One in ten new moms will develop a thyroid disorder. Every new mom should be tested with a full panel thyroid test (including antibodies) about two to three months following delivery. Immediately after delivery the thyroid's activity isn't stable yet. It takes about two months for the thyroid to calm down and settle.

An underactive thyroid (hypothyroid) can mimic postpartum depression. An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroid) often looks like anxiety or panic. Therefore many new moms are misdiagnosed with a postpartum mood or anxiety disorder and given inappropriate treatment.

I've worked with hundreds of new mothers who didn't need (nor were they fully helped by) the antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications they were prescribed by their well-meaning practitioners. What they needed was treatment for their over or under active thyroid. Sometimes that treatment is completely natural and sometimes it involves medication. But no matter what, it's extremely important to receive whatever treatment is necessary.