Breastfeeding and thyroid disease: a literature review.

The thyroid and thyroid hormones are intimately connected with the maintenance of pregnancy and lactation. As such, any disorders of the thyroid can have an impact on women's ability to breastfeed. In addition, some thyroid disorders that occur in the postnatal period can be misinterpreted as postnatal depression or other illnesses. In the past, the need to take certain thyroid medications meant that mothers were instructed not to breastfeed for fear of disrupting the thyroid function of their babies. Newer and safer drugs to treat thyroid disorders now mean that mothers can safely continue to breastfeed.