Should mothers with hyperthyroidism be breast-feeding?

It is quite common for women to experience thyroid problems these days. Should mothers with hyperthyroidism be breastfeeding? This is a question that many mothers are concerned about. In fact, a mother with hyperthyroidism can still breastfeed as long as you tell your doctor about your condition and get the right treatment.

Are medications for the treatment of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism safe for women who are breastfeeding? What drugs are safe and unsafe? What problems will you face while breastfeeding if you have hyperthyroidism? Let aFamilyToday Health find out these things through the sharing below.

Breastfeeding and thyroid problems

Everyone knows that breast milk is the best food for babies. However, while breastfeeding, the mother needs to be careful in taking the drug as well as treating it with other medical methods.

During pregnancy and childbirth, the body goes through a lot of hormonal changes, including changes in thyroid function. In addition to prenatal thyroid problems, pregnant women can also develop other thyroid problems after giving birth.

How does thyroid disease affect breastfeeding?

If the thyroid disease is well controlled, it won't have much of an effect on breastfeeding. However, if left untreated, the disease can affect breastfeeding in many ways. Even if you have been taking thyroid medication for a long time, in the postpartum period, you will need to adjust your dosage.

Should mothers with hyperthyroidism be breast-feeding?

Hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid and making too many thyroid hormones. This disease should be treated with care during and after pregnancy. Most women are given antithyroid medications to treat this condition. However, what worries women is whether or not these drugs pass through breast milk, cause thyroid suppression or goiter .

Women with hyperthyroidism can still breastfeed. If the cause of hyperthyroidism is due to postpartum thyroid problems, treatment is usually not needed.

If you had hyperthyroidism before pregnancy, you should ask your doctor about the safety of taking antithyroid drugs (antithyroid pills) while breastfeeding. No experts have confirmed that antithyroid drugs are 100% safe when used during breastfeeding. However, taking these drugs does not mean you should not breast-feed as many studies have found no effect on thyroid function and physical and intellectual development. baby if you are taking the correct dosage.

However, for pregnant women, there are several preferred medications for the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Drugs Propylthiouracil (PTU) can hurt your baby's liver, should be replaced by PTU drug methimazole (maximum 30 mg / day) or carbimazole (maximum 15 mg / day). In exceptional cases, PTU is still used as long as the dosage does not exceed 300 mg / day. Most experts advise you to breastfeed before taking antithyroid pills to limit your baby's exposure to the drug.

Radioactive iodine, a treatment for hyperthyroidism, should not be used during lactation as it can accumulate in breast milk. If your doctor recommends this treatment, you can talk to your doctor about an alternative method such as antithyroid medication.

Should mothers with hypothyroidism breastfeed their babies?

Hypothyroidism can affect the milk reflex, resulting in a decrease in milk production. However, if you get treated, you won't need to worry about these problems.

In general, women with hypothyroidism are completely able to breastfeed, and even taking thyroid medication during this time is also essential.

If you had hypothyroidism before you became pregnant, you should have your thyroid checked again a few weeks after giving birth. This will help determine how you will need to change the dose of the medicine.

It is widely believed that medications should be avoided while breastfeeding. However, it is necessary to take synthetic thyroid hormone medicine because it is not a new drug, it is just a hormone that replaces the missing thyroid hormone. Note, you should still take it as directed by your doctor.

If your baby is losing weight, gaining weight slowly or urinating a little, you should take your baby to the doctor and talk to your doctor to determine if your baby is receiving enough nutrients or not.

Postpartum thyroiditis

Postpartum thyroiditis is a common condition in women who have had a baby and can occur any time during the first year of life. As a result, the amount of breast milk produced is reduced.

Symptoms of postpartum thyroiditis include fatigue, hair loss, and mood swings. These symptoms are often difficult to detect because they are easily confused with other health problems.

Thyroid disease is very common after giving birth and it can be safe to breastfeed while taking medication for these problems. If you had thyroid problems before pregnancy, you should schedule a thorough thyroid check right after giving birth.