Hair Falling Out HELP!!

Mine started falling out when my son was about 4mo... and it still is = / I don't remember it falling out this bad with my first! I don't really have much advice, it sounds like everyone else has good advice for you though! If it doesn't stop soon, I'm going to talk to my Dr about it, I'd cut my hair short, but trying to grow it out to donate it, so putting that off for the time being... Anyhow, just wanted to let you know, you're not alone = ) Good Luck with everything!

Hi, I have 4 children and EVERY TIME I lost hair. it is your body's way of telling you something happened! :o) I remember the first time after I had my first son 17 years ago and went into a Beauty Warehouse and said "My Hair is Falling out" The lady looked a little stressed, I then told her that I just had a baby and she shoooed me away with that .. now I would suggest that you buy a really good shampoo and products (Aveda makes good natural ones for all hair types) and don't put any new chemicals in your hair (colors, perms etc.) for at least a year after birth. I hope this helps some. Good luck ~
Also try air drying and not blow drying as much as possible as well...
A.

Ooooh, I feel for you! My hair fell out so badly with both of mine! I got a really cute shorter cut (my hair is somewhat thin, so it was getting noticeable) and used - as someone else mentioned- Aveda products. The shortness helped so the weight of my hair didn't pull it out on it's own and I too tried to air dry as much as possible. At 4 mos. or so it really eased up on falling out and by 6 mos. started to grow back it. I nursed too and took multivitamins etc. but nothing really helps except time. My stylist did a great job, let me know if you want her #.

My hair started falling out at about 3 months post-partum with my son. It's a common thing as your hormone levels change again. Hang in there because it will eventually stop and then start to grow back. But, if you start to really lose a lot, you might want to go have your thyroid checked by your doctor. Having a baby can throw that out of whack too and one of the symptoms is excessive hair loss. Good luck!

Don't worry, it is completely normal. The hormones that made your hair full and shiny during pregnancy are now going away and that is what is causing the hair loss. I am going through the same thing!

I agree with the other, its probably just a natural thing that your body is going through. If it continues, your thyroid could be a factor as thats one of the signs of it acting up.

Some hair loss postpartum is normal. If lasts too long or you're uncomfortable with the amount being lost you can have your OB check your thyroid levels.

Pregnancy affects the entire body, including hair, skin and nails. Often, there are undesirable changes that can leave a pregnant woman worried or frightened. However, hair loss in particular is very common and during pregnancy and should not cause undue concern. The most common period of hair loss related to pregnancy occurs approximately three months after delivery.

Hair loss during and after pregnancy can be due to hormonal problems. An overactive or underactive thyroid can cause hair to fall out. If this is the case, your physician can treat the hair loss by treating the thyroid disease.

Telogen effluvium is the excess shedding of hair that usually occurs one to five months following pregnancy. During pregnancy, an increased percentage of scalp hairs go into the resting phase that is part of the normal growth-loss cycle of scalp hair. After pregnancy, these hairs begin to fall out and thin. However, this condition does not cause permanent hair loss or obvious bald patches. Telogen effluvium resolves slowly beginning six to 12 weeks postpartum. There is no medical treatment available.

There are a number of things that you can do to have a healthier head of hair and/or reduce the extent of some of the hair loss during pregnancy or after delivery:

- Consult with your physician to ensure a proper balance of hormones.
- Avoid pigtails, cornrows, hair weaves, braids and tight hair rollers which can pull and stress your hair.
- Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables, which contain flavonoids, many of which are antioxidants that may provide protection for the hair follicles and encourage hair growth.
- Use shampoos and conditioners that contain biotin and silica.
- If you need to use blow dryers and other heated hair instruments, try to use the cooler, lower settings.

My hair fell out a few months after the birth of each of my children too--it's a hormonal thing. And then I had to deal with the "baby bangs" and wispys until it all grew back long enough to blend in with the rest of my hair, which took about 2 years! I nursed both times and also took prenatal vitamins as well. It kinda became a joke, my husband would joke about the "wookie" in the bathtub drain and waking up with hair in his mouth because it fell out all over the pillows. Poor thing! LOL

You have already got some good advice about the hair, what I'm more concerned about is "stress, lack of sleep" you mentioned.

So I have a few questions for you. Is it a lack of sleep because you have new born, or are you not able to sleep when the baby is a sleep? You should be crashing when he's asleep. Some of the signs of Postpartum Depression is loss of hair, lack of sleep, stressed out easily. Not saying you have it, something to consider and be aware of. Those around you can really help answer that question if you need to see your doctor.

After my second child, that first week was terrible and by the 7th day, I wasn't sleeping, I was in pain from a pulled muscle in my neck, my husband hadn't been able to take any time off work, I had a two year old and a newborn I was nursing with pain and numbing arms. Not being able to sleep when everyone else is asleep is what really gave me my first clue. Then my husband looked at me on that 7th day and said "Honey something is wrong, you have changed and it's not good". I went to the doctor the next day and was put on anti-depressants. The good thing was I didn't have to take them long, I had environmental PPD and not Physical PPD. Once my husband got some vacation time which was that next week, got PT for my neck, the pain went away, I got some sleep and came out of the fog I was in.

What's important is that I listened to those around me and got help. I'm not Superwoman, but shhhhhh don't tell my kids that, they think I am. LOL

God Bless, take care.

The exact same thing happened to me after my first child, so much that it kept clogging our bathroom drain and we had to call the plumber out. When I'd sweep the floor there would be piles of it. I promise you it will stop..it just takes awhile!

Hi Stacy,
You might want to have your thyroid tested. Thyroid problems often manifest after having a baby for some reason and one of the symptoms is hair falling out. Another symptom is feeling very tired which can be overlooked because we dismiss because we think, "its normal that I'm feeling tired, I just had a baby". Your thyroid can be tested by having a blood test done at your doctors office.
Janet