Up to 10% of women experience thyroid problems after giving birth. Postpartum thyroiditis causes fluctuating thyroid hormone levels, first with a period of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid with excess thyroid hormone) which might then resolve back to normal or dip into a period of hypothyroidism (low thyroid function). Note that this is different from postpartum Graves’ Disease, which is autoimmune hyperthyroidism in which antibodies attack the thyroid and cause it to overproduce thyroid hormone.

A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined weight gained during pregnancy and the elimination or retention of that weight postpartum. The authors concluded that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months as recommended can help most women return to their pre-pregnancy weight by six months postpartum. The study also addressed one of the concerns from a previous review of similar studies in that it took into account the pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) of the women studied. Basically it concluded that women who were heavier before pregnancy were the most likely to continue to struggle with weight …read more

From The Breastfeeding Answer Book:
Caused by postpartum hemorrhage so severe that the blood loss irreversibly damages the pituitary gland, Sheehan’s syndrome can cause breastfeeding failure. Other symptoms include loss of pubic and underarm hair, inability to tolerate cold, low blood pressure, and atrophy of vaginal tissue, as well as subsequent infertility.
p. 569. For more see:
~ Birthsource.com
~ “Infant Insufficient Milk Syndrome Associated with Maternal Postpartum Hemorrhage” (abstract) from the Journal of Human Lactation

Many women consider amenorrhea (absence of periods) as one of the great advantages of breastfeeding. Other women lament the fact that their fertility has not returned by the time they are ready to conceive another child. For those women who celebrate the absence of their periods (the ones who think the pronunciation of amenorrhea sounds suspiciously like “Amen, no horror period!”), is exclusive breastfeeding an effective method of birth control?

While at first it appears that the breastfeeding mother and baby only need each other, there is a whole cast of people in supporting roles–people who help mother and baby have a positive nursing experience. When my daughter was a newborn, I joked that it took four people to nurse: me, my baby, my husband to help adjust pillows and latch the baby on, and my mother to bring me water and snacks. With that vital support, the nursing relationship quickly blossomed.
1. Husband/partner. If the breastfeeding mother is in a relationship, it’s important that her partner supports breastfeeding. A husband …read more