thyriod and breast feeding/milk supply

I take synthriod for an underactive thyriod. During my pregnancy my dosage went up. Now I am trying to breast feed and the lactation specialist i spoke with said it might be my thyriod levels preventing my milk to really come in. I've pumped and its a little less then a halh an once. Did anyone else have this problem and sucessfully breast feed??

Re: thyriod and breast feeding/milk supply

My milk came in hard, just as I was told it would by everyone and I breasted fine... Or so I thought. DS was having some major reflux issues at around 2-3 weeks. He got back to his birth weight then stopped gaining. I thought it was excessive spit up, but then we had a few days where he wasn't spitting up as much right around 3 weeks but he still wasn't gaining. Turns out my milk production was down. I take 50 mcg for the past 5 or 6 years, but my TSH was OK for the duration of my pregnancy. I didn't have it checked after and apparently I should have. Oh, and when I pued I barely got anything. For 20 min I got a total of 2 oz and if I pumped again in 2-3 hrs I was lucky if I got 1/2 oz. DS ended up on thickened formula for reflux. That was not in my plan...

Re: thyriod and breast feeding/milk supply

I've never heard of this. My mom was on synthroid for my entire life and EBF four kids for 15+ months each. Definitely keep in touch with the LC and your endocrinologist.

Re: thyriod and breast feeding/milk supply

I take 100mcg and have been on this med for 6yrs now. I had it checked throughout the pg and it was fine. My newest pp reveals I am running on the low side and they are not going to adjust it. I am ebf and pumping with major over supply issues, and I never had a problem with my daughter either. Have you had your levels checked? When I was pumping for Emmy I had a blood test done because my skin was super dry, my hair was falling out, and I was more tired then I should have been. My thyroid was off so that's when I went from 88mcg to 100mcg and never had another issue.

Re: thyriod and breast feeding/milk supply

I had two friends just this year on synthroid whose LOs struggled with weight gain while BFing. I would consult a LC if you want to bf.

Re: thyriod and breast feeding/milk supply

Thanks everyone. I saw a lactation coach today and she said to get my thyroid levels checked just in case. I was monitored throughout my entire pregnancy and went up to .175 mg. I gave birth on dec. 21st and my next appointment with the endo is mid jan. I am going to try and see if i can get in this week.

Re: thyriod and breast feeding/milk supply

I am on 186 mcg and while nursing was over 200 mg, and was able to successfully BF both of my DC without any supply issues. I would ask your endochrinologist for an updated hormone panel to see if you are on the right doses of meds.

Re: thyriod and breast feeding/milk supply

I have thyroid issues and had major problems with supply. My levels were checked and they were fine. I pumped and got 1/2 oz from BOTH breasts combined. I was not able to breast feed because of my supply issues. Not sure if it was all because of my thyroid, or my premature baby, or just poor milk production but I saw an lactation specialist too to no avail. Good luck!

Re: thyriod and breast feeding/milk supply

Re: thyriod and breast feeding/milk supply

I have hypothyroidism and on synthroid as well. I never really had big problems with milk supply. DD barely lost any weight the first few days after birth and she was gaining a lot in the beginning. Do you think this may be something you want to ask your endocrinologist?