Postpartum Hair Loss

omg! My hair fell out SO much after I stopped breastfeeding. It was quite alarming for me too. And while I had always seemed to "shed" hair everywhere, it was falling out in what felt like handfuls for me. My hairdresser said it is totally normal, but it still sucked!! :(
My hair was long & dark, and it was everywhere!!
And now, my son is 2 and a half and my hairline is just now getting back to normal. The actual falling out part lasted for about 3 months. it usually happens 6 weeks post-partum, or after you stop BF'ing. Maybe it has something to do with the prenatal vitamins, so I continued to take them even tho I no longer needed them. It helped.
Good luck!

That happened to me and it slowed down on it's own - I can't remember how long it took, though. Maybe around 6 months? The chick that does my hair told me to buy Nioxin shampoo and conditioner - it did help. Hope that helps a little!

This happened to me when my son was three months old. I thought that I was going to lose all of my hair!!!! It stopped when he was around 6 months, and now my hair looks good, but definitely thinner.

I experienced the hair loss at about 6 mos post-partum. HUGE clumps of hair coming out, not just in the shower, but if I even ran my fingers thru my hair during the day. I honestly didn't think I'd have any hair left by the time it stopped. It took about a month, month & 1/2, all told. My sil said hers lasted about 6 mos, so it does vary. I know there's a shampoo out there to help stop hair loss, or help with thin hair, but it's expensive. Sorry, I can't think of the name right now, but you can ask your hair dresser, or google it. GL!

happened to me too...so annoying! it mellowed out after around 6-8 months & stopped completely by 1 year. enjoy :)

Amazing huh? The same thing happened to me. It slowed down about when my kids were 6 months old and just about the time I thought I wouldn't have any hair left if it continued, it stopped. Fortunately, it grows back, but if you have long hair, it may take awhile.

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Have you asked your doctor about this? Even the nurse will have some insight. Just call the doctors office and ask to speak with the head nurse. Sounds like hormones, which we go through throughout our lives: toddlers, adolesence, menopause and more...
An endocrinologist will help (hormone specialist) If you have insurance, then go for it. I can recommend a fabulous woman in Pompano. My fiend who is a hair dresser swears by a product, wish I remembered the name, that you buy at the beauty supply store. GBS and your local health food store will help you decide on the right shampoo to strengthen your scalp as you go through this hormonal shift. Bottom line: "It's normal"
Many Blessings, S.

My younger son is now 5 months old and I started losing my hair about 2 weeks ago. With my first one, it started at around 4 months too and it lasted about 1 month. I lost so much hair with my first and you could see bald patches on top. I took Biotin and the hair grew back quickly.

try the natural things, the supplement for and is called, Skin, Hair & Nails, you can get it pretty cheap.

For all 3 of my children, I began losing my hair when they were 3 months, and it stopped by 7 months. You should be done soon!!! : )

Just wanted to let you know that it is totally normal. I have had three kids and have lost so much hair. It was coming out so much that I was worried too. It lasted for a while for me. I breast fed all of my kids and am not sure if that had anything to do with it. Now after three kids my hair is all broken and has not been one length in years. So yes, it is totally normal to experience hair loss. Hope this helps.
S.

up to 90% of all women will have moderate to severe hairloss postpartum.
Have you ever noticed how some women have beautyful hair during pregnancy? OUr hair grows thick and beautiful during that time and we slow down on 'shedding' hair.
Due to hormonal chnages after birth we then basically catch up for all the hiar we hung on to. It can take a yaer before you notice a gradual decrease in hairloss. Things to do: reduce the amount of times you wash you hair during the week.
If you get your hair colored, talk with your stylist about options that are more gentle to reduce breakage.
Take a multivitamin and look for Biotin in yor vitamin which is good for hair and nails.
after having a child, you body is going thru a lot of re-adjusting. We always take care of oursleves while we are pregnant, but we forget about our post partum health. Eat well, take a multivitamin, excercise, get enough rest.

On a seperate note, Hypo Thyroidism can also cause hairloss. Over 30% of women develop Hypothyroidism after giving birth. It is a treatable disorder that manifests itself with hairloss, dry skin, weight gain, puffyness, numbness, fatigue, hoarse voice ..... the list goes on. can be diagnosed by simple blood test. If your only issue is hairloss, it is most likily not that. for Hypothyroidism that first signal is the fatigue.

Hi D.,
Do you have any other symptoms? Like excessive tiredness, swollen fingers, no period yet? (Unless you're nursing, then you normally may not have one). I had that happen to me after I had my son and it turned out to be a thyroid issue. It wouldn't hurt to call your doctor and tell him/ her that you want some blood work done to check your thyroid levels. If it is, the solution is quite simple. But if you let it go...like I did, your symptoms can get very bad. Like sort term memory loss, slurred speech and numbness in your legs and arms. So it really is worth getting a blood test.
Hope this helps.
L.

This happened to me too. It didn't just stop for me. It just gradually became less and less hair falling out. I think he was around 10 or 11 months old when I realized that it was back to normal.

get your thyroid checked!
look up online the CORRECT tests to TELL the dr to do
(the 'normal' for thyroid has changed, and MANY doctors go by the OLD 'normal!')

Mine seemed like it would never stop! I had to clean out the drain every time I took a shower. It slowed down so gradually I didn't really notice when it stopped. My daughter is 8 months old and I am shedding hair normally again.

You don't lose your hair normally while you are pregnant, so the hair you lose is just what you should have been shedding for the 9 months you were pregnant. You won't go bald or anything. I was actually relieved because I already have a lot of hair and while I was pregnant there was so much of it - it was a little out of control!

HI - I had the hair loss after I stopped breast feeding when my daughter was from about 6-8 months old. but of course the few chin hairs that i got during pregnancy haven't gone anywhere...so unfair!

The hair loss lasted until 14 months for me. It started at about 4 or 5 and got progressively worse. I had my thyroid checked but it was fine. I would even comb my hair over the toilet after showering because I couldn't stand it on the floor. Hang in there. It goes away and I haven't noticed that my hair is thinner.

Hi,
I remember it lasted for months (maybe 6 or 7) with my first, the heat also contributes to it. Good luck I know it's frustrating. Just keep on taking your vitamins :)

I too have the same thing going on and my son is nine months old. Although my hair loss has slowed down, I am still loosing more hair then usual. I take vitamins and I am eating better but, still loosing hair. Know that your not alone. I too would like to know when this is going to end.

I too lost hair after giving birth, maybe @3 or 4 months after. My hairline started to slightly recede and I got 2 patches of hair loss/breakage on both front sides of my head. It went on for quite a while and then stopped and the hairline came back pretty quickly but my hair is still in regrowth mode on the sides but I'm pregnant again and expecting in September so I'm holding on to what might happen this go round. Just continue to take your vitamins and eat healthy and know that it's nothing that you've done; it's a natural process of postpartum...

Good luck to you!

i did!! around 2 mos postpartum and it fell out for around 3-4 months. it was very gross and a bit disturbing even though my doctor said it was normal. i had a so much hair loss around my hair line that now that it is growing back it looks very ugly.
just another price we pay!

i am pretty sure you won't go bald though so don't worry too much.

me too girl! I lost it mostly around my hairline and my ears...and when it grew back it was extremely curly!!!
I had pretty long hair and ended up cutting it and cutting it...so sad! But it drove me crazy!!!

It grows back...you are beautiful....hang in there!

Completely normal. Just keep taking your prenatal vitamins and eventually it will stop. I think it finally stopped for me about at the 9 month mark...now I'm back to normal

Hi,

I had a serious case of hair loss after my second pregnancy but none with my first. It started around the third or fourth month after giving birth and lasted a good 2-3 months. It's hard not to freak out when you see so much hair falling out but it did eventually stop and then started growing back.

D.,
I think this is hormone related. While you were pg, your hair probably "filled in". And now you are just losing that extra hair. I remember reading something about this.
I would also check with your OB about it.
H.

it's true and that's one of those things that people don't really tell you is going to happen. I always wondered why new moms seemed to get their hair cut short. Then I had kids. Long hair falling out is such a pain. So I, too, cut mine short. It still fell out, but it was easier to clean up and deal with. It was, what seemed like, a lot for the first 6-8 months or so, then it started to taper off. I don't remember how long it really lasted. I blocked out that memory ;o) Probably about a year or so... with those last few months being not nearly as bad.