Post Partum Hair Loss

I'm experiencing the same thing! My doc told me it was completely normal, particularly if you are breastfeeding. I also have the added joy of dandruff now, which I never had before!

I guess the joys of motherhood have to be balanced out by some bad stuff, too?? :)

Hi M. ~
The best vitamins to take are the TIME-RELEASE High potency B Complex and extra Biotin. Try massaging the scalp gently at least once a day to stimulate growth and use a good clarifying shampoo to make sure you aren't getting oil build up on your scalp (which would clog the hair follicles). Use a good conditioner to keep your hair from drying out and make sure you stay hydrated. Good luck!
~ K.

I lost a lot of hair with my son, who is now 1. In fact, I called my endocrinologist totally freaked out because it was coming out in chunks. While my hair is still thinner, it is starting to grow back in. I think you just need to let your hormones settle back to normal. There are also shampoo systems that are supposed to stimulate hair growth. I haven't tried them.

Hi M.!

I lost a lot of hair after my first pregnancy and started gaining a lot of weight. It showed up that I had hypothyrodism so you might want to get your TSH and T3/T4 checked out...

R. Oliver

Hello!

Extreme, continued hair loss is not normal and should be checked out by your doc. It is most indicative of a thyroid imbalance, which can be totally normal for three or four months postpartum, but shouldn't be an issue 9 mo postpartum. I'd see your doctor and ask him to run a full panel of thyroid tests, make sure he does the whole panel (TSH, T3, T4).

Good Luck!
D

Go to the Dr and have your thyroid levels checked.

One good book: The Truth About Women's Hair Loss. I forget the author's name. EXCELLENT reference and very easy to understand.

A few common causes:
1. Post birth symptoms
2. Poor nutrition and increased stress
3. Hormone imbalance/issue

If you are concerned, I would go to see an endocronologist(sp) - hormone doctor. It could just be post-natal effects... just stronger... or it could be a symptom of a hormonal imbalance/issue that needs attention. I had some significant hairloss in my 20s... I used Nioxin, Rogaine and saw the endocronologist.... once I transitioned to a different project at work, it improved 100%... I am now mid-30s and I still have hair:-) It was all stress and nutrition related. I was traveling non stop, drinking way too much coffee and not eating properly/heathly... I was challenged at work and having fun, but way too busy. I was eating very little fish, healthy meat, fresh vegetables, etc... only on weekends when my schedule lightened up. If your hormone tests are all fine, I would take a look at your very hectic yet fun home life, your own habits and see if you can get some more "me" time. Maybe a relative or friend could come once a week to clean or make a home-cooked meal, or you could hire someone part-time to give you a break.

Continue to have a great time and please take care of yourself.

Keep taking your vitamins and if you are stresed that will cause hair to fall out. Pray and find out what ways you can reduce any stress, like exercising or staying away from sugar.
Higher protein intake should help too!
Take calcium at night before bed too.
God Bless

I don't remeber exactly how long my hair fell out after my child's birth but I can tell you in fell out in very large quantities. I also thought I was going to be bald. It was so bad it was to the point that I was embarrassed for anyone to get into my car b/c my seat would be covered in it as well as my clothes. Hope it stops for you soon!!

Best Wishes!

I had the same thing happen to me- if your hair is long, try cutting it shorter, also I rubbed vitamin E on the spot where the hair was coming out. Also-try parting your hair differently,away from the spot where the hair is falling out. Hope this helps. (Mine did grow back)

I also experienced increased hair loss after the birth of my youngest but my hair did return to normal. I have 4 kids at about 1.5 years apart each. All were breastfed from 6 months to a year. My hormones had been at pregnancy/nursing levels/fluctuations for 6 years straight.

After the birth of my 1st I experienced what was probably the typical hair loss and my hair remained thinner than my pre-baby head of hair for the 2nd and 3rd child. However, after the birth of my 4th the hair loss increased... not to the point that I had bald spots but to the point that it took an additional twist of the hair elastic for my daily ponytail becase my ponytail had thinned out so much. After asking my GYN about it at the post-partum visit she said that my thinned hair would improve after about a year. Well, at about a year it did improve and after about 2 years it's returned even to its pre-child thickness. Like others have said, take care of your health...yep,easier said than done :o) ...and if it's bothersome check with your doctor.

M.,

I have 5 children and between my 4th and 5th child I was constantly losing my hair. It could be your thyroid that's causing some of the hair loss or it could be just normal. On another mom's forum I belong too we were discussing this as well. Alot of moms said this is normal. Hope things get better soon for you.

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I am 8 months post partum and was just diagnosed with post-partum hypothyroiditis. You should see your GP to get your blood checked. I have been losing hair since my son was 5 months old and finally called my OB about it a few weeks ago and she suggested I see my GP to get my thyroid checked. It is apparently very common to have thyroid trouble post-partum and it can explain the hairloss. Good luck, I know it's so frustrating!!

Hi, My daughter is 16 months old and I am still losing mine! Last August I had blood drawn to check my thyroid and a few other things and they came back fine. When my dr. called me back she said that it happens as long as 1 year after the baby is born and that if you breastfeed it prolongs it. I breastfed for about 3 months and I have noticed that it is decreasing but I am still losing some - nowhere close to what it was a few months back! If you havent had them run any tests I would call just to check and make sure it everything is ok. My friend who has 3 kids her youngest is 21 months is still losing hers and she didnt breastfeed, I think everyone's body is different but she had bloodwork too and it came back fine! Good Luck!

I too have had a lot of hair loss with my fourth child - she's 8 months. At six months it was so bad I went to my doctor and had them check my thyroid levels b/c I have hypothyroidism and that can cause hair loss too. She said my levels were normal and that its just my hormones and stuff out of wack and would get back to normal eventually. My hair is now starting to grow back in the bald patches around my hairline, forehead area with little new fuzzies but it looks awful to me and unfortunately its mostly grey (im only 34). I guesss its just the stress of having four children in 9 years? It should grow back - but if you are experiencing any other syptoms like extreme fatigue, muscle aches, feeling cold and achy, hands turning yellowish...you need to go to the doctor. Thats what happened to me after my first son was born - my thyroid decided to stop working! I am still losing hair every day (esp. in the shower) but it is less and its growing back. Hope this helps.

You might want to get your Thyroid levels checked. Hair loss is a symptom of thyroid problems. I have Hypothyroid and I was loosing hair by the handfuls.

Good Luck.
A. T

I think I continued to lose my hair until my youngest was almost 2.

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I had the same thing happen after my third was born (she's 2 1/2 now). I don't remember it being as bad with my first two. All I can say is that eventually it stopped. It has to do with the hormone changes that are going on right now.

N. Mitchell

I too suffered from significant hair loss after both my children, but it resolved by a year. My hair is already straight and thin, so that makes it particularly distressing. Aside from thyroid issues, I beleive iron-deficiency anemia and other vitamin deficiencies can play a role. Here's a website with home remedies you can try to stimulate hair growth. I've never tried them, although I read about rubbing onions on your head elsehwhere! I did try biotin scalp rubs when I was younger, but my hair is my hair:(

http://www.tbyil.com/Baldness_and_Thinning_Hair.htm

Let us know if anything works!

My third is 21 months old and I feel like I am still losing too much hair but it comes in cycles. Some months better than others. It did this for a while after my second so I had my thyroid checked and it was fine. I think as long as you do not have bald patches than it is normal hair loss. I breast feed for a year and I think that contributes to a lot of the hormonal imbalance for me. Get it checked out by your doctor so that you are not worrying about it. I feel confident that it is perfectly normal and should ease up within a year!!

Good luck.