Can I breastfeed after having postpartum thyroiditis?

Half an hour after giving birth, the mother will start breastfeeding the baby. This is colostrum, the best food for the baby. For newborn babies, no milk powder can replace breast milk. Every mother also hopes that she can breastfeed her baby herself and watch him grow up day by day. However, the emergence of some problems may affect breastfeeding, such as postpartum thyroiditis. So, can I breastfeed after having postpartum thyroiditis?

Postpartum thyroiditis is a problem with the body's immune system and is usually temporary, but if not treated in time it can turn into permanent thyroiditis. If a mother takes medication to treat thyroiditis, breastfeeding is not recommended at this time, because part of the medication will enter the breast milk after being metabolized in the body, and enter the baby's body through breastfeeding, which will have some adverse effects on the child. If the examination shows that the problem is not serious, the mother does not need any medication and can breastfeed normally.

Thyroiditis cannot be passed to the baby through breast milk, so new mothers do not need to worry. In terms of diet, the mother should pay attention to eating small meals frequently and avoid overeating. Some foods with high iodine content, such as kelp, seaweed, and marine fish, should be eaten as little as possible. At the same time, avoid spicy food, tobacco and alcohol. Also avoid foods that may cause goiter. Avoid contact with water or items containing chlorine or bromide.

Can postpartum thyroiditis be cured?

Because postpartum thyroiditis is a self-limited, temporary disease, the course of the disease is only a few months. Conservative treatment should be given during the hyperthyroidism stage, usually only beta-blockers such as propranolol are needed, which can improve palpitations, tachycardia, mental tension, tremors, sweating, etc. Surgery and radiation therapy are contraindicated. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy may be required during the hypothyroid period. Although some cases may suffer from permanent hypothyroidism, most cases of thyroid function return to normal. Therefore, thyroid function should be reassessed 6 to 12 months after delivery. If you become pregnant again, the disease will most likely recur. Therefore, postpartum thyroiditis can be cured.

What are the clinical manifestations of postpartum thyroiditis?

First, the course of the disease is similar to that of painless thyroiditis. Patients are usually asymptomatic and most are discovered during postpartum thyroid function tests. A few are discovered when patients develop goiter or mild palpitations.

Second, most patients have no symptoms, and a few patients may have mild edema, fatigue, fear of cold and other symptoms during the hypothyroidism stage. Many patients do not have throat discomfort. 10% to 20% of patients have local pressure or dull pain in the thyroid area, and occasionally mild tenderness.

Third, the thyroid gland is mostly bilaterally symmetrical, diffusely slightly enlarged, with the isthmus and conical lobe often enlarged at the same time. It may also be unilaterally enlarged. The thyroid gland tends to gradually increase in size as the disease progresses, but rarely compresses the neck and causes breathing and swallowing difficulties. The thyroid gland has no adhesion to the surrounding tissues during palpation and can move up and down during swallowing.

Fourth, the cervical lymph nodes are generally not swollen. In a few cases, the cervical lymph nodes may be swollen, but they are soft.

Generally speaking, postpartum thyroiditis can be cured, but the treatment is more complicated and difficult. It has to be said that postpartum thyroiditis will cause a series of obstacles to the lives of pregnant mothers, so pregnant mothers should see a doctor in time, actively cooperate with the doctor's treatment, and recover well after giving birth.