Postpartum Thyroiditis: Signs and symptoms of thyroid issues during pregnancy

Pregnancy and childbirth is a crucial time for a woman’s health as the new mother is at risk of a number of diseases due to hormonal changes.

Postpartum thyroiditis is a condition where the new mother’s thyroid gland (the gland located in front of the neck) becomes inflamed after having a baby which may turn it overactive (hyperthyroidism) and then underactive after some time (hypothyroidism).

Women who have had family history of thyroid problems or type 1 diabetes may be more at risk of getting postpartum thyroiditis. How to know if you are suffering from this issue?

In the first phase of hyperthyroidism symptoms like nervousness, anxiety, fast heartbeat and weight loss can be observed while in the next phase of hypothyroidism, one may feel tiredness, have constipation, muscle cramps, weakness and weight gain. While in most women, the postpartum thyroiditis resolves after some time, for some the condition says lifelong and requires hormonal treatment.

Postpartum thyroiditis: How long it lasts
Postpartum thyroiditis may take up to one year to resolve bu affects a small percentage of women.

“Approximately 20 to 30 percent of people with postpartum thyroiditis have the characteristic sequence of hyperthyroidism, which usually begins one to four months after delivery and lasts two to eight weeks, followed by hypothyroidism.

Which also lasts from approximately two weeks to six months, and then recovery. Some individuals have only hyperthyroidism or only hypothyroidism,” says Dr Seema Sharma, Associate Director of Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Chandigarh.

Signs and symptoms of postpartum thyroiditis
“The symptoms and signs of hyperthyroidism, when present, are typically mild and consist mainly of fatigue, weight loss, palpitations, heat intolerance, anxiety, irritability, tachycardia, and tremor. Similarly, hypothyroidism is also usually mild, leading to lack of energy, cold intolerance, constipation, sluggishness, and dry skin.