Could Your Thyroid Be Contributing to Your Postpartum Symptoms?

This simple questionnaire helps identify whether you may be at risk for postpartum thyroiditis—a temporary thyroid condition that affects about 1 in 12 new mothers in the first year after delivery. It is not a diagnosis but may help you decide whether to talk with your healthcare provider about thyroid testing.

If you answered “yes” to several of these prompts, consider discussing your symptoms with your healthcare provider.

1. Are you in the time window?

Are you between 1 and 12 months postpartum?

☐ Yes ☐ No

If no, this is less likely — but continue if you have concerns.

2. Do you have any risk factors?

Check any that apply:

☐ Presence of thyroid antibodies (Chronic Autoimmune Thyroiditis/Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis)
☐ Thyroid disease before/during/after pregnancy
☐ Postpartum thyroiditis in a previous pregnancy
☐ Type 1 diabetes or another autoimmune disease
☐ Family history of thyroid or autoimmune disease

3. Are you feeling any of these symptoms?

Feeling “sped up”:

☐ Racing heart or palpitations

☐ Feeling anxious, jittery, or irritable

☐ Feeling unusually hot or sweating more than usual

☐ Unintentional weight loss

☐ Shaky hands

Feeling “slowed down”:

☐ Extreme fatigue beyond normal newborn tiredness

☐ Feeling unusually cold

☐ Dry skin or more hair loss than expected

☐ Brain fog or trouble concentrating

☐ Unintentional weight gain

☐ Change in breastmilk production

4. Warning signs (not typical for postpartum thyroiditis)

If you check any of these, contact your provider promptly:

☐ Neck pain or swelling

☐ Eye bulging, eye pain, or vision changes

☐ Symptoms so severe you cannot function

What does this mean?

Low Concern You have no risk factors and no or very mild symptoms.

→ Continue monitoring how you feel and mention any concerns at routine postpartum visits.

Moderate Concern You have either one risk factor or some symptoms. Symptoms are mild, stable, or just starting.

→ Consider discussing thyroid testing with your healthcare provider at your next visit.
→ Keep track of any new or worsening symptoms.

High Concern You have risk factors and symptoms, or Symptoms are moderate, persistent, or getting worse.

→ Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider soon to discuss thyroid testing.
→ Bring this completed questionnaire to your visit if helpful.

Urgent You have warning signs, or Your symptoms are rapidly worsening or interfering with daily life.

→ Contact your healthcare provider promptly or seek urgent medical care.

This questionnaire is a screening tool and cannot diagnose postpartum thyroiditis. If you answered “yes” to several questions or feel that something is not right, please discuss your symptoms with your healthcare provider, who can evaluate you and order appropriate testing.