"Everything looks good."

Postpartum is one of the most nutritionally and hormonally demanding seasons of a woman’s life, yet it’s often when we’re told to simply “give it time.” If you’re a mom who is postpartum, hoping to feel better in your body, lose weight in a healthy way, and prepare for another baby, targeted lab testing can be incredibly empowering.

Rather than guessing, labs allow us to understand why your body may be holding onto weight, feeling depleted, struggling with cycles, low energy, anxiety, or fertility challenges — and how to support it gently and effectively.

Below are the core labs I most often recommend for postpartum moms who want to optimize fertility, recovery, and metabolic health, along with when and why each one matters.

So often women will get routine blood labs at their doctors office and are told that it all looks fine. BUT they still feel exhausted, moody, and like something is off. 

The first 3 labs I discuss below, go well beyond the generic tests and often even if "everything looks good" on standard labs, these tell us what's actually going on at the root level.

Why Labs Matter Postpartum

Pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding place a significant demand on:

• Minerals (especially iron, magnesium, sodium, potassium)

• Thyroid function

• Gut health and nutrient absorption

• Hormone signaling and detoxification

• Nervous system resilience

You can be eating “well” and still feel off — because labs reveal what food alone can’t.

My approach prioritizes foundational testing that shows us how your body is functioning at a cellular level, not just whether something is technically “normal.”

1. Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)

If I had to choose one test to start with postpartum, this would be it.

Why HTMA is so valuable postpartum

HTMA looks at long‑term mineral status and stress patterns, which are often profoundly affected after pregnancy and birth.

This test helps us assess:

• Adrenal and stress response patterns

• Thyroid signaling at the cellular level

• Sodium/potassium balance (key for energy and milk production)

• Calcium and magnesium balance (often disrupted postpartum)

• Mineral depletion vs. retention patterns

Many postpartum symptoms — fatigue, anxiety, poor sleep, weight resistance, low milk supply, irregular cycles — trace back to mineral dysregulation and nervous system stress, which HTMA uniquely captures.

HTMA answers the question: Is your body resourced enough to support fertility again?

2. GI‑MAP Stool Test (Gut Health & Inflammation)

Your gut is central to hormone balance, thyroid conversion, nutrient absorption, and immune health — all critical postpartum.

Why GI‑MAP matters for fertility & weight loss

The GI‑MAP is a DNA‑based stool test that evaluates:

• Beneficial and opportunistic bacteria

• Pathogens (bacterial, parasitic, viral)

• Yeast/fungal overgrowth

• Inflammation markers (calprotectin)

• Digestive function (elastase, fat digestion)

• Immune markers (secretory IgA)

• Estrogen‑related enzyme activity (beta‑glucuronidase)

Postpartum gut imbalances are common due to:

• Pregnancy‑induced shifts in microbiome

• Antibiotics during birth or postpartum

• Chronic stress and sleep deprivation

• Under‑eating or restrictive dieting

If hormones feel "off," weight isn’t responding, or you’re dealing with bloating, constipation, acne, anxiety, or food sensitivities, the gut is often a missing piece.

3. DUTCH Hormone Test (Comprehensive Hormone Mapping)

For moms wanting to conceive again, the DUTCH test gives a much clearer picture than basic blood hormones alone.

What the DUTCH test shows us

• Estrogen, progesterone, and androgen levels

• Estrogen metabolism pathways (detox patterns)

• Cortisol rhythm and total output

• DHEA production

• Melatonin (sleep and circadian rhythm support)

This is especially helpful postpartum if you:

• Are breastfeeding or recently weaned

• Have irregular or absent cycles

• Suspect low progesterone

• Experience PMS, anxiety, or mood shifts

• Want to understand fertility timing and hormone resilience

Hormones are downstream. The DUTCH test helps us confirm what your body is signaling after addressing minerals and gut health.

4. Vitamin D (Often Overlooked, Very Foundational)

Vitamin D deserves its own call-out postpartum because it acts more like a hormone and immune modulator than a simple vitamin.

Why vitamin D matters postpartum & for fertility

Vitamin D plays a role in:

• Ovulation and ovarian responsiveness

• Immune regulation and inflammation control

• Thyroid and autoimmune risk modulation

• Mood, anxiety, and postpartum mental health

• Insulin sensitivity and healthy weight regulation

Low vitamin D is extremely common postpartum due to:

• Pregnancy depleting maternal stores

• Limited sun exposure during pregnancy and early postpartum

• Higher needs with breastfeeding

• Chronic stress and inflammation

How I recommend testing

• 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D)

I prefer to test before supplementing, as both low and excessively high vitamin D can contribute to mineral imbalances — especially calcium dysregulation, which we often see on HTMA.

Vitamin D status should always be interpreted in context with minerals, particularly calcium, magnesium, and vitamin A status.

5. Thyroid Blood Labs (When Symptoms Are Present)

Postpartum thyroid dysfunction is common — and often under‑diagnosed.

Thyroid labs I recommend (when indicated)

If you suspect thyroid issues (fatigue, hair loss, cold intolerance, weight resistance, cycle changes), I recommend:

• TSH

• Free T4

• Free T3

• Reverse T3

• Thyroid antibodies (TPO & Tg)

Thyroid function impacts:

• Ovulation and progesterone production

• Metabolism and fat loss

• Milk supply

• Gut motility

• Mood and energy

I also pair thyroid labs with HTMA, because many thyroid issues postpartum are related to mineral imbalances and stress signaling, not just hormone production.

5. Iron & Anemia Labs (When Depletion Is Suspected)

Iron needs increase significantly during pregnancy — and many women leave birth depleted.

When to assess iron

If you experience fatigue, dizziness, hair loss, shortness of breath, anxiety, or cold sensitivity, iron labs are important.

I typically recommend:

• Ferritin

• Serum iron

• TIBC

• % saturation

• CBC

Iron is essential for:

• Thyroid hormone conversion

• Oxygen delivery

• Energy production

• Ovulation and implantation

Important: More iron is not always the answer. Labs help us determine whether iron is truly low, poorly utilized, or impacted by inflammation.

A Gentle, Strategic Approach Matters

Postpartum is not the time for aggressive detoxes, restrictive dieting, or over‑supplementation.

The labs above help us:

• Rebuild mineral reserves

• Support the nervous system

• Restore digestion and absorption

• Balance hormones naturally

• Prepare the body for another pregnancy, sustainably

Fertility thrives in safety, nourishment, and regulation... not depletion.

Final Thoughts

If you’re postpartum and thinking about another baby, your body deserves clarity, not guesswork.

Testing allows us to:

• Meet your body where it is

• Create a personalized, realistic plan

• Support healthy weight loss without compromising fertility

• Build a strong foundation for your next pregnancy

If you want support interpreting labs and building a plan that feels grounded, compassionate, and effective, that’s exactly the work I do with my clients.

Your body isn’t broken. It’s asking for the right kind of support. Apply for Nourished Moms Collective now.