Re: Jill: about HypoT pregnancy & Dylan's illness

[Guest guest]

Dear Jill

Thanks for the further info. It sounds like the concerns for Harmony & baby are

justified. When it comes to a baby

every precaution should be taken for that precious little life.

My Drs were not concerned at all when I was slightly hypo. My endo said that it

is quite common to need to increase

the dose of thyroxine at the time I needed to. Also that because I had only just

had the thyoidectomy my body was

ajusting to levels it needed from the meds.

I discussed the issues with the pediatrician when Dylan was born and again at 6

weeks follow up. He certainly gave

Dylan a thorough examination (at birth, at discharge and at 6 weeks). He was

certain that Dylan was fine and we had

no cause to worry. I could see no signs of problems with him and we had no

further tests done on him at that stage.

Last week Dyaln was sick. He had caught a virus that made him so ill very

quickly. The Children's Hospital were

wonderful. The Drs (all the residents on duty in A & E had a look at him and two

did all the tests) were concerned and

did a battery of tests (getting the blood was so traumatic for us all, I pray

never to have to do that again to my

son). Everything came back normal except his clotting factor was low (because of

this they couldn't do a lumbar

puncture straight away, which ended up being fortunate as the infectious disease

specialist who saw him 24hrs later

didn't feel it was necessary any longer. So Dylan was spared that test). The

specialist said his clotting was a

little low because of the virus and he didn't think it was remarkable and it

would correct itself when Dylan was

well again. Dylan is now on the mend. He got better almost as quickly as he got

sick. Babies are so resilient. I

will be seeing the GP later in the week for follow up, but I expect him to fine.

He has shown no hearing problems or tendensies toward 'slowness', but I will

keep in mind what you said and it will

help me to know what to keep an eye on in the future.

Cheers

Caroline

hedmonds@... wrote:

> Hi Caroline,

>

> Sorry I didn't answer earlier.

>

> Harmony's Dr said it is pretty sure her baby will have significant

> neurological damage since both she and her unborn baby were

> so hypoT during those weeks that are vital for brain

> development. They want her and her baby in the early

> intervention support service so baby will have the best chance of

> overcoming the effects. They don't expect complications with

> delivery, but want it under observation for two weeks after delivery

> in case of Graves-antibody problems and stuff, and for her and

> the baby to be handy to services so they can monitor everything

> properly now. (Instead of being off in the bush, maybe no doctor

> or midwife which she knows would be a silly choice now). Dr

> also said a lot of babies have some neurological damage

> before, during or after birth, ( from many different causes). The

> important thing is to try to minimise it as far as possible, to get

> diet and medication right, and for mothers to help their babies

> develop to the max through " Play and Grow " activities.

>

> Also Drs do not like to check out problems in babies like brain

> damage from HypoT. They don't do it off their own accord.They

> don't do it unless parents making a big stink first. Partly

> because it might give parents grounds for suing them. Partly

> because it just lowers baby's IQ, hearing, development rate, and

> causes some body stiffness and doesn't have much other

> symptoms (so long as mother and baby are not HypoT at birth).

> Its not life-threatening. Medicines can't help much. They would

> rather leave parents thinking they just happened to have a low IQ

> kid. They have the idea we are better off not knowing and not

> worrying.This is what a friend who teaches kids with special

> learning disabilities(including some from hypoT pregnancies)

> said. So many parents have a big battle just getting a doctor to

> agree the kid has a problem. And as long as they are not too far

> below the slowest limits on the milestone chart (which is

> slow-learner level, not bright average)it is often not picked up till

> they start school.

>

> What did your Drs tell you would be the effect of being hypoT

> from wk 10-16? Or did they palm you off without really

> answering? Are you sure they are not just protecting themselves

> now? This teacher said if in doubt, you should get your baby's

> hearing fully tested for different pitches as early as possible. And

> have a full neurological check by an independent second opinion

> specialist pediatric neurologist. If you don't insist they will happily

> leave it. I am sorry if this is a worry for you. Let me know how you

> get on.

>

> And to talk to the special education people too.

>

> I do hope everything is all right with your beautiful baby. Shall I try

> to find out what research Harmony's doctor is talking about?

>

> Jill

>

>

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