems to be a possible issue :S It makes my brain hurt LOL. Thanks for the feedback, it has me hopeful that maybe since my body doesn't behave the way it "should" based on my numbers that maybe being out of whack won't cause me too many problems.