Women - hypothyroidism after delivery

Q: I am a hypothyroid patient. Six months back I have delivered a baby. Can my baby have any problem because of it? How frequently should I get a TSH test done?

A:There are different causes of hypothyroidism. In case you have hypothyroidism due to immune disease (which is the commonest cause of hypothyroidism), then other related family members can also develop hypothyroidism at a greater frequency than in the normal population. However, the chance that your baby will develop hypothyroidism is still very small. If it does occur it is likely to do so after 8-10 years of age. I do not think you need to test your baby for TSH annually.