I may have hypothyroidism; can I still breastfeed my baby?
Hypothyroidism is the name given to the condition of having an underactive thyroid. Because the thyroid controls the body‘‘s metabolic process, it is a serious condition. Any mother with thyroid disease should be under the care of a doctor who is supportive of her desire to breastfeed.
我可能有甲状腺功能减退，我还能母乳喂养我的孩子吗?
甲状腺功能减退指的是甲状腺的衰弱。甲状腺控制着身体的代谢这一重要过程。患有甲状腺功能减退的妈妈应在支持她母乳喂养意愿的医生指导下进行母乳喂养。
Thyroid supplements – used to treat this condition – are not contraindicated while breastfeeding. They simply bring the mother’s thyroid up to normal levels, making the mother feel better and increasing her milk supply.
甲状腺补充剂，用于治疗这种情况，在哺乳时也可以服用。药物帮助妈妈的甲状腺功能达到正常水平，使其感觉变好并且增加乳汁供应。
Symptoms of hypothyroidism may include fatigue, poor appetite, depression, intolerance to cold, thinning hair and dry skin. These symptoms, which are similar to those of anemia, may be wrongly attributed to normal postpartum fatigue, postpartum depression or even breastfeeding.
甲状腺功能减退的症状包括：疲劳、食欲不振、精神萎靡、怕冷、头发稀少以及皮肤干燥。
这些症状，和贫血的症状相似，往往与产后虚弱、产后抑郁症甚至哺乳带来的影响混淆。
Diagnosis of an underactive thyroid can usually be based on the mother‘‘s symptoms as well as a simple blood test. On occasion, radioactive testing is used to diagnose thyroid problems. If radioactive testing is recommended, the mother can ask her physician if the test could be postponed or another, non-radioactive test, be substituted.
甲状腺功能减退的诊断，主要根据妈妈的症状以及验血结果。有时，放射检查也用来检查甲状腺问题。如果被建议放射检查，妈妈可以要求医生延期或者做非放射性检查替代。
If the radioactive test is used, temporary weaning is recommended. “The length of time the mother needs to suspend breastfeeding will depend on the type and dosage of radioactive materials used for the test” (BAB). Radioactivity of breastmilk declines over time, and frequent milk expression will help the mother eliminate the radioactivity from her body more quickly. This milk must be discarded and not fed to the baby. (Frequent milk expression will not hasten the elimination of other drugs from breastmilk.) For pumping information see LLLI‘‘s FAQs about pumping.
如果做了放射检查，需要短期断奶。断奶的时间长短，取决于放射物质的种类以及剂量。母乳的放射性会随时间减弱，频繁挤奶会帮助妈妈将体内的放射性物质加速排出。但是这些乳汁必须丢弃，不能喂养宝宝（频繁挤奶不会加速母乳中其他药物的代谢）。有关挤奶的信息请参照国际母乳会网站的常见问题解答。
Contact a La Leche League Leader for the most up-do-date information about the time period needed to sufficiently clear radioactivity from breastmilk.
请联系国际母乳会的哺乳辅导以获得有关母乳中放射物质完全清除所需时间的最新信息。