New at-home lab test gives postpartum mothers real answers—before the six-week checkup
America's postpartum experience is broken. By the time a mother finally sees her OB at six weeks postpartum, she's already endured some of the hardest weeks of her entire life with little medical oversight. In my case, after my first child was born I was in excruciating urethra pain that I thought was normal, because there was no doctor's visit to catch it.
For other moms, postpartum depression plagues their first few weeks of motherhood. Other women experience the crisis of postpartum preeclampsia without medical oversight, trying to determine if their symptoms are normal or intervention-worthy.
What if moms were screened far before a medical crisis occurs postpartum?
That's the promise behind a new innovation from Trellis Health: the first FDA-cleared, at-home postpartum lab panel designed specifically to catch health issues before they spiral. Created by moms for moms, this tool fills a critical gap in maternal healthcare and provides medically actionable insights.
Related: This new at-home program is redefining postpartum care for moms
The postpartum data cliff is real—and dangerous
Here's the current reality: Women receive rigorous testing throughout pregnancy. But once the baby arrives, all that data collection… disappears. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the first 40 days after giving birth are critical to a mother's long-term health—yet our system treats them like a footnote.
Roughly 1 in 5 mothers will experience a postpartum mood disorder. Up to 10% will face thyroid dysfunction. Half of women with gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years. Yet many won't receive a single lab test between delivery and the standard six-week checkup.
'We test hundreds of biomarkers during pregnancy. Then we test nothing,' said Trellis Health co-founder and CEO Dr. Estelle Giraud. 'That's a healthcare failure.'
A test designed for the way moms actually live
For $239 (HSA/FSA eligible), the Trellis test offers a finger-to-fridge solution: a painless blood collection patch you stick to your upper arm. In ten minutes, it collects a sample to analyze more than 30 biomarkers—from thyroid function and hormone levels to inflammation and cardiovascular risk.
Results arrive within 3–4 days and integrate directly into the Trellis app, which serves as a digital 'care in your pocket' with asynchronous midwife support and a full health timeline.
'Six weeks is a perfect moment to catch things like nutrient deficiencies before they spiral into fatigue, mood, and lactation issues,' Giraud said in an interview with The Bump.
Related: Why nutrition is the missing piece in postpartum care
Why this is a lifeline
For moms managing naps, cluster feeds, and toddler tantrums, the idea of booking labs, securing childcare, and making it to a clinic is often laughable. And for those with limited healthcare access—rural families, single moms, uninsured patients—Trellis could be the only lab work they receive during this vulnerable window.
'I had gestational diabetes, and this was easier than my CGMand this is easier than my CGM [Continuous Glucose Monitoring]—the whole process was simple and so straightforward,' said beta tester Amara Bell.
Experts urge thoughtful use—but recognize its potential
Dr. Christine Greves, an OB-GYN at Orlando Health Women's Institute, told The Bump she's excited by the test's proactive potential, especially since over half of maternal deaths occur after delivery and most are preventable. But she also cautions that hormone levels in postpartum bodies are naturally in flux and that test results should always be interpreted in partnership with a trusted provider.
In other words: Data is powerful—but it's still just a starting point.
A test—and a message—that puts women in charge
This test is a wake-up call for a healthcare system that treats birth like a finish line instead of a starting point.
For too long, postpartum recovery has been framed as a private struggle. Moms are told to 'listen to their bodies' but given no tools to actually understand them. Trellis flips that script by putting clinical-grade insight into a mom's own hands.
What you can do now:
Bring this data to your six-week checkup: Ask about iron, thyroid, and vitamin D levels. Request follow-ups if anything feels off.
If you're pregnant or postpartum you can pre-order the test at JoinTrellisHealth.com. Financial hardship options are available; email support@jointrellishealth.com to apply.
Advocate for systemic change: Paid leave, universal postpartum check-ins, and real investment in maternal health shouldn't be optional.
Because 'just tired' should never be the answer when something deeper is going on.
Sources:
New At-Home Lab Test Closes Gap In Postpartum Care. 2025. Forbes. New At-Home Lab Test Closes Gap In Postpartum Care.
First At-Home Postpartum Lab Test Aims to Empower Moms. 2025. The Bump. First At-Home Postpartum Lab Test Aims to Empower Moms.
Postpartum risk for type 2 diabetes following gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2022. Preventing Chronic Disease (CDC). Postpartum risk for type 2 diabetes following gestational diabetes mellitus.
Postpartum Thyroiditis: Diagnosis and Management. 2020. Endocrine Abstracts. Postpartum Thyroiditis.
Maternal Mental Health Conditions and Statistics. 2025. Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. Maternal Mental Health Conditions and Statistics.
Optimizing Postpartum Care. 2018. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Optimizing Postpartum Care.
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