Sluggish, Anxious, Exhausted? It Might NOT Be Just the Baby...

   Laura Faber of Soho was surprised by how tired she had become since giving birth. As a first-time mom, she initially denied her fatigue until it became unbearable. During her six-week checkup, she mentioned that she had been so tired she couldn't function. "I first thought that I should feel that tired because I was up all night with the baby, but even when I got sleep, I still felt wiped out," Faber explains. Because of this and her other complaints of body aches and dry skin, her doctor decided to run a quick thyroid panel in her labs that day. By 2pm the following day, Laura's doctor called to tell her that she had postpartum thyroiditis, a disease that commonly affects new mothers.

What is Postpartum Thyroiditis?

   The thyroid is a central gland in the body, so it's no surprise that when it has problems, your whole body is affected. According to the American Thyroid Society, more than 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime, a significant finding considering the thyroid produces a hormone that influences every cell, tissue, and organ in the body.

   In postpartum thyroiditis, the thyroid becomes inflamed, which impairs function. The hypothyroid phase occurs when your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone to supply the body. The hyperthyroid phase is diagnosed when the thyroid produces too much hormone.

Why Does It Happen?

   Postpartum thyroiditis occurs when a woman's antibodies attack the thyroid and cause inflammation. It occurs in approximately five to 10 percent of women. If you suffer from an autoimmune disorder, diabetes, or have a previous history of thyroid problems, your risk is higher. It is typically diagnosed two to four months postpartum but can develop up to eight months after you deliver.

Signs and Symptoms

   In the hyperthyroid phase, which usually lasts one to three months, a woman may experience insomnia, palpitations, fatigue, weight loss, and irritability. During the hypothyroid phase, which lasts nine to 12 months, symptoms involve fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, and depression.

   Dr. Moshe Dekel, is a board-certified OB-GYN who is in private practice in Oceanside, Long Island, and treats thyroid patients regularly. He believes that not all mothers are being properly diagnosed. "There are many more women exhibiting clear clinical sings of hypothyroidism that are not being treated," Dr. Dekel says. Furthermore, thyroid testing is not part of the routine six-week checkup, and, according to Dr. Dekel, many OB-GYN doctors are not trained to look for it. He recommends that moms "see a physician who is willing and able to think 'out of the box,' and who is also willing to do the necessary testing and pay attention to the clinical presentation."