Are your postpartum symptoms really a thyroid problem?
A surprisingly common postpartum thyroid issue that explains a LOT of “normal” new mom symptoms.
February 15, 2026
What has dry skin, no eyebrows, anxiety, and a pooping problem?
Sounds like a really fun game show question, right?
I’m talking about your thyroid.
Did you know that up to 10% of new moms develop a thyroid problem in the first year postpartum?
Did you also know that only a tiny fraction of those moms are ever diagnosed or even screened?
And did you know that a huge laundry list of typical “new mom symptoms” can be explained by changes in thyroid activity?
No?
File this under “things that were never discussed in my very brief, very inadequate, single 6-week postpartum visit.”
Let’s get into it.
Thyroid: the master gland
Your thyroid controls:
Metabolism
Growth and development
Hormonal function
Nutrient utilization
It’s most famous for its role in weight, but when thyroid function is off, a whole lotta stuff can go sideways which is why symptoms can look so different from mom to mom.
Thyroid disorders are common in general, but here we’re talking about a specific flavor called postpartum thyroiditis.
I’m going to call it PPT, because why not.
What is Postpartum Thyroiditis (PPT)?
PPT usually shows up within the first year after having a baby.
Sometimes it’s a thyroid issue that was quietly brewing pre-pregnancy or during pregnancy and comes into full bloom postpartum. Other times, it’s triggered by a perfect storm of postpartum stressors, including:
Nutrient deficiencies
Physical and mental stress
Inflammation and immune system overreaction
So basically… the very normal things that happen at the end of pregnancy and in early motherhood all mess with your thyroid.
Loss of nutrients.
Lack of sleep.
Stress.
Immune changes during healing.
All major thyroid stressors.
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How PPT shows up in the body
Moms with PPT can show hyperthyroid symptoms, hypothyroid symptoms, or very commonly both at different times.
It’s not unusual to start hyper and later swing into hypo.
Postpartum Hyperthyroid symptoms:
Anxiety
Irritability
Insomnia
Big appetite
Weight loss
Loose stools
Sweating
Rapid heartbeat
Fatigue
Postpartum Hypothyroid symptoms:
Depression
Dry skin
Hair loss (including eyebrows)
Exhaustion
Weight gain or inability to lose weight
Feeling cold
Constipation
Heavy periods
Do these sound suspiciously like the “it’s just motherhood” symptom bucket?
Yeah I thought so too.
Why thyroid issues are so often missed in postpartum moms.
The most obvious reason for this is that moms aren’t commonly tested, and we tell her that all her symptoms are just normal in motherhood. You can’t see what you’re not looking for.
But even when we do test, a lot of cases are missed because testing for thyroid issues can be… complicated.
The typical test run at most doctor’s offices, a single TSH, misses a huge proportion of thyroid dysfunction, because it doesn’t directly assess how the thyroid hormones are actually functioning in the body.
On top of that, the “normal” ranges are hotly debated. Many thyroid experts believe we’re missing a ton of suboptimal thyroid function with current cutoffs.
Thyroid is also a moving target. Levels can shift quickly especially during times of:
Stress
Hormonal changes
Postpartum recovery (cough cough)
Sometimes it really is as simple as testing and medication.
But sometimes we need more than that to help out your thyroid. Let’s talk about that next.
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What to do about postpartum thyroid symptoms?
If you resonate with the postpartum thyroid symptoms, it’s worth both supporting your thyroid now and looking into more thorough testing.
Some starting points:
Support adrenal health.
Thyroid and stress hormones are deeply connected. Prioritize sleep, reduce stress where you can, and yes, take things off your plate.
Test and replenish nutrient deficiencies.
Key players for thyroid health include vitamin D, iron, selenium, and iodine (at minimum).
Eat enough to support hormones.
If you don’t have enough of the “building blocks” to make hormones - like protein, micronutrients, fat, cholesterol - then your body will struggle.
For Testing
Request a full thyroid panel, not just TSH:
TSH
Free T3
Free T4
Reverse T3
Thyroid antibodies
If your provider will only test TSH and it comes back “normal” but you’re still symptomatic, push for more testing or find a provider who will do a more thorough workup.
Thyroid issues are a classic example of why advocating for your health matters when you know something isn’t right.
And also a reminder that all our parts talk to each other. No hormone or body system operates in isolation.
Ready to stop guessing and actually feel better?
If postpartum (or post-postpartum) symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, hair loss, weight changes, or gut issues haven’t resolved. Mother Reboot was built for exactly this.
Mother Reboot is a personalized, hormone-first reset that includes:
Comprehensive lab testing
Clear answers about what’s actually going on
A realistic plan to replenish, rebalance, and feel better
👉 Learn more about Mother Reboot here.
xo
Alison
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