QuestionIt was detected during my 20 weeks ultrasound that the there was no fetal heart beat. And I was told that fetal age is only 13 weeks. Every thing was fine in my 12 weeks ultrasound. This was my first pregnancy. Now I am going to have a D& C done. What could have gone wrong? I had hypothyrodism in past (Jan 2008) and it was resolved after medication (till April 2008).It was fine in the blood test done oin July it was not monitored therafter during my pregnancy. Could this problem have recurred and caused this? are my chances of getting pregnant again affected because of this?
any possibility of miscarriage in future?
AnswerDear Laitha,
First, I do apologize for the delay. I suffer from migraines and this has been a heck of a week...
Typically, when you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you will need to be treated with medication (Synthroid or the generic - levothyroxine) thereafter. It is not usually a condition that "comes and goes". Once you have it, you pretty much tend to always have it and need to take the medication. Women who are on thyroid hormone replacement before pregnancy should also be tested to make certain that their levels are appropriate. During pregnancy, the medication dose requirement may increase by up to 50%. Increases may be required as early as in the first trimester.
While I cannot find any literature about a correlation between hypothyroid and pregnancy losses, there is a relationship between thyroid levels in the mother and brain development of her child. For years, doctors have known of a link between mothers with hypothyroidism during pregnancy and developmental delay in their children after birth. This was particularly seen in mothers who came from iodine deficient areas of the country (iodine is necessary to produce thyroid hormone and is now a common component of the salt in our foods) and was also observed in mothers with autoimmune thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Before birth a baby is entirely dependent on the mother for thyroid hormone until the baby's own thyroid gland can start to function. This usually does not occur until about 12 weeks of gestation (the end of the first trimester of pregnancy).
It will likely be impossible for you to ever know what caused the loss of this baby at 13 weeks. Unfortunately, there is just no way to know unless significant testing were done at the time and the most likely cause is a chromosomal abnormality. But you should not have any issues with conceiving again based simply on this loss. Many women have pregnancy losses/D&Cs and go on to have subsequent successful pregnancies.
I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
Happy Halloween and make sure that WOMEN'S voices are heard by voting!!
Brenda
