Postpartum Hair Loss - Help!

Updated on December 29, 2009
K.R. asks from Plano, TX
22 answers

Hi, Moms-
I am 4 months postpartum, and suddenly I am losing my hair. I'm not talking about just a little...I mean by the handful. I was fine for the first three months after my daughter was born, and then about a month ago my hair just starting coming out in clumps. I just started using Nioxin shampoo and conditioner in hopes it will help. Did this happen to any of you, and if so, what did you do to help?

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So What Happened?

As always, I knew I could count on the Mamasource moms. Thank you for all the words of encouragement. I will just wait it out, and hope new hair grows in soon. Thanks a million!

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M.W.

answers from Dallas on

I lost tons of hair after both pregnacies. I was sooo scared. I tried lots of vitimams and supplements and still came out. I will come back about a year from birth. Dont worry because worring can also cause hair loss.

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M.R.

answers from Dallas on

You're not alone. I experienced this after both of my pregnancies. It felt like it would never stop and all my hair would fall out. It came out mainly at my temples. It did eventually stop and I did not go bald thank goodness. It finally felt back to normal by the time my daughter was 2...which seems like a long time, but my hair is really thick...which was a good thing.

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L.L.

answers from Dallas on

I think this pretty much happens to all of us. I know in my experience, it looked a lot worse than it really was. In other words, I lost a TON of hair, but never went bald (not even close). It's certainly scary to see all that hair coming out, but I think it's pretty normal from what I've been able to tell. It will get better in time. Congratulations on the new baby too.

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A.F.

answers from Dallas on

Hi K., I am in a Nutritional Supplements business, we have products that have helped many with similar issues. The supplements are very safe, pregnant women take it as their prenatal vitamins.

I will be very happy to share details and answer any question you may have.

Wishing you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and a New Year full of God's Blessings.

A.

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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

yes this happened to me with both my children - post partum. My hair loss didn't stop until she was about 6 months old. And it started about at 3 months post partum!!!
There was nothing I could do -- no amount of vitamins or nourishment helped. It's a hormonal thing -- the balance of hormones is out of whack so you just have to wait it out. It will get better.

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

It happened to mean when my daughter turned one and I was weaning. I went to the doctor. He said that it is most common three- four months after giving birth, but it can happen later. He said it lasts 3 to 6 months for most women (at which point I start crying in his office). My hair was falling out in handfuls. I did have thinning patches. (The doc ran tests just in case). He said that he did not know of any cures or things that could help. The only advice he could offer was not to wear a pony tail, because it puts stress on the roots. Mine finally stopped after about four months and grew back fine.

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L.B.

answers from Dallas on

Yes, hair loss seems to peak about 3 or 4 months. Lovely isn't it? For me, only time helped. It eased up around 5 months. It will ease up. In the meantime, keep the vacuum handy and tissue to wipe up the clumps from the shower stall.

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K.W.

answers from Dallas on

Make sure you are still taking a good multi-vitamin. The hair loss is very common around 3 months post-partum and should stop on it's own. Mine did not. It was a hormone issue with me so if your's doesn't stop, see your doctor.

M.C.

answers from Dallas on

Hi K.,
I feel for you. I know exactly what you are feeling! My little girl is 6mths and at the fourth month postpartum, my hair too started falling olut in CLUMPS! very unnerving and scary to say the least. Mine fell from the temples of my head and at the front hairline, that was the MOST noticeable. I had hair all over the living room floor and my baby's blanket! It started to slow down about the fifth month and is still falling out now but not as much! whew! I started on a BETTER multivitamin and mineral liquid vitamin called Body Balance since i am nursing she is taking whatever vitamins i have left. it will take a month or two for it to stop falling out, but it WILL start coming back! Hang in there!!!

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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

I'm going through the same thing. It's completely normal. During pregnancy you don't lose hair as the cuticle holds the shaft of your hair in tighter due to the hormones. You are just losing the hair you should have lost over the past 9 months all at once. Shocking, I know, but it happens. If you are using Nioxin and you are breastfeeding, STOP! It's harmful to the baby and you are not losing hair because you have a hereditary condition causing baldness, so it's not recommended for you anyway. Remember, whatever goes onto your skin gets into your body and will go directly to your baby. Don't worry, it will stop soon and all will be good again. I gave birth 4 1/2 months ago and mine started about a month ago. It's already to slow down somewhat and new growth is coming out. Hope this helps!

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A.L.

answers from Dallas on

It happened to me and scared me to death. But it's totally normal and it's from hormones adjusting after the birth, is what I was told. This was a long time ago but my obstetrician gave me an Rx for Synthroid. He didn't do any tests on my thyroid and said a 30 day supply would be all I needed. It seemed to work - but I don't know if it's the answer for you! I've never heard of anyone else being treated that way for hair loss. I would call my doctor and ask them what is up with this and is there any treatment. Good luck to you!!

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T.S.

answers from Buffalo on

When you’re pregnant, your body stops shedding hair at its usual rate of 100 hairs per day. Now that you are postpartum, you may be back to the usual. Are you losing more than this?

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

It is normal, but very disconcerting for sure! I also used Nioxin and breastfed for 14 months. The Nioxin helped a bit, but I mostly had to wait for my body to regulate itself which took over a year. Hang in there!

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J.L.

answers from Dallas on

Hi K.. Congrats on your baby girl! Like everyone has said this is very normal, all part of the mommy game! It freaked me out with my first also. I went had blood work done to make sure everything was ok because I did not think there was anyway someone could just loose that much hair. It happened again with my second, but at least I knew what to expect. Just waiting on it now to start with my third. Keep taking your vitamens, that may help. And a fresh haircut, a liitle shorter to help it look fuller if possible, can make YOU feel better too. It does grow back though, just hang in there!! Good Luck

M.A.

answers from Dallas on

K.,

This is do to hormone imbalance.

I have a skin care, health and wellness company.

We have 2 products that will be beneficial for you. One is a natural horomone balancing cream. This will help get your hormones back in order. You didn't mention whether you were nursing or not, so if you are I would check on my end if this is even an option for you.

The other product we have is a hair revitalizer which helps grow and thicken hair.

All of our products are Vegan certified, no harsh chemicals or fragrances, not tested on animals, hypoallergenic, botanically based, ph correct, dermatologist tested, no minearl oil and are proprietary formulas.

I hope this info helps and if you have any questions, please let me know.

Take care and God bless!

M.

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A.M.

answers from Houston on

I hated when my hair started falling out. It will grow back but you will have to deal with the baby hairs sticking up everywhere. PS your little bg will have some hair loss too. The both of you are returning to normal hormone levels which cause the hair to drop out. Try not to freak out and stress b/c like the other mom says that will cause more hair loss.

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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know about Nioxin being harmful if breastfeeding, but it is a prescription and NOT for baldness (that is rogain and that is used to help keep dying folicles alive vs. stimulating live folicles similar, but much different). My sister who is a stylist, just gave me the 411 about Nioxin and why they don't sell it. It takes more than a year to see results and is not a rogain type of medication. But because it takes more than a year to see results, many people return it and say it isn't working. I just wanted to clarify that so you don't give up on the Nioxin too soon:) She has seen many chemo patients use this with incredible success.

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T.C.

answers from Dallas on

I had the same problem at about that time. Apparently for some women the change in hormone levels will affect your hair and nails. Other women have other issues. Since I wasn't able to produce enough milk to breast feed I went on birth control and it solved the problem, but my doctor said I could have also taken prenatal vitamins again to help.

Once your hormones level out, your hair should stop falling out and thicken up again.

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D.W.

answers from Dallas on

Just as the other posters have said...this is normal. Mine started at 4 months post partum and stopped about 7 months post partum. My hair was very, very thin around my hairline. I had a small bald spot on the right side near the hairline. My stylist cut my hair into a cute little bob long in the front shorter in the back that pretty much hid my bald spot. It will grow back. It's just a pain until it does.

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H.D.

answers from Dallas on

K.,

This happened to me after both of my pregnancies. I guess it's just the hormonal changes that occur after delivery that cause this. When you're pregnant you shed much less of your hair so i guess this is your bodies way of catching up. Don't be too concerned it will steadily decrease back to normal levels. You'll notice a bunch of regrowth and you'll have short hairs sprouting up all over your head as the hair grows back. Hope this eases your mind!

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M.L.

answers from Dallas on

I agree with the other moms, it is part of the hormonal changes going on with your body. I know it looks like you're having kittens in the shower, but you will not go bald!!! You end up with just about as much hair as you started out with, and then you will start to regrow new hair, and your hairline may get fuzzy for a few months.
This too shall pass!
Congratulations on the baby.

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T.M.

answers from Dallas on

Hi K.,

This is one of those things that you don't typically hear about until you're experiencing it. I totally freaked when it started happening to me. It's very NORMAL to loose large amounts of hair about 3-4 months after you have had a baby. I've gone through that with all three of my kids. The worst part for me is when it starts growing back. (yes, it does grow back) I have curly hair so having so much new growth means very frizzy roots for a few months until it grows out enough to lay down with the rest of my hair. I know it's hard not to, but don't stress about it. You're welcome to PM me if you have any questions.

Tiff

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