In my experience thyroid levels, both very high and low to low-normal, can
affect a milk supply.


>What percentage of hypothyroid moms had milk supply problems?

I can answer this only in reverse. Of my clients who have had low milk
supplies about 10% had *diagnosed* low thyroid levels.  The levels are
tested only when other measures have failed to increase supply.

>If mom was not previously dx'd or treated, did replacement therapy make a
>difference?

I have had 4 cases in which the levels were low normal. Two of them were
able to convince their MDs to prescribe low-level synthetic thyroid and
their milk increased to a full supplies.  The other two had to supplement
with formula.

One case tested normal (not low normal) and the mother could not get her
physician to prescribe, so her baby was supplemented. She had a different
test on her own that showed low normal and was given treatment and her
supply became adequate to her baby's needs.

>If the mother had already been in treatment, did she have any problems with
>milk supply?

There was one client whose baby had serious symptoms of over-supply which
did not respond to the usual reduction measures. His eyes were remarkably
prominent and he was agitated most of the time. I suggested a re-test and
she tested within a high normal range. Her physician was disinclined to
change her dosage. She weaned her baby.

Then there was a case that I wrote up for Lactnet. I will add it here in part:

>The mother whose endocrinologist had her thyroid levels very high through
the birth and "post partum period" followed her doctor's orders last week
and went off all Synthroid.  Within two days she had NO milk whatever. (One
Lactnet reply warned about that and I passed the information to the
mother.) She had blood drawn to check her levels, but is not hearing from
the doctor after several calls.

She, on her own, has resumed her medication at her pre-pregnancy level and
is beginning to get drops.  She is devastated, as she is a person who was
breastfed for a long time, had family support, and just knew that she would
breastfeed her baby.

She is angry (as is her Ped and her LC) and feels that all of this was put
on her and her baby without her knowing what was going on. I have left her
with the request that she call me if she needs something from me.  I found her
not returning my calls in her despair and I didn't want to be intrusive.
_____________________________

This mother wrote to me later to say that she had been very sick and was
diagnosed with Addison's disease. Upon research I learned that one cause is
very high levels of thyroxin. She is told that she will never be able to
feed subsequent babies.

Pat Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin


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