Postpartum hypothyroidism is a very common disorder among females right after having a baby which is a result of an autoimmune disease referred to as lymphocytic thyroiditis. It strikes approximately 5% of women following giving birth and is thought to be the main reason for postpartum depression.

In lymphocytic thyroiditis, the thyroid glands becomes inflamed because of the infiltration of a white blood cell labelled as lymphocyte. It is thought to be a consequence of the modification of the immune system necessary in maternity. It has a preliminary hyperthyroid stage whereby the thyroid glands generates extreme quantities of thyroid hormones, inducing a key rise in the metabolic rate. This will lead to diarrhea, rapid pulse, feeling overheated, rapid weight loss, difficulty in sleeping, and anxiety.

Following the initial hyperthyroid period, the thyroid either comes back to its normal condition or it goes into hypothyroid phase. Within this position, the thyroid glands become underactive, producing insufficient thyroid hormones that brings about an abnormal reduction in the metabolism rate. It brings about fatigue amongst new moms, whereby they will be sleeping at the least 14 hours and awaken unrefreshed.

This as well helps to make the new mom gain more weight even if she is using a rigorous diet and workout strategy. It is because her body cannot effectively process the surplus calories as a result of alterations in metabolic process. These symptoms can seriously impact the mind of the new mom, probably ending in a postpartum depressed state characterized by feelings of sadness, anxiety, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, feeling of hopelessness, disturbance in appetite, mood swings and insufficient fascination with the infant.

Girls that are pregnant who tested positive for antithyroid antibodies have between 33% to 50% probability of obtaining lymphocytic thyroiditis immediately after giving birth to the infant. Additionally, a few researchers have found that the existence of these antibodies makes a pregnant female 3 times more susceptible to obtain postpartum depression. This thyroid problem after maternity may be short-term, lasting for up to 6 months to a year. Yet, around one in five of females will get long-lasting hypothyroidism that involves life time hormone treatment. This is due to the thyroid glands were too impaired as a result of the hormonal imbalance or since the maternity set off an underlying situation of autoimmune illness.