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teachingmyown Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: April 23 2009 at 6:34pm | IP Logged
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Does anyone have information on taking Armour thyroid medication while breastfeeding?
__________________ In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Kath Forum Rookie
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Posted: April 23 2009 at 8:32pm | IP Logged
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This is a good question -- I'm currently on a low dose of Armour and I'm breastfeeding my 9 month old.
Just with a quick check on the internet, every source seems to say pretty much the same thing:
"A women who is hypothyroid and taking thyroid hormone medication should continue taking her medication as prescribed. Stopping thyroid hormone, or taking less than prescribed, is not recommended, because not only is that insufficient treatment for hypothyroidism, and puts the woman at risk of various symptoms and side effects of hypothyroidism, but proper thyroid hormone replacement is actually necessary for normal lactation and to maintain a sufficient milk supply.
Thyroid hormone replacement, when taken at the prescribed dosage level to maintain the mother's thyroid at a normal level, crosses into breast milk in only minute quantities, and has no adverse effect on the baby."
From Thyroid Hormone Replacement Medication While Breastfeeding
But I'm interested to see if anyone has heard differently on the matter.
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006 Location: Oregon
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Posted: April 23 2009 at 8:47pm | IP Logged
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Dr. Hale the leading expert on medications passing into breastmilk says..
Quote:
Thyroxin or armour thyroid does not transfer in milk. No problem.
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http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/discus/messages/53/34230.html?117 1995076
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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teachingmyown Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: April 23 2009 at 10:01pm | IP Logged
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Thanks Jodie. Interestingly enough, the package insert for the Armour that I was prescribed this week stated that "thyroid hormone passes into breast milk" but doesn't give any further instruction about it.
__________________ In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
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Posted: April 23 2009 at 10:37pm | IP Logged
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the first thing I found was synthroid.. before I got to the armour.. and synthroid does pass in minute amounts..
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
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Posted: April 23 2009 at 10:38pm | IP Logged
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basically though.. you're not adding something.. you're replacing something.. so you only have as much thyroid whatever (is it a hormone?) as a woman who is not hypothyroid has naturally.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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aussieannie Forum All-Star
Joined: May 21 2006 Location: Australia
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Posted: April 23 2009 at 10:58pm | IP Logged
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I had been thinking that too Jodie, if you are deficient in thyroid hormone then you are only replacing what is not there, so that must be a good thing for the baby.
__________________ Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
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SaraP Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 24 2009 at 8:20am | IP Logged
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I took it through 3 pregnancies and 6 years of breastfeeding and there was never any concern about it.
It was hard to keep the dose properly regulated, though, because Armour is less standardized than Synthroid and thyroid function tends to fluctuate during pregnancy and nursing anyway.
__________________ Mama to six on earth, two in heaven and two waiting in Russia. Foxberry Farm Almanac
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Bookswithtea Forum All-Star
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Posted: April 24 2009 at 8:44am | IP Logged
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I've taken it through 5 of my 6 pregnancies (first pregnancy was on synthroid) and been on it while breastfeeding all 6 children, sometimes both pregnant and breastfeeding at the same time.
Its never been an issue.
__________________ Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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