Postpartum Thyroiditis occurrence rate: approx 5% of all new mothers (meaning 1 in 20)

Primary Symptom: Fatigue

Read an excerpt from Laura Cramer’s article regarding thyroiditis:

What exactly is postpartum thyroiditis? It is a dysfunction of the thyroid, a gland that regulates the production of certain hormones within the body. After birth, production by the thyroid drops and it may have trouble regulating itself to return to pre-pregnancy levels of production. Another cause of PPT may be the increase in a hormone called prolactin, which is involved with breast milk production and breastfeeding and can cause temporary low thyroid production.Postpartum thyroiditis has been shown to follow three sequential phases: hyperthyroidism (or thyrotoxicosis), hypothyroidism, and recovery. The first phase, thyrotoxicosis, appears one to three months after delivery. It is also known as hyperthyroidism, in which the thyroid gland works in overdrive to produce more hormone than necessary. During this time, you may have trouble sleeping and be overly anxious. After this, approximately three to six months after birth, a phase of hypothyroidism appears. This is a slowing down of production by the gland, and results in weight gain, sluggishness, and intolerance to cold. Postpartum thyroid dysfunction typically resolves without treatment when the mother’s body goes through a recovery phase and returns to a normal thyroid (euthyroid) state.