On Tue, 18 Jun 2002 22:17:48 -0400, Rick Gagne & Elise Morse-Gagne
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Or could the thyroid levels fluctuate
>rapidly enough (especially in and after pregnancy) that test results from
>August might not be applicable in October?
>Comments from more medically knowledgeable types solicited!


Thyroid levels in the peripartum can fluctuate rapidly enough to make the
August and October numbers vastly different. The course of postpartum
thyroiditis can swing from hyperthyroid to hypothyroid in a very short time
span. Reading about this conditions can be found at
www.chss.iup.edu/postpartum/Thyroid.htm
www.thyroid.org/patient/brochur7.htm
www.the-thyroid-society.org/featured_articles/postpartemthyroiditis.html

A good discussion of "breastfeeding and thyroid disease" can be found on
www.thyroid.about.com. The author suggests that it is not uncommon for low
supply to occur with thyroid disorder since "changes in metabolism can
affect milk production." She writes from personal experience, and mainly
suggests the ways that any mom would try to increase supply, such as
frequent feedings, fenugreek, etc.

The most important thing that your client can do is see an endocrinologist
experienced in helping breastfeeding mothers. Close monitoring of thyroid
hormone is necessary to achieve "normal" levels, whether hyper- or
hypothyroid.

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