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Blood tests after having a baby What to check in the first year after birth

Anemia is common after birth, affecting an estimated 22% to 50% of women even in wealthier countries,1 and about 8% get a thyroid problem called postpartum thyroiditis in the first year.2 Here’s what’s worth checking, what the results can and can’t tell you and what to do next.

5 tests $41.50 Results in 2 to 3 days

The short answer

If you’re more worn out than a newborn explains, or just want a check after birth, five blood tests look for the common, treatable problems: anemia from blood loss at birth, low iron, a thyroid that’s become overactive or underactive and low vitamin B12 or folate.1,2,3 Vitamin D rides along on the same draw, and if you’re breastfeeding, your level affects how much is in your milk.6 Ask for a complete blood count, ferritin, TSH and free T4, vitamin B12 and folate, and vitamin D.

Before you go
None of the five needs fasting, so eat, drink and feed your baby as usual. If you take biotin, stop it 3 days before. Test at least 6 weeks after birth. Before then, ferritin can read normal even when your iron is low.11 Your postpartum checkup, which guidelines advise within 12 weeks of birth, is a good time.4
If they’re normal
Anemia, low iron, low B12 or folate, low vitamin D and a thyroid problem are unlikely for now. If you tested in the first 6 weeks after birth, a normal ferritin can still hide low iron, so recheck it later.11 Thyroid problems can start later in the first year, so test again if you start to feel off.2 Raise sleep and mood at your postpartum checkup.4
Get care right away
If you have heavy bleeding, a headache that won’t go away, chest pain, trouble breathing or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.5 All the signs
What it costs
$41.50 for all five, from one blood draw. That’s the whole cost, and it’s HSA and FSA eligible.
The postpartum tests
$41.50 · 5 tests, one draw
Order

What the five tests look for

Each one checks for a common problem after birth that can be treated. All five come from one blood draw, with no fasting.

  1. Losing blood at birth can leave you short of red blood cells, which carry oxygen. Anemia can make you tired and breathless, and after birth it goes with a higher chance of low mood.1

    More likely if you lost a lot of blood at birth or were anemic in pregnancy.

  2. 02

    Low iron

    Ferritin test

    Pregnancy draws on your iron stores, and they can run low before your blood count shows it. After birth, women low on iron were more likely to have symptoms of depression, and taking iron eased tiredness.1 For the first 6 weeks, the birth itself can push ferritin up and hide low iron, so it reads truest after that.11

    More likely if you were low on iron in pregnancy, lost a lot of blood or don’t eat meat.

  3. 03

    A thyroid problem after birth

    TSH and free T4 test

    About 8% of women get postpartum thyroiditis in the year after birth.2 The classic pattern is an overactive phase 1 to 6 months after birth, then an underactive one at 4 to 8 months, before it settles. Many women have only one of the two.2

    More likely if you have thyroid antibodies, another autoimmune condition or had it after a past pregnancy.2 If you take levothyroxine, guidelines advise a check about six weeks after birth.2

  4. 04

    Low B12 or folate

    Vitamin B12 and folate test

    B12 and folate are two vitamins you need to make healthy red blood cells, and B12 also keeps your nerves healthy. Low B12 can cause tiredness, brain fog and pins and needles, or anemia that doesn’t get better with iron.3

    Low B12 is more likely if you’re vegan or vegetarian, or take metformin or acid reducers.3 If you’re breastfeeding, UK guidelines suggest considering treatment even for a borderline B12.3

  5. 05

    Low vitamin D

    Vitamin D test

    Your bones need vitamin D, and if you’re breastfeeding, your level affects how much is in your milk.6 Almost 1 in 4 people in the US have a level that’s low or borderline,6 so a low result is common and won’t by itself explain tiredness. It’s on the list because it’s a cheap addition to the same draw.

    More likely if you get little sun, have darker skin or follow a vegan diet, and most worth knowing if you have a condition that affects absorption, such as celiac or Crohn’s disease, or have had weight-loss surgery.6 Whatever your level, US pediatricians advise vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.6

What blood tests can’t show

Some of the most important checks after birth aren’t blood tests. Guidelines advise a full postpartum visit within 12 weeks of birth, covering how you’re doing in body and mind.4 Here’s what to raise there, and what to do about each.

Postpartum depression and anxiety

About 1 in 8 women have symptoms of depression after giving birth.7 It’s heavier and lasts longer than the baby blues, which pass within a few days.7

Tell your OB, midwife or doctor how you’ve been feeling. You can also call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA, any time.8

Broken sleep

Night feeds wear anyone down, and no blood test measures it. Gentle activity can help both sleep and mood after birth.4

Ask for help with nights where you can, and sleep when someone else has the baby.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes raises your lifetime chance of diabetes to 50% to 60%.9 The check is a 75-g glucose tolerance test 4 to 12 weeks after birth, because HbA1c can read falsely low this soon.9

Ask your OB for the glucose tolerance test, then get checked every 1 to 3 years.9

High blood pressure in pregnancy

After preeclampsia or high blood pressure in pregnancy, your blood pressure needs checking within 7 to 10 days of birth, or within 72 hours of leaving the hospital if it was severe.4 It also doubles your chance of heart disease and stroke later.4

Book an early blood pressure check, and see a primary care doctor within the first year.4

Get medical care right away if you have

  • Heavy bleeding (soaking a pad or more in an hour), or clots bigger than an egg
  • Vaginal discharge that smells bad
  • A headache that won’t go away or gets worse
  • Changes in your vision
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • A fever of 100.4°F or higher
  • Extreme swelling of your hands or face
  • Trouble breathing
  • Chest pain or a fast-beating heart
  • Severe belly pain that doesn’t go away
  • Severe swelling, redness or pain in a leg or arm
  • Severe nausea and vomiting
  • Overwhelming tiredness, or feeling suddenly very tired and weak
  • Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

These are the CDC’s urgent maternal warning signs, and they matter for a year after birth.5 In an emergency, call 911. If you’re thinking about harming yourself or your baby, call or text 988 now, or call 911 if you might act on it.7 For support any time, call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).8

How to get tested, and what it costs

Order the five tests on their own, or get them inside the Postpartum Panel. Either way it’s one blood draw. The five need no fasting; the panel does.

The postpartum tests
$41.50

The five tests on this page, from one blood draw. No fasting needed.

Best if you want the usual checks after birth, with no fasting.

Order the five tests
Postpartum Panel
$55.00

The same five, plus kidney, liver, blood sugar, cholesterol and free T3 tests. 8 tests. Fast for 12 hours first.

Best if you also want your blood sugar and cholesterol checked.

Order the panel
  1. 01

    Order online

    Pick the five tests or the Postpartum Panel. The price is the whole cost, and you can pay with an HSA or FSA card.

  2. 02

    Blood draw

    The five tests need no fasting; for the panel, fast for 12 hours first, and water is fine. If you take biotin, stop it 3 days before. Go to any Labcorp location for free, or have blood drawn at home for $75.

  3. 03

    Get your results

    In the Picardo app in 2 to 3 days, with an explanation of each one. Ask Picardo what they mean, and book a physician follow-up if you want one.

Already have results?

My hemoglobin was low when I left the hospital

That’s common after blood loss at birth.1 Rebuilding red blood cells uses iron, so check ferritin too, at least 6 weeks after birth, when it reads true.11 Repeating both then shows whether you’re recovering, or need more iron.

Check your hemoglobin number

My ferritin was flagged normal

Some labs still flag ferritin as normal down to about 15 ng/mL. Hematologists now count 30 ng/mL or under as iron deficiency in adults, and up to 50 if you’re tired or have another sign of low iron.10 And in the first 6 weeks after birth, ferritin can read normal even when your iron is low, so recheck it after that.11

Check your ferritin number

My thyroid result was off

In the year after birth, that’s often postpartum thyroiditis, and it usually passes.2 Your clinician will want to rule out Graves’ disease, which is treated differently, and recheck you every 4 to 8 weeks until it settles.2 Even then, test again a year on: up to half of women later develop a lasting underactive thyroid.2

Check your TSH number

I had gestational diabetes

Ask your OB or primary care doctor for a 75-g glucose tolerance test 4 to 12 weeks after birth. It’s preferred over HbA1c this early, because pregnancy and blood loss at birth can make HbA1c read falsely low.9 Then keep getting checked every 1 to 3 years, for life.9

Everything was normal but I’m exhausted

That still tells you something: anemia, low iron, low B12 or folate and low vitamin D are unlikely for now, and so is a thyroid problem, though one can start later in the first year.2 If your ferritin was taken in the first 6 weeks after birth, recheck it: it can hide low iron that early.11 If you also feel low or anxious, tell a clinician: about 1 in 8 women have symptoms of depression after birth.7 And if no amount of sleep leaves you refreshed, get care right away.5

Ask Picardo about your results. The app explains what each one means, and a physician can follow up if you want.

Questions people ask

What blood tests should I get after having a baby?

A complete blood count, ferritin, TSH and free T4, vitamin B12 and folate, and vitamin D. Together they check for the common, treatable problems after birth: anemia, low iron, a thyroid problem, low B12 and low vitamin D.1,2,3,6 If you had gestational diabetes, you also need a glucose tolerance test.9 After high blood pressure in pregnancy, you need an early blood pressure check too.4

When should I get tested after giving birth?

At least 6 weeks after birth. Before then, the birth itself can push ferritin up, so it can read normal even when your iron is low.11 Your postpartum checkup, which guidelines advise within 12 weeks of birth, is a good time.4 If you take levothyroxine, guidelines advise a thyroid check about six weeks after birth.2 Thyroid problems can start any time in the first year, so test again if you start to feel off later.2 After gestational diabetes, the glucose tolerance test is due 4 to 12 weeks after birth.9

Can I get blood tests while breastfeeding?

Yes. A blood draw takes a few small tubes and doesn’t affect breastfeeding, so you can feed before or after as usual. None of the five tests needs fasting. If a thyroid result needs treatment, there are options that are safe while breastfeeding.2

Do I need to fast for these tests?

No, not for the five tests on this page, so you can eat and drink as usual. The Postpartum Panel needs a 12-hour fast, because it also measures your blood sugar. Water is fine. If you take biotin, stop it 3 days before: it can throw off the ferritin, thyroid and B12 results.

Is it normal to be this tired after having a baby?

Some tiredness is expected with a newborn. But if you’re suddenly very tired and weak, or no amount of sleep leaves you refreshed, get care right away: the CDC lists that among its urgent warning signs.5 Anemia, low iron and thyroid problems are common after birth, and the five tests check for them.1,2

Can my thyroid cause postpartum depression?

The two share symptoms, and thyroid problems are common in the year after birth.2 TSH and free T4 show whether your thyroid is part of it. Either way, tell a clinician how you’ve been feeling: depression after birth is common, and it can be treated.7

Can I get these tests without seeing a doctor first?

Yes. Order them online, get a blood draw at a Labcorp location or at home, and your results arrive in the Picardo app in 2 to 3 days. You can book a physician follow-up if you want to talk them through.

What happens if a result is off?

The app explains what it means and what usually comes next. The common problems are very treatable: iron for low iron1 and B12 for low B12.3 Thyroiditis after birth often needs only rechecks while it settles, or short-term treatment if the symptoms are bad.2 A physician can follow up if you want one.

Sources

  1. 1 Moya E, Phiri N, Choko AT, Mwangi MN, Phiri KS. Effect of postpartum anaemia on maternal health-related quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):364. doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12710-2
  2. 2 Korevaar TIM, Leung AM, Alexander EK, et al. American Thyroid Association 2026 guidelines for thyroid disease in preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum. Thyroid. 2026;36(5):481–544. doi.org/10.1177/10507256261445624
  3. 3 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Vitamin B12 deficiency in over 16s: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline NG239. London: NICE; 2024. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng239
  4. 4 Lindley KJ, Bello NA, Berlacher KL, et al. Optimization of postpartum care for patients with and at risk for premature and long-term cardiovascular disease: 2026 ACC expert consensus decision pathway. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2026;88(18):2087–2110. doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.11.001
  5. 5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Urgent maternal warning signs and symptoms. Hear Her campaign. Updated May 15, 2024. Accessed October 28, 2026. www.cdc.gov/hearher/maternal-warning-signs/index.html
  6. 6 Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Vitamin D: fact sheet for health professionals. Updated June 27, 2025. Accessed October 29, 2026. ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
  7. 7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of depression among women. Updated May 15, 2024. Accessed October 28, 2026. www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/depression/index.html
  8. 8 Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. Accessed October 28, 2026. mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline
  9. 9 American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee for Diabetes. 15. Management of diabetes in pregnancy: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026. Diabetes Care. 2026;49(Suppl 1):S321–S338. doi.org/10.2337/dc26-S015
  10. 10 Powers JM, Lim MY, Achebe MO, et al. American Society of Hematology 2026 guidelines for diagnosis of iron deficiency. Blood Adv. 2026;10(21):7353–7374. doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2025015950
  11. 11 Holm C, Neef V, Pavord S. Management of postpartum anemia. Blood Transfus. 2025;23(1):47–49. doi.org/10.2450/BloodTransfus.924

Updated 4 Nov 2026.

This is general health information, not medical advice: talk to your clinician about your results and before changing any treatment.