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COULD AN UNDERACTIVE THYROID BE THE CULPRIT BEHIND YOUR POST-BABY WEIGHT GAIN AND FATIGUE?
Admin • March 31, 2022
Even if you've never had cause to doubt your thyroid function, if you're a female who has recently given birth, you may be at risk for thyroid issues. An estimated 12 percent of Americans deal with thyroid trouble at some point during their adult lives, and women are significantly more likely than men to develop a thyroid-related ailment.
Unfortunately for new mothers, many of the most common signs of an underactive thyroid (like weight gain, mood swings, fatigue, and irritability) are also quite common for those dealing with a newborn's frequent night wakings and the realities of a post-partum body.
Read on to learn more about some common (and not-so-common) signs that you could be dealing with a pregnancy-induced thyroid problem as well as some treatment options that can be safely administered or performed while you're breastfeeding.
What Can Cause Thyroid Problems During Pregnancy?
As with many other hormonal disorders, there are often more questions than answers when it comes to thyroid function. However, researchers have pinpointed a few factors and health conditions that can raise the risk of a woman’s developing a thyroid issue during or immediately after pregnancy.
For example, while only around 7 percent
of women are at a general risk of developing postpartum thyroiditis, this risk increases to 25 percent for women who have Type 1 diabetes or who dealt with elevated antithyroid antibodies during pregnancy.
Women whose anti-peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies were elevated during pregnancy may have a 1 in 2 chance of developing postpartum thyroiditis, and those who have dealt with thyroid issues in the past (or during previous pregnancies) also deal with a significantly increased risk.
In other cases, thyroid problems may have no cause that can easily be pinpointed; the rush of various hormones during pregnancy and the strain they can put on various systems, including the endocrine system, can create a sort of "perfect storm" in which thyroid problems may thrive.
What Are Some Signs You're Dealing With Post-Pregnancy Thyroid Issues?
Thyroid problems can take a number of forms, including hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid), Graves' disease (an autoimmune condition that causes goiter), or Hashimoto's disease (an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system attacks healthy thyroid cells, eventually stopping all thyroid function).
The signs and symptoms for each thyroid disorder are unique and often at opposite sides of the spectrum. For example, hypothyroid patients often report being cold, having dry skin, sleeping more than normal, or gaining weight without trying while hyperthyroid patients sweat profusely, suffer from insomnia, and can lose a significant amount of weight in a brief period.
Postpartum thyroiditis often manifests as either an underactive or overactive thyroid, which usually normalizes itself in a few months. Symptoms lasting longer than that or that appear to be getting worse may necessitate medical intervention.
What Treatment Options for an Underactive Thyroid Are Best for New Mothers?
Whether you suspect you have postpartum thyroiditis or have been formally diagnosed, you may be worried about how your potential treatment options could impact your ability to breastfeed and what effect (if any) they might have on your child. Fortunately, there are a number of effective options from which to choose.
If your postpartum thyroiditis is deemed autoimmune in origin, there is some evidence that taking selenium supplements could help normalize your thyroid function without requiring you to take hormonal medication (which might pass into your milk supply).
If your symptoms aren't severe and don't impact your daily life, you may instead opt for watchful waiting, maintaining contact with your doctor and reporting any worsening symptoms but avoiding medication or other treatment for the time being.
However, if your doctor recommends supplemental thyroid hormone, this usually means some intervention is necessary to prevent permanent damage to your thyroid and the organs and systems that depend on a steady dose of hormones.
Make an appointment with Hampstead Medical Center PC to get started taking care of your health.
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