Postpartum blood work. why you need it, and what to ask for

Because sometimes, it isn’t just mommy fatigue. Being a mom, is not a diagnosis.

Sometimes, the answer isn’t just ‘more sleep’ or ‘eating healthier’. Sometimes, it goes deeper than this and blood work helps give us these answers.

The average amount of visits, you get with a care provider during pregnancy is typically between 10-15, depending on where you are and the healthcare model you are involved in. Do you know what the approximate number of postpartum visits you get is?

1-2. That’s it. And I believe that needs to change. We need to do a better job caring for mamas.

The transition to motherhood is an intense time, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Rates of postpartum mood disorders are rising, and in my practice, I am seeing more and more mamas struggling with ongoing fatigue, anxiety, low mood, hair loss, thyroid disorders, pregnancy loss/fertility struggles in their second pregnancies, and more.

These symptoms are usually blamed on lack of sleep, and being a new mom, but it isn’t always that simple.

One SIMPLE way to identify if there is another cause of these symptoms is postpartum lab work. While there is a whole host of labs that are useful postpartum, and this will always depend on each individual person, here are a few of the key labs that I run on my postpartum mamas.

Iron Assessment

Tests: Ferritin, CBC w/diff

Iron levels often dip during pregnancy, and care providers are typically on top of this. But I frequently see women postpartum who just stopped their supplements and haven’t retested. Testing is key, to determine if you need iron supplements, the dose, and how long to be on them.

Thyroid Assessment

Tests: TSH, Anti-TPO

Postpartum is a common time for autoimmune thyroid conditions to arise, and I frequently see them missed in patients. At a minimum, I like to see TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and Anti TPO (thyroid peroxidase antibody) run postpartum. Depending on the case / history / presenting symptoms I might run more tests than this to ensure the thyroid is functioning optimally.

Vitamin Levels

Tests: 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D & Vitamin B12

Vitamin D is an important nutrient to keep at optimal levels for many reasons, a few being your mood, hair and skin health, immune system, and bone health. Since the minimum recommended dose, doesn’t increase your levels enough if they are low, but taking too much vitamin D can be harmful, testing is essential to determine your individual optimal dose.

Vitamin B12 is another vitamin used in high amounts during pregnancy, and low or suboptimal levels can contribute to low energy and brain fog, amongst other symptoms.

Blood Sugar Assessment

Tests: Fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin

Again, depending on a mamas symptoms and history, a blood sugar assessment may be warranted. Fasting insulin is something I rarely see tested conventionally, yet has implications in many aspects of our health, particularly in mamas with PCOS. If you are struggling with weight management postpartum, or if you had gestational diabetes this test is essential.

These are just a few of the tests that I commonly see come back out of range, and when corrected, make a huge difference in energy, mood, sleep, hormone function, and more. There are many other blood tests that my be implicated for you postpartum so be sure to work with a care provider to get the right testing done.

Have you had postpartum lab work done? Or, have you been told your labs are all ‘normal’ but still feel awful? Let’s chat! It is never too late to get postpartum labs done.

As always, this information is not meant to replace medical advice, and a doctor-patient relationship has not been established. Please consult your healthcare provider for an individualized assessment.