Hashimoto S Thyroiditis Diet Abnormal Fatigue in Early Motherhood - When Its More Than Just Lack of Sleep.
A screaming baby, far too little sleep, no time to yourself...... You could be forgiven for thinking that your constant fatigue is all part and parcel of being a new mum.
For many women it probably is as simple as that. But for some, tiredness in early motherhood could be a warning sign of a medical problem requiring attention..
So what health issues are likely to occur in the six to twelve months after giving birth?
Well firstly vitamin and mineral deficiencies are very common. The growing fetus will take all the nutrients it needs which can leave the mother in a state of deficiency postpartum. Add to that, breastfeeding, the stress of looking after a new baby and the likelihood that mum's diet may not be as good as it was previously and it's not difficult to see why women might become a little depleted! Common deficiencies affecting energy production include iron (especially if a lot of blood was lost during labour), Magnesium, co-enzyme Q10, zinc and B - vitamins. A qualified nutritional therapist can advise you on what can be checked for on the NHS and can arrange testing for any other nutrients you would like assessed.
Sex hormone imbalances are another common issue in the early days of motherhood and these imbalances may contribute to the feelings of fatigue which many women experience as their body tries to get back to its post pregnancy state. Unfortunately the 'coffee and cake' culture prevalent in the new mum community (yes, I've been there!) is unlikely to help as relying on simple sugars and stimulants (such as coffee and tea) can contribute to blood sugar imbalances which can exacerbate the problem further. Try to eat regular meals and snacks containing whole grains, protein and fibre to keep your sugars more balanced. Nutrients such as chromium and B vitamins may also help although you may wish to take advice if you are breastfeeding
Another often overlooked reason for fatigue after childbirth is abnormal thyroid function and a condition called postpartum thyroiditis affects around 5-10% of women. Postpartum thyroiditis is thought to be an autoimmune problem in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland causing the thyroid to malfunction. What typically happens is that initially (usually between one to four months after delivery), the thyroid becomes overactive (called hyperthyroidism) and symptoms such as unusual weight loss, anxiety, palpitations and irritability occur. Since many of these symptoms might be associated with the stresses and strains of having a new baby, this phase often goes unnoticed and can last for between one to three months. Then later on (around four to eight months after delivery) the thyroid often becomes underactive (hypothyroidism) leading to problems such as weight gain, constipation, tiredness, intolerance of the cold, depression and poor exercise tolerance. Although many women will experience both the over active and underactive stages of the disease, some women will only experience symptoms of hyperthyroidism, while others will only show signs of hypothyroidism. Most women do resume normal thyroid function within twelve to eighteen months from the onset of symptoms, although around 20% of women will suffer from a permanently underactive thyroid.
It is worth mentioning that thyroid function has to be quite severely impaired before any problems will be picked up by NHS blood tests. This is because the 'normal' UK thyroid range is quite broad compared with other countries. Also in the UK we only tend to check for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and Thyroxine, while the active form of the hormone is Tri-iodothyronine (otherwise known as T3 ). If you think that you may have an underative thyroid but your results come back normal then it may be worth getting in touch with a nutritional therapist who can help you to assess your T3 levels and support your thyroid through targeted supplementation and appropriate diet. If stress is an issue (and let's face it, having a new baby is pretty stressful!) then supplements can be recommended to support your adrenal glands (the glands which produce your stress hormones) which in turn may help improve your thyroid function. If you are breastfeeding then do bear in mind that it is worth taking advice on any supplements that you take as some may be dangerous for your baby.
It's not just the thyroid though which can cause problems for new mums. Interestingly women who have recently given birth are at increased risk of autoimmune problems generally. Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis and lupus (all of which cause fatigue) are all more likely to occur postpartum, although thankfully these are all relatively rare. Perhaps one of the most common autoimmune conditions to occur in recent mothers is rheumatoid arthritis. While the most obvious symptoms is joint pain and swelling, it is often forgotten that rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease and problems such as tiredness and general malaise are common. If you are suffering from any joint related issues it is worth checking with your GP to rule out this condition. Don't panic though- joint problems are relatively common after pregnancy and have a number of different causes.
So to conclude, if you are suffering from unexplained fatigue postpartum, then don't feel that you just have to grin and bear it. Seeking advice can help you get to the route of the problem enabling you to take steps to restore your energy. More importantly it might prevent an existing condition from deteriorating further. After all you need all the energy you can get to look after a new born!
hashimoto s thyroiditis diet.