Postpartum Testing: The Step Most Mums Skip (But Truly Need)

The Hidden Depletions After Birth: And How to Test for Them

Pregnancy and childbirth are beautiful, but they also take a huge toll on your body’s nutrient stores. The months that follow are often busy and exhausting — and for many women, that six-week postpartum check-up comes and goes without any real discussion about how your body is recovering internally.

If you never had your 6-week postpartum blood test, this is your reminder: it’s not too late.

During pregnancy, your body prioritises your baby’s needs, drawing heavily on your stores of:

• Iron – to support increased blood volume and prevent fatigue.

• Calcium – for strong bones and teeth (for both you and your baby).

• B Vitamins – crucial for energy production, mood stability, and hormone balance.

• Omega-3s (DHA & EPA) – for brain, nerve, and mood support.

• Choline – essential for memory, brain development, and liver health.

Without checking in on nutrient status postpartum, it’s easy to miss deficiencies that can affect your recovery, energy, mood, and even milk supply.

Markers We Want To Track

A comprehensive postpartum panel often includes:

• FBC, Iron studies (ferritin, transferrin saturation)

• Vitamin D, B12, and folate

• Thyroid markers (TSH, FT4, antibodies):  especially if you’ve had thyroid changes in pregnancy.

• Electrolytes, calcium, liver function

• Inflammation markers (CRP)

• Blood glucose and insulin: to monitor postpartum insulin sensitivity

These results help us create a clear plan for restoring nutrient balance: often with simple dietary and supplemental tweaks that make a huge difference to your energy and wellbeing.

When to Test

If it’s been more than six weeks, or even six months since birth, it’s not too late to check in. Many mums only discover low iron or thyroid issues months later when fatigue, anxiety, hair loss, or mood changes start to appear.

Next Steps

If you never had your postpartum blood test done, consider this your nudge!

Book an appointment to organise your postpartum test review and get personalised guidance on rebuilding your nutrient stores, balancing hormones, and supporting your recovery so you can be the best version of yourself in this postpartum season.