Do you also feel this kind of tiredness and change after having a baby? Let's learn about (Postpartum Thyroiditis)!

The fatigue you feel after having a baby, the sleepless nights, the pressure that comes with new responsibilities... With all this, you might think that these changes are normal. This is a common experience for many mothers. But sometimes, behind this severe fatigue, anxiety, and changes in your body is not the normal condition that occurs after childbirth. It could be a condition called 'Postpartum Thyroiditis', which many people don't talk about, but it's important to be aware of.

Simply put, what is Postpartum Thyroiditis?

This may sound like a strange name, but it's very simple to understand. Postpartum means "after childbirth." Thyroiditis means "swelling or inflammation of the thyroid gland." Postpartum Thyroiditis is an inflammation of your thyroid gland that occurs within the first year after having a baby.

Now you're probably wondering, what is this thyroid gland? It's a very important little butterfly-shaped gland in the front of our neck. This gland produces hormones that control many important things, such as how our body uses energy, or metabolism. So when there's a problem with this, the whole body feels it.

How does this happen? Let's learn about three stages.

Postpartum Thyroiditis usually progresses through several stages. However, not everyone experiences all of these stages in the same order. It's important to keep that in mind.

But remember, some mothers may only experience the first stage (Hyperthyroidism) and then recover straight away. The second stage (Hypothyroidism) may not occur at all. Rarely, someone may have to remain in the second stage, which means that hormone levels are low.

What are the symptoms? How do we recognize this?

The biggest problem with this is that these symptoms often overlap with normal conditions that occur after childbirth.

Let's see what the symptoms are related to the two stages.

First stage: When hormones increase (Hyperthyroidism)

During this time, the body's processes become "hyper," meaning they speed up. But many people may not show any major symptoms during this time. Or they may ignore them.

• Constantly feeling anxious and restless.
• Losing a lot of hair for no reason.
• Losing weight even though you eat well.
• Feeling like your heart is beating fast (Tachycardia).
• The heat is unbearable.

Stage Two: When hormones are low (Hypothyroidism)

Many people begin to experience symptoms clearly during this time. This is when the body's processes slow down.

• Constant feeling of extreme tiredness and fatigue.
• Weight gain despite controlling what you eat and drink.
• Feeling sad and depressed .
• Very dry skin.
• Constipation .
• Body and muscle pain.
• Not enough milk to give to the baby.
• Not being able to withstand the cold.

Why is this happening? What is the reason?

Simply put, this is an autoimmune condition. This means that our body's defense system, the immune system, mistakenly attacks its own thyroid gland. It's as if the "soldiers" (antibodies) that are supposed to protect our body from disease are mistaken for one of our own and attack it. This attack causes the thyroid gland to swell.

This is very similar to Hashimoto's disease , a thyroid condition. While it's not yet known exactly why this happens after pregnancy, one of the main theories is that this autoimmune condition was present in your body before pregnancy and only comes to the surface after delivery.

Who is most at risk of developing this condition?

If you have one or more of the following conditions, your risk of developing postpartum thyroiditis is slightly higher.

• If you have had this condition after a previous childbirth .
• If you have another autoimmune disease, such as Type 1 diabetes .
• If anyone in your family (mother, sister) has thyroid disease.
• If you had anti-thyroid antibodies in your body before pregnancy (you may not know about it, as there may be no symptoms).

How do you find this, Doctor?

Once you've described your symptoms, the doctor will examine you. Then, they'll order a simple blood test to confirm the condition.

This blood test checks the levels of thyroid hormones (T3, T4) and TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) in your blood. Based on the changes in these levels, the doctor can accurately diagnose whether this is Postpartum Thyroiditis or another thyroid disease such as Graves' disease.

What are the treatments? Are these safe for a breastfeeding mother?

The good news is that most mothers don't need any special treatment because their symptoms are not that severe. However, if your symptoms are severe and disrupt your life, your doctor will prescribe medication.

Treatment depends on what stage you are in.

• In cases of high hormone levels (Hyperthyroidism): In this case, medications such as beta-blockers can often be given to control the heart rate, and medications such as corticosteroids (e.g. prednisone) to reduce swelling.
• Hypothyroidism: This is treated with external thyroid hormone pills. This treatment usually lasts for 6 months to a year. Most people can gradually stop taking this medication once their thyroid gland has returned to normal.

Is this a permanent disease? Will I have to take medication forever?

No. Postpartum Thyroiditis is often a temporary condition. In 70% - 80% of mothers who experience this condition, that is, seven to eight out of ten, the thyroid gland will start working normally again over time. Then medication will not be needed.

However, about 20% to 30% of people may develop permanent hypothyroidism, requiring continued thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

Once you have this condition, you are at a slightly higher risk of developing other thyroid conditions (hypothyroidism or goiter) in the future. Therefore, even if your thyroid gland returns to normal, it is wise to have regular checkups with your doctor.

Can I get pregnant again?

Yes, you definitely can. Having postpartum thyroiditis does not prevent you from having a healthy baby again.

However, if you are thinking about having another baby, it is important to tell your doctor about your previous history of this condition when you are planning to get pregnant. This is because people who have had this condition before have a 20% chance of developing it again in their next pregnancy. Your doctor can then monitor your thyroid hormone levels and help you have a healthy pregnancy.

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