Postpartum Thyroid Disease

Posted by Chantel Martiromo,  Article By Kyle J. Norton 

Postpartum thyroid disease is defined as a condition of women who deliver babies have postpartum thyroiditis, with hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or both, within one year after delivery as the thyroid pland has become abnormal in production of thyroid hormones. If you need more information abount postpartum depression, please follow the link. Due to hornomal change expected after giving birth, most postpartum thyroid diseases are overlook by your doctor. It is for your own benefit, if you are experiencing symptoms of thyroidism, you should see your doctor. According to statistic, approximately 10 percent of women may suffer thyroid disease after childbirth.
In most cases, postpartum thyroid disease (transient thyroidism) may be temporary, as it will disappear after a short period of time


Postpartum depression and postpartum thyroid disease
According to the study of Postpartum thyroid disease is not associated with postpartum depression by American thyroid association, study of 641 women with no thyroid disease. They were evaluated at the time of delivery and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after delivery, researchers found that 56 women (11 percent) had postpartum thyroid disease. Sixty-one women (10 percent) had a high score on the Beck Depression Inventory. Eleven (2 percent) were confirmed by a psychiatrist to have postpartum depression and 50 (8 percent) had lesser psychological disturbances (depressive disorder, anxiety). Researchers concluded that Women with postpartum thyroid disease do not have an increased risk of depression.

Most common types of Postpartum thyroid diseases
1. Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is over active and produces too much thyroid hormones.
2. Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is under active and produces very little thyroid hormones.
You will be direct to the article of hyperthyroidism in pregnancy and hypothyroidism in pregnancy. because of the similar of the subjects.

Please disreagrd the sections of "The importance to have hyperthyroidism under controlled in pregnancy" and "The importance to have hypothyroidism under controlled in pregnancy"

Please note
A. Hyperthyroidism
1. If your are not breast feeding with hyperthyroidism after child birth
a. Radioactive form of iodine may be used as it is the most effective treatment to cure hyperthyroidism as as a result of killing thyroid cells which have absorbed the radioctive iodine. Please note that the cells in the thyroid gland are the only cells in our body with the ability to absorb iodine, therefore the radioactive iodine will not damage other cells in the body.
b. Risks and side effects
b.1. Causing hypothyroidism as a result of radioactive iodine has killed more of the thyroid cells than expected
b.2. Mild case of hyperthyroidism as a result of radioactive iodine has killed less thyroid cells as expect.
This risk can be dissolved if the right amount is used
b.3 Nausea
b.4. Swollen salivary glands
b.5. Metallic taste.
As the glands have absorbed some of the radioactive iodine.
b.6. Etc.

Precautions: Following radioactive iodine therapy, you will need to take certain precautions to prevent radiation exposure to others, specially to elder and baby. As you doctors will give you a precised details.

2. If you are breast feeding your baby
1. You may consider stop it while you are in hyperthyroid treatment with radioactive iodine. Your doctor will tell you the time that is necessary for the radioactive iodine completely withdrawn from your body, before you can proceed with breast feeding your baby again.
2. If you choose not to stop, then the treatments will be the same with either medication or surgery.

B. Hypothyroidism
A Woman who is hypothyroid and on thyroid hormone replacement, with the follow up of thyroid hormone measurment to make sure that her thyroid hormone in the acceptable can be breast feeding her baby, because the amounts of medication cross over cause no harm to the baby health.
According to the article of "Breastfeeding and Thyroid Disease, Questions and Answers Can You Nurse Your Baby When Hypothyroid, Taking Thyroid Drugs Like Synthroid, or With Hyperthyroidism or Graves' Disease and Taking Antithyroid Drugs Like Tapazole or PTU" by Mary Shomon, the author wrote
" ....I (Mary Shomon) was not becoming engorged in between nursing, and after more visits to the lactation consultants and doula, the theory was that I didn't have a sufficient enough milk supply, and Julia didn't have a very strong sucking reflex. After trying many methods of increasing milk supply recommended by the various resources I called on -- everything from herbs like fenugreek, a nursing vacation, and nursing every 2 hours -- Julia continued to lose weight. At the three-week point, the pediatrician insisted that I add supplemental formula for Julia. Julia immediate began gaining weight.
Insufficient milk production by the mother may be a problem with postpartum hypothyroidism.
I will direct you to me previous article "Tips to help your New Born to Gain Weight - The Easy Way, if you are breastfeeding and have hypothyroidism" with a slight change to the tittle.

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