the top three htma markers for postpartum women

Written by Heather Hart | @howtonourish

If you’re a mother in the postpartum season of life, chances are your body feels like a bit of a mystery right now. Fatigue, mood swings, hair loss, anxiety, brain fog, stubborn weight, and that general sense of something’s off… sound familiar?

You’re not imagining it. We all go through it.

Postpartum is one of the most demanding, transformative times in a woman’s life, not just emotionally or mentally, but biologically as well. Your body goes through massive shifts to support pregnancy, birth, lactation, and recovery, and it uses up a lot of minerals to do it. And yet, most women are told that once the six-week postpartum check-up is done, they’re good to go. No more labs. No more testing. Just “get some sleep and take your prenatal.”

But what if we actually looked deeper? That’s where Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) can come in clutch.

HTMA is one of the most insightful, affordable, and underutilized tools for postpartum recovery. It gives us a window into your body’s stored mineral patterns (think long-term trends, not just a one-day snapshot) and helps us understand how your body is adapting (or struggling to adapt) to stress, nourishment, and hormonal changes.

So today, I want to walk you through the top three HTMA markers I look at for postpartum women, what they mean, and why they matter. Even if you’ve never heard of these markers before, don’t worry. I’ll break it all down for you in everyday language, so you can feel empowered instead of overwhelmed.

wait, what is htma exactly?

HTMA stands for Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. It’s a functional test that measures the mineral and heavy metal content stored in your hair tissue over the past 2-3 months.

Unlike blood tests, which show what’s happening right now, HTMA gives us a bigger picture of how your body has been functioning over time. It’s non-invasive (just a small hair sample), budget-friendly, and incredibly helpful when you’re dealing with vague symptoms that traditional labs don’t explain.

HTMA can show us:

• How your body responds to stress, both chronic and acute
• How well your thyroid and adrenals are functioning
• Blood sugar regulation
• Hormonal balance
• Detoxification capacity
• Mineral imbalances or depletions (think magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium)
• Heavy metal exposures

For postpartum women, this is huge. Why? Because pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding require a massive mineral output. And unless you’re actively replenishing, those reserves stay depleted, which can lead to the exact symptoms so many postpartum moms experience.

Now, let’s dive into the three markers I always prioritize when working with postpartum clients.

1. calcium: the “calming” mineral that can turn against you

What it is: Calcium is often referred to as the calming mineral. It helps regulate muscle contraction, nerve signaling, sleep quality, and mood. It also plays a role in hormone secretion and immune response.

Why it matters in postpartum: Your calcium levels drop during pregnancy and even more so during breastfeeding, especially if you’re not taking in enough through food or your digestion is impaired. That’s because your baby pulls calcium from your bones and tissues to build their own. But the number on your HTMA doesn’t always tell the full story.

On HTMA, calcium can look high, but you might actually be deficient. When your body is under chronic stress (and let’s be real – postpartum is the ultimate stress test), calcium can bioaccumulate in tissues (like hair) instead of being properly used in cells. This can show up on HTMA as elevated calcium, but functionally, your body may be starved for it. It’s a form of “slow burnout.”

Signs your calcium might be out of balance:

• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Muscle cramping or twitching
• Anxiety or depression
• Bone or joint pain
• Low energy despite rest
• Hair thinning or loss

What to do: I always look at calcium in context with magnesium, potassium, and sodium. Often, the solution isn’t “take a calcium supplement,” and in fact, that can make things worse. Instead, I look at digestion, stomach acid production, vitamin D exposure, and adrenal function, all of which impact calcium absorption and utilization.

2. sodium/potassium ratio: your adrenal stress barometer

What it is: The Na/K ratio (sodium-to-potassium) is considered one of the most important markers in HTMA for assessing your adrenal health, cellular energy, and overall vitality.

Sodium helps regulate blood pressure and fluid balance, while potassium is essential for energy production and nerve conduction. The single markers can say a lot, but the ratio between the two is what gives us key insights into your stress response.

Why it matters in postpartum: The postpartum period places huge demands on the adrenal glands; the part of your body that produces stress hormones like cortisol. Sleep deprivation, emotional stress, nutrient depletion, and breastfeeding all put pressure on your adrenals.

When your sodium/potassium ratio is too low, it often reflects adrenal exhaustion, chronic fatigue, burnout, or even suppressed immunity.

When the ratio is too high, it can indicate acute stress, inflammation, or even early signs of postpartum anxiety.

Signs your Na/K ratio may be out of balance:

• Crushing fatigue, no matter how much sleep you get
• Trouble bouncing back after stress
• Frequent illness or slow recovery from colds
• Irritability, anxiety, or mood swings
• Cravings for salt or sugar
• Feeling wired but tired

What to do: The Na/K ratio often responds well to targeted adrenal nourishment like true self care, especially when paired with whole-food sources of sodium and potassium like adrenal cocktails or broths. It is also beneficial to support blood sugar regulation, hydration, and the nervous system to help balance this ratio over time.

3. magnesium: the unsung hero for postpartum mamas

What it is: Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzymatic processes in the body. It supports energy production, stress resilience, muscle and nerve function, and sleep quality. It’s also essential for hormonal balance and thyroid function.

Why it matters in postpartum: Magnesium gets used up fast under stress, and postpartum is a perfect storm of emotional, physical, and biochemical stressors. Add in the fact that most prenatal vitamins don’t contain nearly enough magnesium, and if they do, it’s in the wrong form. It’s no wonder so many postpartum women are depleted.

On HTMA, magnesium can look low, normal, or even high, but just like with calcium, we interpret magnesium in context with other markers.

Signs your magnesium may be out of balance:

• Muscle cramps or restless legs
• Tension headaches or migraines
• PMS-like symptoms even after birth
• Difficulty relaxing or winding down at night
• Constipation
• Sensitivity to noise or light
• Heart palpitations

What to do: Magnesium often needs to be replenished slowly, gently, and in targeted form, especially if digestion is impaired. We focus on magnesium-rich foods (leafy greens, cacao, pumpkin seeds), plus well-absorbed forms of magnesium that serve different functions within the body. For example, magnesium glycinate is best taken at night to help with sleep and depressive symptoms. We also look at mineral cofactors (like sodium and potassium) to ensure your body can actually use the magnesium you’re giving it.

bonus mineral pattern: copper imbalance

While this post is focused on the top three markers, it would be a disservice not to briefly mention copper. During pregnancy, copper levels naturally rise thanks to increased estrogen and ceruloplasmin production. But in postpartum, copper can easily become dysregulated, contributing to mental health struggles like anxiety, rage, or postpartum depression.

HTMA helps us see how your body is storing and excreting copper, and whether it’s becoming a hidden driver of mood or neurological symptoms. There are 22 markers on an HTMA test that, when looked at together, can indicate a copper imbalance in the body.

This is why postpartum mental health needs to be viewed through a biochemical lens, not just an emotional one. You’re not crazy. Your minerals might just be speaking up.

why htma is invaluable during the postpartum season

Most women are sent home from the hospital with a baby, a peri bottle, and a vague suggestion to “keep taking your prenatals.” But let’s be honest – postpartum deserves so much more support than that.

HTMA can fill in the gaps where traditional care falls short by highlighting key nutrient deficiencies that can make postpartum more difficult.

It can help us understand:

• Why you feel depleted despite “eating healthy”
• What your stress response is doing behind the scenes
• Whether your fatigue is adrenal, thyroid, or blood sugar related
• How to nourish your body in a way that’s actually supportive and sustainable

Postpartum is not the time for guessing games; it’s a time for deep nourishment, mineral replenishment, and functional insight into what your body truly needs.

HTMA can give you that roadmap.

If you’re navigating postpartum and feel like your body just isn’t bouncing back the way you hoped, I want you to know this: it’s not in your head.

You don’t need to push harder. You need support that meets you where you are – nutritionally, hormonally, and emotionally. HTMA is one of the best ways to start.

Looking for support during your postpartum period? Click the button below to schedule a time to chat with me. I would love to be part of your village!

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about heather

Hello friend! I'm Heather, Nutritional Therapist and Perinatal Minerals Expert. As a mother of three littles, I am constantly thinking about how I can support my body and mind with healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices. As a practitioner, I would like to pass that knowledge on to you! I love to cook, eat, and teach others all the things I know. I hope you'll stick around and consider me a part of your village. ♥