Postpartum Fatigue, Mood Swings, and Low Libido: What Your Blood Tests Might Reveal

There’s a moment after birth where you're meant to feel settled. The baby’s here, the family’s adjusting, and life is slowly moving forward again. But what if you don’t feel like yourself — weeks or even months later? What if your energy’s still gone, your mood is low, your libido is missing, and your skin just won’t heal the way it used to?

For many women, this isn’t a sign of failure — it’s a sign that something deeper is going on. And that’s exactly where functional testing and nutritional support can offer clarity, direction, and real solutions.

Postpartum Symptoms That Deserve a Second Look

The postpartum period is biologically intense. Your hormones shift drastically, your nutrient stores are depleted, and if you're breastfeeding, you're continuing to give a lot physically, emotionally, and nutritionally. So when a woman presents with persistent fatigue, low mood, skin issues, dry hair, or loss of libido — it’s not "just postpartum." It’s a message from the body that it's not fully recovering.

Common overlooked signs include:

• Low energy, even with sleep

• Mood swings, anxiety, or feeling emotionally "flat"

• Dry skin, brittle hair, or rashes that don’t heal

• Persistent low libido

• Infertility or irregular cycles after baby #1

• Digestive discomfort, bloating, or sugar cravings

• Struggles with weight despite healthy eating and movement

Many of these symptoms are normalised or dismissed. But through a functional lens, we look deeper — at thyroid health, nutrient status, stress adaptation, inflammation, and hormonal signalling — to uncover what’s actually going on.

What We Look for in Postpartum Blood Work

When working with women who are struggling to bounce back postpartum, there are several key labs I often recommend requesting from your GP as a starting point.

Here’s a breakdown of why:

Thyroid Function (TSH, Free T4, and Free T3)

Postpartum thyroid shifts are incredibly common. Some women experience temporary postpartum thyroiditis, while others begin to show signs of hypothyroidism — like fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, brain fog, and depression. It’s essential to catch this early, as thyroid function has a major impact on your mood, metabolism, and menstrual health.

Thyroid Antibodies (TPO, TgAb)

Even if thyroid hormone levels are normal, elevated antibodies can indicate autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s). This can begin postpartum, especially if you’re also experiencing subfertility, low mood, or family history of thyroid conditions. Identifying this early helps us tailor nutritional strategies to reduce inflammation and support thyroid health safely.

Vitamin B12, Folate, Iron, and Vitamin D

These are fundamental for energy, brain function, immune support, and mood. B12 and folate are particularly important if you’re feeling flat, anxious, or foggy, while low ferritin (stored iron) can contribute to fatigue and poor wound healing. Vitamin D supports immune resilience and hormonal balance — especially crucial for breastfeeding mothers.

HbA1c, Lipid Profile, and CRP

Postpartum insulin resistance and inflammation are real — especially after a stressful pregnancy, poor sleep, or sugary cravings. These markers help assess blood sugar regulation, inflammation levels, and long-term metabolic health.

Hormone Panel (FSH, LH, Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, SHBG, DHEA-S, Prolactin)

Even on birth control, these hormones offer insight into your baseline status. While ovulation may be suppressed, imbalances like low testosterone or high SHBG can explain fatigue and low libido. Prolactin, if elevated, may affect mood or ovulation. DHEA-S is an adrenal hormone and gives us a peek into stress resilience and energy production.

Breastfeeding? Don’t Forget the Gut

If you’re breastfeeding, your body is doing double duty — nourishing you and your baby. One of the most impactful things you can do for both of you is support your gut health. That’s where probiotics come in.

We now know that specific probiotic strains pass through breastmilk, shaping your baby’s gut microbiome, immune system, and even mood. They also benefit you, especially when stress, lack of sleep, or past antibiotics have thrown things off.

One of my favourite go-to’s for this season is Metagenics Ultra Flora Mother & Baby. It contains:

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG — clinically shown to reduce eczema in babies and support mum’s immunity

• Bifidobacterium lactis — helps with digestion, mood, and immune function

• Lactobacillus reuteri — can help with colic and crying in infants

• Lactobacillus fermentum — found naturally in breastmilk and supportive against mastitis

This blend supports both mother and baby with one daily capsule — an easy win for a tired mama who just needs to feel better fast.

Why Testing Matters — Even If You’re “Not That Bad”

Some women hesitate to test because they’re not falling apart — just "not quite right." But here’s the truth: you don’t have to hit rock bottom to deserve answers. Functional testing helps us catch subtle imbalances before they spiral into burnout, infertility, or chronic inflammation.

The goal isn’t to over-medicalise your experience. It’s to validate your symptoms, identify what your body needs most, and design a path that brings you back to balance.

Healing From the Inside Out

When we pair blood work with clinical history and symptoms, we can create a truly individualised plan. It might look like:

• Nutritional strategies to stabilise blood sugars and reduce inflammation

• Practitioner-grade supplements to replenish key nutrients

• Gentle lifestyle shifts to support your nervous system and circadian rhythm

• Probiotics to help you and your baby thrive

• A clear timeline for healing — not based on what you "should" feel, but what your body is telling us

You Deserve to Feel Like You Again

The postpartum season isn’t just about survival — it’s about recovery. If you feel like you’re dragging, disconnected, or stuck in a body that’s not functioning the way it used to, that’s not something to ignore. That’s your body asking for help.

And the beautiful part? When we listen closely, when we test wisely, and when we support with intention — things can shift.

You can feel good again. You can feel you again.

Ready to Get Answers — Not Just Advice?

If you're tired of feeling tired, fed up with being dismissed, or simply want to know what's really going on beneath the surface, you're not alone — and you're not stuck. At Legacy Nutrition, we take the guesswork out of healing by using functional testing, targeted nutrition, and compassionate care to help you feel like yourself again.