Thyroid Problem and History of Stillbirth and Premature Delivery
Question
Hi, I am 31 years old and had a partial thyroidectomy done about a year ago. Before the surgery and now after the surgery my periods are only one to two days long and are no longer on time every month , they are either early or late.
I have a two year old who was born premature and I suffered a still birth a year before my son was born. In both pregnancies I was told that the placenta had not developed properly. Both my ob/gyn and ent feel that I am suffering from an autoimmune disorder of some kind, but I have been tested for lupus and other disorders. Nothing has been found. I want to get pregnant again and have just been told that the right side of my thyroid now has a nodule as well.
Please help.
Maria
Answer
Last Updated: July 11, 2013
I would get expert care for both your thyroid problem and assessment for your previous premature baby. There may or may not be a connection. There is an autoimmune category of disorder, thrombophilias, that causes pregnancy loss, prematurity, and impaired growth of the baby. This can be due microscopic clots clogging the arteries due to autoimmune protein complexes.
Blood thinners such as Lovenox or heparin can be helpful for some patients. I would suggest you go to a doctor specializing in high risk pregnancies (maternal-fetal medicine or perinatology) for a thorough workup. In addition, you should see an endocrinologist or thyroid surgeon for your thyroid nodule.
M. Davenport,MD
Blood thinners such as Lovenox or heparin can be helpful for some patients. I would suggest you go to a doctor specializing in high risk pregnancies (maternal-fetal medicine or perinatology) for a thorough workup. In addition, you should see an endocrinologist or thyroid surgeon for your thyroid nodule.
M. Davenport,MD
Answered By:
Mary Davenport, MD, MS
Mary Davenport, MD, FACOG, an obstetrician/gynecologist from the Oakland Region of California, offers telehealth services over MyCatholicDoctor.com She graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her residency at UC San Diego. Dr. Davenport is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and serves on the Advisory Board of the California Association of Natural Family Planning.
