My Hair Is Falling Out!

Updated on March 17, 2008
A.S. asks from Tulsa, OK
97 answers

I have a 3 month old baby boy who is exclusively breast fed. I started to loose hair about 2-3 weeks ago and it seems to be getting worse. I am still taking prenatal vitamins but am wondering if I have a vitamin deficiency. Has anyone had this problem?

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S.T.

answers from Columbia on

A., My son is a year, and the same happened to me. I actually cut mine pretty short when it started to let it recuperate. It worked wonders. Longer hair falls out easier than shorter, and this kept my son from pulling more of it out too.

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M.H.

answers from Springfield on

Definately a sign of stress!! The next time you go to the Dr. for a well baby, tell him or her about it and ask if this could be a health issue such as a thyroid problem, or just stress. Good Luck! I've been there and I promise that things do get easier!
M.

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T.S.

answers from Wichita on

Hi A.! Congrats on the little man!
I have had 3 babies and each were beastfed. I also lost my hair and my Dr. had said it was very common.

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D.S.

answers from Wichita on

Same thing happened to me with my second child and it freaked me out. My hairdresser (for 20 years) told me it is the change in the chemistry of your body coming off pregnancy. Breastfeeding didn't seem to have any effect. With the first baby, I didn't have this problem. Good thing is, basically the hair you are losing is the extra hair you grew during pregnancy. Your hair gets thicker during pregnancy because of the extra hormones. So, even though is a pain, you won't be bald when it stops. Promise!

D. S

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L.K.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi A.,

I to lost my hair while being pregnant and breastfeeding with two of my three kids. I was told that it was just from all the hormonal changes that go on with your body. In fact my son is now 10 months old and my hair really just stopped falling out not to long ago. I stopped breastfeeding him at abou 6-1/2 months.

I wouldn't worry to much about it; it does get better. But definately make sure your taking your vitamins.

L.

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A.S.

answers from Topeka on

The last three months of your pregnancy you stopped loosing your hair due to the pregnancy hormones. now your body is evening out its hormones and you are now loosing the hair that you stopped loosing six months ago. It's really common for this o happen and has nothing to do with your nursing. Everyone experiences this to different degrees; for me it lasted for for about three months.

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A.S.

answers from St. Louis on

YES! Yikes, it scared me. I thought for sure I was going to go bald, but I asked the Dr and he said my hormones were changing and it is completly normal!!! good luck

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K.F.

answers from St. Louis on

I found a website that may be of interest to you.

Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/men/general/...

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M.S.

answers from Wichita on

I lost my hair in the corners of my forehead while I was pregnant. It just grows back. Be prepared for fly away hairs if you are losing around the edge of your hair. Garnier Fructise has a nice flyaway product.

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G.R.

answers from Wichita on

This happened to me with both my children. My doctor said it is actually a very common thing. Usually your body's response to all the stress you went through during childbirth (or in my case... surgery). My hair sheds pretty good for a few months then grows back normally. I think you are doing good to continue your prenatals but I would talk to your doctor about other options.

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M.T.

answers from Kansas City on

I breastfed my daughter for a year and I hair falling out as well! I remember looking down at the shower drain seeing a lot of hair clogging it up! If you are taking prenatal vitamins and eating pretty well, you probably don't have vit. deficiency. It's a common experience breastfeeding moms go through. If it really concerns you, then leave a voicemail for your doctor's nurse. Their answer may re-assure you that it's normal.

A.H.

answers from Tulsa on

My hair started falling out about a week after I had my son and continued until about a month after I stopped breastfeeding. I breastfed for 11 months, so it ended up becoming second nature to me. As you start to wean your son, you should see the hair loss start to slow down. I just wore my hair in a ponytail as much as possible so I wasn't tracking hair all over my house. I'm sure you're fine.

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D.B.

answers from Champaign on

A.,

I saw had this happen several years ago...I would start with having your doctor check your thyroid..could be under or over active.

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J.T.

answers from Wichita on

A.,
That is very normal for that to be happening I am on my sixth child and she is due May 14th but I also have one baby that is almost a year and I could swear after I had him at around the same time yours is falling out that I was a chemo patient that is how much would fall out for some reason our hair gets so much thicker when we are pregnant and for some it doesn't mine did but then once the babies are born our hair falls out I would recommend that you keep taking your vitamins and not to worry...I hope this helps!! God Bless, J.

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R.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi A., I didn't have this problem after my kids were born, but I actually had the opposite happen with hair growing where I didn't want it to grow. I had to spend a lot of money on electrolyses to correct that.
As far as your hair loss I'd like to offer my help.I work with a company that has a great product for hair growth, it's a hair and scalp revitalizer. Let me know if you'd like to try a sample, I'll be glad to send you some.

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N.W.

answers from Kansas City on

This is not a problem! If you remember while you were pregnant you didn't lose much hair at all. Your hair was thicker and lusher than ever, right? Well, it's all going back to normal now so your hair is now going back to the way it was pre-pregnancy. It's scary I know, but I talked to my ob about after my first one and she assured me that all was normal!

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T.C.

answers from Tulsa on

Hey A.,
I think I actually know what is probably happening. I read in a pregnancy book that, while you are pregnant, your body holds on to all of the hair that is "scheduled" to fall out to be replaced with new hair. After the baby is born, your body can let go of all of that hair, virtually at once. With breast-feeding, sometimes it is delayed. Don't be too worried. It's very natural. This has happened to me with both of my babies...

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L.S.

answers from Springfield on

I have had 2 babies- and lost hair after each pregnancy. I breast fed as well- but supposedly that has nothing to do with it. My girlfriends all experienced the same thing. My hair dresser told me that apparently we don't lose hair at all during pregnancy- so usually a few months after birth- everyone will experience a shedding period that can last a few weeks to a few months....but don't worry- even though it seems like it- not all your hair will fall out. :)

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B.L.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Completely normal. Your hair likely grew thicker and longer during your pregnancy. Now it is returning to normal. Expect hair clogs in the sink and hair brushes full of hair. You can also look forward to all the new little hairs sprouting in a month or two (you pull your hair back into a pony tail and you still have tons of fuzzy little hairs poking up all over your head!) It is all part of this wonderful motherhood journey.

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T.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Don't freak out.....my friends have worned me about this! I am currently pregnant with my first baby and made a comment to a friend of mine about how awesome my hair has become, it so much thicker and easier to manage. She told me to enjoy it while it lasts because after she had both of her babies, it all fell out....by the handfulls! Her doc told her it's because while you are pregnant, your body stops shedding hair regularly. After you have your baby and your hormones start to change again, all of that extra hair is released.

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M.P.

answers from Topeka on

I have not experienced this problem but had a friend who did. You may have a thyroid condition that can occur with breast feeding. You can call your doctor and get a simple blood test done.

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D.R.

answers from Lawton on

I also experienced hair loss after nursing. I was in my 30's at the time. I started using a supplement called 'Biotin' which is available over the counter. I also switched to only using organic products on my hair. I still don't have a full head of hair, but it is about 90% restored from what it was.

Friends and family have all tried to get me to use 'Rogaine', but I have not accepted that advice yet. There are a lot of natural products available over the counter for hair, skin and nails that really do work!

Good luck!

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J.H.

answers from Champaign on

Its completely normal...its all your hormones rebalancing themselves from the pregnancy and hair loss is the side effect. Same thing happened to me with both pregnancies. You'll notice the hair loss for probably about 4-5 months. You'll think you're losing TONS of hair but you're not really losing that much. I have some loss around my temples and I'm noticing alot of little shortie hairs around my bangs line but nothing serious...nothing anyone would really notice. So hang in there..its annoying and scary as hell I know but it'll end soon. :0)

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S.M.

answers from Topeka on

The same thing happened to me with both my babies. I think it's just your body adjusting to hormonal changes but I'm not totally sure. For me it tapered off almost completely in a couple of months.

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L.J.

answers from Topeka on

Now this is not the issue with all women but it is something you may want to get tested with your Dr. After my Daughter was born my hair started to fall out too-it got so bad that it was coming out in handfuls. I went to the Dr. who tested my thyroid and sure enough it was way out of whack! Just a simple blood test. Also if you are feeling more tired than normal and I know you are a first time mom so you probably want to know what that is, that is another indication of thyroid issues. This is just one of probably many possibilities.

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J.C.

answers from Tulsa on

I have found that when I have been pregnant my hair gets thicker. After the baby is born, at some point you will lose what you gained in the pregnancy.

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C.D.

answers from Springfield on

Very normal. My daughter is 7 mos old and I'm still losing gobs of hair.

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D.W.

answers from Lawton on

How much protein are you getting? Lack of protein in a diet can cause hair loss. My hair thinned out while nursing and it was because I wasn't getting enough protein. That or your thyroid is messed up. Those are usually 2 reasons for hair loss.

D. W

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J.C.

answers from Bloomington on

Hi,

I too have had this problem. I solely breastfed 2 out of 3 of my children. My hair began to fall out around 6 months with each one. The one child I did not breast feed I did not have this problem..I don't have any answers for you as I did not consult my physician. After they were about a year old it got better. I think this was because they were not breast feeding as much because they were eating more food and drinking other things.
also during the time they were 6-12 months is when I lost the bulk of my weight. With my second child I ended up weighing 25 pounds less then what my starting weight was...(which actually put me under weight) so just assumed my body weight was to thin...I ate what I wanted and as much as I wanted but could not gain weight because of the breast feeding. Our bodies go through so much during the pre and post birth phases I just think our bodies need time to readjust. Sorry if this isn't much help, but you are not alone in this!! It has happened to others! I have also had friends have this same thing happen while breast feeding! Good Luck! And if you are that concerned about it, consult your physician! Have a great day!

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M.E.

answers from St. Louis on

Don't worry, it happens at this exact time every time I have a baby. At about 3-4 months after giving birth (I breastfeed exclusively too, though I'm not sure that it matters a ton), my hair just starts coming out by the handfuls. I've had two kids (third due in May) and both times I've HONESTLY started thinking I'm going to go bald because I lose SO much hair. But, I don't, and it grows back. It creates annoying short hairs all over your head when they grow back (and they do), but those little babies are sure worth it!! I also eat really well and take vitamins, so I think it's just the hormonal changes in your body that do it. My recommendation: find a good stylist and use some good product to smooth the short hairs into place. Good luck!

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M.G.

answers from Oklahoma City on

it is definently hormonal! i lost lots of hair with my second pregnancy and while i was breast feeding...and i too had some very thin, almost bald spots. don't worry, it will stop and eventually you'll have your hair back stronger than ever! you'll be GLAMOROUS!

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C.W.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Have your thyroid function checked out asap. My sister had this problem - her thyroid was malfunctioning and required medication.

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M.F.

answers from Columbia on

YES it is absolutely normal! I had the same problem after BOTH my girls! I talked to other breastfeeding moms who experienced the sane thing. I'm not sure why it happens but it IS normal and it does stop after awhile!

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R.P.

answers from Tulsa on

That happens everytime. It's just your lush prego hair falling out. It seems like alot but it will be fine.

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C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I did not have too much of a problem with this, but a friend of mine did. Whenever you are pregnant, the average amount of hair that woutld usually fall out doesn't, so when there is a hormone change after you have the baby, all the hair that should have fell out while you are pregnant, does fall out.....just it seems it all at once and then you tend to notice the difference big time. It will stop and ina minth or 2 you should be back to normal. Good luck!

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N.C.

answers from St. Joseph on

It is a natural thing that happens after you have a child. Don't worry about it. It happens to everyone. My children are 3 and 18 months. My hair still falls out. It is annoying but nothing to worry about.

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J.E.

answers from Columbus on

I have this same problem. From what I've read, hair goes on a 3 month cycle of growing and then falls out. When you are pregnant the hormones signal your hair to keep growing and not fall out, so you have thicker, fuller hair. At the 3 month mark postpartum, your hormones are no longer keeping your hair in and you start to lose a lot of hair. I pull out handfuls everyday when I shampoo my hair and brush it. My second son is 5 months old and this happened when both he and his older brother were around 3 months. Don't worry, once your hair gets back into its normal cycle, you won't feel like you're going bald!

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L.D.

answers from St. Louis on

This happend to me after my second child. You need to go to the dermotoligist. Mine was alapaiga. The dermotologist gave me some steroid creme to put on the spot were my hair was falling out and it grew back. This is caused from stress but is fixable.

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C.E.

answers from St. Joseph on

Don't worry it happens to every women after giving birth. When you are pregnant your hair folicals retain the hair that you have and you don't loose as much...thats why it feels thicker. After giving birth your hormones decrease and your hair falls out......and falls out ....and falls out. It will eventually stop but don't be surprised it it looks like you have a small dog living in your bathroom.

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S.B.

answers from Tulsa on

That happened to me and my Doctor said "pregnancy hormones cause new hair growth, but you don't notice it coming in as much as you notice it coming OUT."...I did notice less with my daughter, though, who was my second child.....I wonder if I grew less with her to begin with, or lost less afterwards?Hormones are strange things...

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J.

answers from Springfield on

Hi A.,
It's normal for your hair to fall out, it actually is just resting hairs that your body held on to longer than it normally would have. You have actively growing hairs and you have resting hairs, your body holds on to everything while pregnant and when your hormones start to go back down to normal your body releases them. It's alright, I had the same thing happen and I freaked out as well... It will go back to normal eventually. You are not balding as I'm sure you are concerned about. Good luck, it takes too long to go back to normal afterwards...

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A.S.

answers from St. Louis on

Mine did the same thing. I tried to pay more attention to my food, eat jello, and cut out stress. It stopped on its own after about two embarrassing months, and then slowly grew back. My doctor said it was my imagination-- but my friends could see it, too! I looked it up, and apparently some women have that reaction to the change in hormones. (Later I would get on and then off the pill, and when I got off I started losing hair again-- something that did NOT happen before I had my son!) YOu're not alone! Check Babyzone.com and babycenter.com for more info on this. :)

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M.R.

answers from Joplin on

I'm a grandmother so I hope my advice will help. I breastfed 2 of my 3 children and both my daughters breastfed their babies. This happened to all 3 of us. It is your body's harmones correcting themselves. It happens to different degrees for everyone, some don't even notice the loss. Just keep doing what you are doing...everything is perfectly normal.

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A.B.

answers from St. Louis on

The same thing happened to me after my second child. I was told that during pregnancy, in the second and third trimester, hormones decrease the rate of normal hair loss, and that when the pregnancy is over, at some point your body catches up and gets rid of all that extra hair (basically). I never noticed with my first, but from about 3 to 9 months after my daughter was born I lost FISTFULS of hair daily. I thought I was going to be bald by the time it stopped! Don't worry, though -- I never seemed to run low on hair, and eventually it stopped.

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V.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Yes, I lost hair with all 3 of my children. It was usually
3-5 months after their birth. It's very common for this to
happen. Your hormones are still going crazy after giving birth and of course too if you are breastfeeding.
Don't worry, it will grow back! I lost hair in the same place those 3 times, in the front around my forehead! It can be scary when it first happens, but it is normal.
Keep taking the vitamins, and eat a healthy diet.

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B.H.

answers from Kansas City on

it happens to just about all of us. don't worry it will eventually slow down then stop.

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D.C.

answers from Tulsa on

Congratulations on your sweet little guy and on your great nursing relationship! Hair loss is common and isn't related to breastfeeding. Essentially, your pregnancy hormones slowed hair loss throughout the pregnancy and so now what would have taken place over several months is happening at once. It will start to grow back in soon. :)

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R.M.

answers from Tulsa on

Don't worry, this is normal. I asked my OB/GYN about it right after having my daughter and then later having my hysterectomy. She said that your body is just "getting back to normal after a trauma". She said it will seem like you will be pulling out like a handful of hair at a time, but that eventually it will slow down and go back to normal.

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S.A.

answers from Tulsa on

Yep, that's what happens. I have a 3 month old also and my hair recently started falling out. Happened around 3 months with my other kids too. It will go on for a few months and then go back to normal. As hard as it may be to believe, your body is still recovering from being pregnant and the hormone levels are working their way back to normal. The hair loss is normal and I believe related to decreasing pregnancy hormones.

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D.R.

answers from Champaign on

Yes, don't worry. I had chunks of hair that came out every day. When my son was about 8-10 months old it started coming out less and less. Now I'm back to normal. So don't worry. I was worried to and had my blood checked for a thyroid problem but it came back clear. It will get better. I exclusively breast fed the first 4 1/2 months too.
D. R.

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K.S.

answers from Kansas City on

Hey A. That is totally normal. You rarely "shed" when pregnant and about 3 months or so after the baby is born it is natural to kinda catch up. It will go on for a while then taper off again and you will be back to normal. You could check with your OBGYN but with both my kids (both breast fed) and all my friends have all gone thru this. It's normal :)

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J.V.

answers from St. Louis on

Not to worry A., I think this is normal. Mine too came out in clumps almost everyday by the time my daughter was about 4 months. I too was exclusively breatfeeding and I thought I had eaten something harmful because even she lost her hair at this time. She and I had matching bald spots. My hair is so think it was harder to tell. I just combed it differently. I ended up cutting it short about a month or two later. It all grew back just as thick as before. I am now pregnant with my second child due in 4 weeks and I am kind of dreading this process again. I was thinking that since my hair is so long and thick now, I'd donate it, if it's just going to be on my bathroom floor in a few months. Good luck. You're not alone!

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E.H.

answers from Topeka on

Hi A.,
I am having the same thing my hair is falling out too. My youngest is a year in a half and it seems to be worse the older that he is. Just with in the last few months. I am also wondering if it is due to stress. Have you been stressed lately maybe you should treat yourself to a nice spa get pampered maybe that will help. E.

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R.D.

answers from Kansas City on

I wouldn't worry. Although every person loses hair every day, pregnancy hormones cause hair not to fall out. My hairdresser warned me about this. She said at about three months, when your body is 'getting back to normal,' all that hair that did not fall out in the past nine months will begin to now. Keep taking your prenatal vitamins, especially while breastfeeding, to ensure you are getting enough. See your dermatologist if 'clumps' start coming out or if you notice bald spots. Other than that, RELAX and enjoy your baby!! Time goes too fast! Take lots and lots of pictures!!
-Mom of one 9-month-old

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B.H.

answers from Kansas City on

While this might be just a natural hormonal thing, I am still inclined to check with your Dr. This is also a definate sign of a thyroid disorder. It is an easy blood test to perform and you get results in a short amount of time. Check with your Dr. about your concerns.

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T.S.

answers from Tulsa on

It is totally normal. You are just losing the hair that you didn't shed while you were pregnant. Gotta love all those hormone changes. You will feel like you are going bald, but you are not, I promise. I have been through this twice. Eat a healthy well-balanced diet and keep taking your vitamins.

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S.D.

answers from Topeka on

It's your hormones,I went through the same issue mom of 2 my second child I had a lot of health issues come out mainly due to stress.I went to get my annual physical after my girl was 2 months I had a lot of blood work done Thyroid diabetes and others all were fine the doctors assured me I was going to be fine I just had a baby and breastfeeding my hair started to fall out dramatically after 3 months,I went to get my haircut shorter to help it grow back healthy,but if your concerned see your doc.Now my hair grew back and is thick.Also don't wash hair everyday use a good conditioner let air dry to prevent more damage just till it tames off,it was scary for me.

A.S.

answers from Kansas City on

Losing hair after having a baby is completely normal! It's hormones. My hair loss started about the same time as yours and lasted for a few months. However, if it gets really severe and you actually have bald spots, you need to see your doctor, it could be a thyroid issue, which is also something that happens to some women after delivering.

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K.S.

answers from Springfield on

Yes, it is completely normal...When I was breastfeeding my son I actually went to the dr. for this reason and he told me it was normal...

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L.K.

answers from St. Louis on

A.,
I'm sure that you have gotten plenty of responses to this, but, I just wanted to let you know that the SAME EXACT thing has happened to me 3 times.....for all 3 kids. It stinks, but, it grows back. Trust me, it won't ALL fall out, but, enough to be noticeable. Actually, I had straight hair before it fell out, and now it grows back curly...it's kinda neat...makes my hair a little fuller...even though I straighten it. I hope this helps!!!

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K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Your hair is falling out b/c while you are pregnant you actually don't lose any hair, or very little. This is just your bodies way of getting "rid" of all of the dead hair that it has been holding onto for the last 9 months. It may seem like a lot at first, but it will not last for very long. Just keep taking a vitamin supplement and your hair will be back to normal in no time.

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J.A.

answers from Lafayette on

A.,
Don't worry, it is normal. It happened to me after I had both boys. I looked it up in "What to expect when you're expecting" and it said there is a hormone that keeps us from losing the normal amount of hair while we're pregnant, then after we have the baby we shed all the hair we were supposed to be shedding while we were pregnant, just all at once instead of a little at a time.

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A.C.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi A.,

This is completely normal at about 3-4 months postpartum. I too lost a ton of hair. It slows down at about 5-6 months. It is also common for some women to have problems with their thyroid after pregnancy which can also cause hair loss so it's not a bad idea to have your thyroid hormone levels checked just to make sure there isn't more going on. But usually this is a normal part of the postpartum period...yeah! I ended up cutting my hair shorter because my hair had thinned so much. Good luck:)

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E.P.

answers from St. Louis on

It is completely normal to loose hair after pregnancy. During pregnancy, changes in your hormone levels cause your hair to stay in a resting phase for longer, so you lose less hair on a daily basis. (You may have noticed that your hair seemed thicker than usual.)

After you've had the baby and your hormones start returning to normal (usually at about 12 weeks after delivery) hair begins to shed. You may be able to pull out handfuls of hair.

Normally, you lose about 100 to 125 hairs a day, but after delivery, you may loose about 500 a day. This can be very upsetting, but try not to worry too much — you won't go bald!

If your hair does not return to normal by about 6 months after birth I would bring it up to your doctor. But the texture of your hair may change with each pregnancy.

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T.A.

answers from Kansas City on

A.- My hair fell out during my pregnancy and even after I had my daughter. I have pretty thick hair so it was a big issue for me but I can remember running my fingers through my hair and I would end up with a allot of stands that come out. I also had curly hair before pregnancy and then after I have less curl and more waive. So I think the hormones just due strange things to you. If you are really concerned I would ask your doctor but I think this is a pretty normal thing.Also I wasn't breastfeeding either and I still had hair loss.

T.

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L.K.

answers from Springfield on

When my daughter tourned 3 months my hair started to fall out too. I also breast feed her, and was taking the prenatal vitamins. I think that my hair continued to fall out for about three months. When we are pregnate we grow extra hair, and after the birth of our baby that extra hair seems to fall out. If you think that you are loseing too much hair then go to the doctors. It's better to be on the safe side.

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B.C.

answers from St. Joseph on

I am a former hair dresser of 8 years. I have seen this happen to many women after they have babies. Start using Nioxin, the cleanser and scalp therapy. Choose the one best for your hair type. You can buy it at a lot of salons including the salons inside Walmart. It may cost a little more than the regular nonprofessional stuff, but it is well worth it! It is also more concentrated, so it don't take as much. If you have trouble getting it to lather, lather it in your hands first. I have seen this stuff work for a lot of people for 9 years now. If your hubby has thinning hair, make him use it too and make him stick with it. Girl I'm telling you, this stuff works! I have a 4 month old baby. I have seen so mamy ladies loose there hair that I started using this right before I gave birth and mine hasn't fallen out yet. But I do loose hair every year in the spring and into the summer. So I started using Nioxin last spring and it helped a lot, my hair loss was minimal. I hope this helps, but don't worry cause it should come back over time.

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A.S.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi, my name is Stephanie. I have the same problem, although i don't take vitamins anymore. My son is a year old and i too am still breast feeding. My hair falls out still. Your body is will adjust from being pregnant so your hair is going to fall out for awhile. It's not as bad as it was right after i had him, so it does get better. So rest easy, you're normal and everything will be okay :) P.S. Please don't reply, somehow i got signed in under my 12yr old daughter???? Trying to figure it out now ... lol

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D.R.

answers from Kansas City on

I am 70 and my hair is also falling out.I get back with you today.

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M.L.

answers from Tulsa on

A., I believe this problem to be hormonal, however, you must keep taking your prenatals. If the baby is exclusively breastfed then its just like its living inside of you relying on your nutrition. If anything- you need even better nutrition.

Back to the hormone issue. I lost half of my hair when both of my babies were about 5 months old. I had long hair and I cut it extremely short both times. It was amazing how much hair would fall out every day. Anyway, check your prenatals and see if they have DHA/EPA (fish oil) and if not you need to be supplementing with that to the tune of about 3000 mg daily. It will give the baby some important nutrients for brain development and also help balance your hormones. In the end, expect your hair to fall out anyway.

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K.J.

answers from St. Louis on

My hair did the same thing. Just like your hormones change and surge throughout your pregnancy, (which led to thicker, fuller hair and fast-growing nails as my belly expanded) they slowly return to normal once you give birth. Right around three months post-partum I noticed my hair was falling out like crazy! I would shampoo it in the morning and pull out handfuls. I had read somewhere to expect that, but it was still shocking! Mine eventually got better and has returned to the normal shedding amount. I would say it took about 2-3 months before it slowed down though. My daughter is 8 months old right now, but I don't think my hair looks any thinner than it did before I was pregnant. So I doubt you have a vitamin deficiency, but always check with your doctor if you think something may be wrong. It sounds like something I have heard a lot of mom's go through though. Good luck!

KJ

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G.B.

answers from Columbia on

Hi my name is G.. I had the same thing happen with my first child. My hair became really full and healthy looking when I was pregnant with her. Once I had her, it started falling out until it got back to the way it was pre-pregnancy. I just recently had another, and my hair is doing the opposite-I would lose like 3 handfuls of hair every time I washed it during the pregnancy. And now in just the past few weeks, I've started growing it back. I've got little patches of haiir here and there growing out. It looks rather interesting sometimes! I personally think that what you're experiencing is normal, and will eventually go back to the way it was pre-pregnancy.

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A.K.

answers from St. Louis on

That sounds about right. When you are pregnant you don't lose as much hair as you normally would and it grows so much better. When your hormone levels start to drop after giving birth you start to lose that extra hair you've been hanging onto.

On the other hand, if you are losing too much there may be an underlying problem. If you can see your scalp through, have bald spots or it's coming out in chunks you should contact your doctor.

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K.B.

answers from Topeka on

I have been through that before. I have five kids and it has happened at least twice that I noticed. It seems like around 2-3 months all that extra hair that grew while your pregnant decides to leave. This also happened to me once after having an illness where I had a very high temperature for a few days. The hair didn't fall out while I was sick, but it started falling out a couple months later. I went to the doctor then, and he said when your body goes through a lot of stress the hair follicles can die periodically causing the hair loss later. Anyway, it is probably nothing to worry about, but if it falls off in clumps and you can see bald spots you should see someone about it.

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K.M.

answers from Tulsa on

This has happened to me with all three of my children who were exclusively breastfed for six months. I don't believe it is related to breastfeeding though. Most likely it is a hormonal issue. I think it's your body's way of shedding pregnancy hormones. Also, because of the afore mentioned hormones, your hair and fingernails probably grew like mad when you were pregnant. (Mine did at least.) When the baby is born your body will go ahead and shed the hairs it was hanging on to so it will seem as if there's too many of them falling out.

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A.J.

answers from Pittsburgh on

This is normal. You don't loose hair while your pregnant, so now your body is just catching up! All the hair you normally would have lost during that time if you weren't pregnant is now falling out. You most likely do not have a vitamin deficiency if you're eating a well balanced diet. I'm a vegetarian and was afraid of the same thing after having my first child, but was assured it's absoultely normal and all women go through it! The shorter your hair, the less likely you're to notice.

My son is now 9 months old and things seem to be back to normal.

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T.S.

answers from St. Louis on

I lost hair for months also. I talked to my ob and she stated it was hormonal. I did however end up with bald areas by my forehead. My daughters two now and I have a perfectly full head of hair again. So eventually it evens out.

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J.T.

answers from St. Louis on

Its normal for some hair to fall out, but if you are loosing large amounts...I would talk to your Dr.

The same thing happened to me, but it was a Birth Control pill I was on. I started it 2 months after having my Son and it started coming out in large amounts. I did not breastfeed him, so I started the pill. Changed to a different brand and it stopped. Good Luck!!

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S.J.

answers from Kansas City on

This is common for about the first 6 months after delivery. It should correct itself. Of course, you should still take your prenatal vitamins and make sure you are eatting well.

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K.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I had this problem after having both of my children. Both were bottle fed. I was told by my hairdersser that your hair thickens when you are pregnant, and this is just your body getting rid of that "extra" hair. Once my hair was back to its natural thickness I stopped losing hair.

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J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

A.,

I had the same problem almost 24 years ago after the birth of my son. He was not breast fed. I consulted with my Dr. at that time and was informed that it is your hormones causing the hair loss and after a few months it stopped. It was coming out by the handfuls. Once your body gets back to normal it should stop. You may want to call your ob dr and ask them.

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G.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I was in the same situation. My daughter was about 3 months old, exclusively breast fed and my hair was falling out. I was told that it was fairly normal in women after giving birth, I only breast fed till she was 6 months old. But when I did ween her off of the breast milk my hair did thicken back up, it has never been as thick as it was but it will thicken and grown back! :)

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K.G.

answers from Kansas City on

Completely normal. Usually it starts falling out about three months after a "stress" on the body such as giving birth. Depending on the person it usually stops falling out and starts growing back in around 3 months after that. My son is nine months old and I have all these little tufts of hair that stick out where it is growing back in. I look ridiculous! :) I had the same issue with my first child and with her it was even worse because I had to have emergency surgery a week after I had her for bleeding ulcers. There are hair products by Nioxin (shampoo, conditioner and such) that promote hair growth and help speed up the "regrowth" process if you want to spend the money or just wait and it will come back.

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E.D.

answers from Springfield on

I breastfed my son for 18 months, I took prenatal vitamins for about 9 months. The first year I experienced large amounts of hair falling out in the shower and when I brushed it, not to mention my hair looked really unhealthy. Then my hands started getting really dry, and would even crack. I started using Eucerin, and it helped a little, but I still have outbreaks of really dry hands in the winter. I cut about ten inches of my hair off, and it is healthy again. I would do it all over again, my son never got sick until I stopped breastfeeding. It is h*** o* moms but it is so good for our children. Yeah for you for breastfeeding.

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R.A.

answers from Wichita on

Hello,
I had the same thing happen after having my daughter. I lost it off and on for 2 yrs. Someone told me it is due to the hormone changes your body goes through after having a baby. I never went to the doctor but I did continue to take prenatal vitamins. Not sure if there is anything else you can do for it. You might check with your OB doctor.

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L.H.

answers from Joplin on

This happened to me with my first child and is just starting with my second, a 3 month old now. It is all perfectly normal. In fact, my hairdresser said it is because during pregnancy, the extra hormones cause your hair and nails to grow at a faster rate. Once you deliver, your body starts to re-regulate itself and the decline in hormones results in you hair falling out. I freaked out the first time too. But it is just part of the joys of motherhood!

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P.K.

answers from Tulsa on

Hi A.,

Did you lose a lot of weight? That will happen sometimes if you did. It is temporary. Hormones can also affect hairloss. Check with your Dr. first since you are breast feeding, but I lost a lot of weight and also went through hairloss. My dr. recommended biotin. It is cheap and you can get it at Walmart. Within a very short time it made a big difference. Good luck.

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R.L.

answers from St. Louis on

Perfectly normal. Mine actually fell out after I stopped taking the birth control pill. It is a bit unnerving, but it will stop after about a month or so.

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M.B.

answers from Joplin on

did u have the baby natural or c section if u had the c section it might be the ansethic that you were given also could be the vitamin def or your thyriod which would include symntoms like cold all the time or gaining weight for no reason being tired .....etc......(thats what was wrong with me....plus i have had a c section at the time....) talk with your dr.....good luck........

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H.S.

answers from St. Louis on

That's normal. I lost hair around my temple area with both my kids. I wore a lot of hats during that period.

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S.C.

answers from Springfield on

A., I feel your pain! I have got 3 beautiful children, and with every single one, my hair fell out between 2-3 months after I had them. The first was the worse, because I thought I must be sick and dying! I called the doctor office crying, trying to figure out why, and they actually laughed at me and told me that it was the fluctuation in hormones. Or more to the point, the nose dive your hormones take after giving birth!
The long and short of it is that I went close to bald on the sides of my head right above my ears, and thinned out all over with every one of my children. But the good thing is that it does grow back! So dont fret.
Good luck with your baby and in a couple of months, you'll be able to pull your hair up again!

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S.B.

answers from Springfield on

my hair started falling out after my child was born and it lasted for about 6 months. I had heard this also of some friends of mine. I figured it was hormone related.

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K.H.

answers from Springfield on

A.,
My second child is now two and my hair is still falling out. I've asked my ob, gp, and a dermatologist about this. They all say that it's because women don't lose much hair during pregnancy and when the hormones change it falls out. I've also been told it's stress. I've tried everything and nothing seems to help but I'm still hoping it will stop. Good luck.
P.S. I paid hundreds of dollars to have every level in my body checked and everything was normal. Give it some time.

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S.T.

answers from Kansas City on

With my son I ended up with two bald patches on the top by my forehead and I did not have any thyroid issues and with my daughter its been a little over a year and still losing hair every now and then I guess I have to much hair. Not to worry if so just call your ob. S.

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B.M.

answers from Kansas City on

That is very normal, when you are pregnant you do not lose any hair so after you have the baby you will lose some hair for a while, I did for like 6 or 7 months, but not enough to worry about, just keep taking your prenatal pills and you should be fine.

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K.S.

answers from Topeka on

It's normal for your hair to start falling out a few months after your baby is born. My hair dresser warned me about this and it happened with both of mine. Don't worry. You won't lose it all and it will slow down soon.

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S.S.

answers from St. Louis on

Keep taking those vitamins. During pregnancy you grew more hair & now that those pregnancy hormones are leaving yuor body some of that extra hair is falling out. Don't worry. It's normal.

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