What to know about Postpartum Thyroid Dysfunction

1. It is common

Postpartum thyroid dysfunction affects 1 in 4 new mothers, compared to just 2-3% of the general population. If a test comes back positive for antibodies in the first trimester of pregnancy, that indicates a 33-50% chance of the woman developing postpartum thyroiditis.

2. Symptoms can look like:

• Fatigue, weakness
• Impaired memory
• Dry skin
• Difficulty losing weight or increased weight gain
• Infertility
• Decreased breast milk production
• Constipation
• Intolerance to cold

3. What to ask for

When it comes to thyroid health, it’s so important to dig a little deeper! Work with a functional medicine doctor or naturopath, especially if you’re not feeling your best but keep being told “everything looks normal.” Most conventional docs only test TSH, but that doesn’t always tell the whole story. Subtle thyroid imbalances (like subclinical dysfunction) can still affect how someone feels and often get missed. Have them ask for a full thyroid panel to get a more complete picture of what’s going on. Knowledge is power!

4. General recommendations

• Balance Blood Sugar

Blood sugar swings can mess with thyroid health. Cut back on sugar, refined carbs, fruit juice, dried fruit & even tropical fruits to support hormone balance.

• Track Temps with a Basal Thermometer

Low temps can signal thyroid issues. This simple tool helps track patterns over time. Super helpful for spotting dysfunction early!

• Go Easy on Gluten

Gluten can interfere with thyroid function. But even without a diagnosis, many see improvements when they reduce or eliminate it.

You’re not alone, and you’re not imagining it. The more we talk about it, the more new mothers will know what to look for. Share this post with a new or expecting mama!