Hair Loss After Baby

I went through the same thing. While I was pregnant I don't think I lost any hair--I never had to scoop it out of the bathtub drain, never had to clean up the floor--then I had my daughter (and breast fed) and it seemed like I was going to be bald with the amount of hair I was losing. Sometimes I even had to clean the drain out in the tub mid-shower so the water could flow down. It drove me crazy because I always had hair falling out and catching on my arms, etc. It eventually slowed down. I think it's just something you have to deal with for a while. I'm not bald and my hair is actually pretty thick.

I also had the whispies (as a previous poster mentioned). My hair dresser called them baby hairs and said that every single pregnant/recently had a baby woman had them. I couldn't wear my hair back because they stuck straight out from my head---now they are about 3-4 inches long and my daughter is 19.5 months old!

Hi S.,

Contact your local La Leche League Consultant at

www.llli.org.

Hope this helps. Good luck. D.

I worked full time as a hairdresser for many years - and many women had the same problem - I guess it's just hormones.

Hi S.~

I just wanted to let you know that you are DEFINITELY not alone. Shortly after having my now 3 1/2 year old son who was also breastfed, I lost a TON of hair. It fell out in what seemed like handfulls and it lasted a good number of months. It got so thin in the front, I had to part it on the opposite side to cover the baldness that was developing. I never talked about it with my doctor at the time, not sure why, but I didn't. I think I just figured there wasn't anything that could be done, but that was probably not a very well-formed thought... but I was extremely sleep deprived, so I'll attribute my lack of research into solutions to that! So while I don't have anything in the way of a solution to offer you, I just wanted to tell you that you certainly aren't alone... and the hair loss eventually did stop, and basically filled back in to where it was prior to the loss. Of course, I started out with pretty thin hair to start with, so that's not saying much, but at least I no longer have any visible baldness.

Best of luck to you... I would keep searching for a solution... If I ever have another child and it happens to me again, I sure will this time!

I am currently 3.5 months postpartum with my second child. The hair loss you describe is normal. It happened to me with both of my children.

I have very thick hair that usually fell out a little with each wash before being pregnant. During both pregnancies, it seemed like no hair fell out at all. Then, with both kids, at about 3 months postpartum my hair started coming out in handfuls. It is hormone-driven, from what I understand. I had a haircut about a month ago before anything fell out and I was talking about it with my hairdresser, and she said that they learn about it in school about how women's hair changes during and after pregnancy.

My first son was mostly on formula until 1.5 months, and then all formula from then on. My new son is only on breast milk. And, the hair loss has been the same with both. With my first son, I actually had little bald spots around my temples (kinda looked like a receding hairline when I pulled it in a ponytail), but it all grew back.

I understand your dismay, though. It is also very annoying because my hair is everywhere in the house now, and I'm always taking pieces out of my little guys hands.

(This may have already been posted . . . ) Supposedly, some women hold onto 60% more hair when pregnant, making it look more full and lustrous - then a few months after birth (or some, a few months after stopping to breastfeed) all of that extra hair falls out.

I thought it would happen around 4-5mos and was planning on cutting my super long hair in time, so the shedding wouldn't seem like so much. But, at 2-1/2 mos after giving birth, it was out in massive amounts. I was clogging every drain in the house!

The woman who cuts my hair did a check of my scalp and said that all looked fine, that it was coming out evenly and she didn't see any cause for concern. So, I would go to a hair stylist/cutter and ask them to check for you. It might help to ease your mind.

I don't remember when the hair got back to normal, but the shedding only happened for about 3wks.

I think that all women are different. I had my son at 39, did not breast feed, and I was loosing hair for over a year! He's now 6 and I still feel my hair is not the same as it was before I gave birth. Hair loss is more noticeable if your hair is longer and dark. Everyone looses a lot of hair each day, some are more noticeable than others. I know once I noticed it I was looking for it and it seemed as if my shower drain was full of hair. My stylist recommended NOT pulling it back and NOT to wash it everyday. That helped a little.

Hi S.
Yes it happened to me too. I had my daughter premature and am older so I think the stress and the hormones played a role in my hair loss.It didnt start right away I remember having beautiful hair at my daughters baptism and she was 10 mo at the time. It was after and then continues for about a year. I have thin hair so its hard for me to get used to. Some has grown back but its not the same. I have used the hair thinning shampoo,there are vitamins you can take and I do plan on having my thyroid checked at some point but I have comtimplated a wig and a weave but so far I havent done much,with a 3 y.o you dont have time for yourself...
Just wanted to let you know there are others in your shoes...Good Luck
S.

I feel your pain! My hair fell out after I had Thomas and has just started to come back in! It was at its worst at about 4 months post-partum and didn't slow down until 6 months PP. I had bald patches just above my temples; it was bad. Now, at 8 months PP it's coming back in. But I just ran my hand through my hair this morning and it felt thin again - maybe it's the products I'm using, I dunno. Hang in there!

J.

I think hair loss is very common -- esp. for a breastfeeding and at the 5-6 month mark. I experienced the same thing. One person told me that the real benefits of breastfeeding occur in those first 5-6 months (months 7-12 are just "gravy"), so you body recognizes that it's passed that "milestone". Now granted I don't know how much hair loss you are having, but it sounds pretty normal. And now I have little "wispy's" on the sides of my hairline by my temples, which my hair dresser calls "New Mom hairs".

My baby is 6 months & breastfed & I too am losing a ton of hair. Its normal (I have really thick hair, so even though clumps come out everytime I brush or wash, my hair still looks the same,) Also, I just read an article that said women lose more hair at the end of summer/beginning of fall than at any other time of year. So you have 2 big hair loss moments going on at once.

Both of my children were breastfed and I don't remember losing my hair after I had my dd but I lost so much hair after I had my son I thought I was going bald. I have extremely thick hair and even my hairdresser could tell I was losing alot so that has to tell you something. It is a totally normal thing. I think it lasted about 2 months if I remember correctly. I don't think there is a rhyme or reason as to why you'd lose it with one baby and not with the other. I hope it gets better for you soon.

A.