hair loss

Marcy - posted on 02/15/2010

Michelle, I think it has more to do with not being pregnant anymore. I heard or read somewhere a long time ago that when you are pregnant you don't lose your hair. After you give birth all of the hair starts to shed. Its probably totally off base but around the 6 month makr mine started coming out in clumps. After a few weeks it got better. I still nurse and my son is over 3. my hair has gone back to being thick and shiny. I think your body is just adjusting. I wouldn't worry about it. Keep on nursing...woo hoo!

Michelle - posted on 02/15/2010

Thanks everyone for the responses. I do plan on continuing to BF even with the hair faling out. I think it is more that just losing the hair that "built up" while I was pregnant since there are very visible spots of lost hair, mostly around the front of my scalp. I already have pretty short hair but maybe I will stop getting it colored until I am finished Bfing and see if that helps.

Rebecca - posted on 02/13/2010

I've been BF for 3 1/2 months and I just started noticing over the past week or two that my hair has been falling out like crazy (although it did before I got pregnant) I am pretty sure it is for the reason the other post said that while your pregnant your hair doesn't fall out as much. I was enjoying my hair not falling out, now i find it everywhere ugh!!! Time for a hair cut, maybe if i keep it shorter i won't notice it as much :)

Sarah - posted on 02/13/2010

The same thing happened to me after all 3 of my kids. I always thought, like Tina, that it was just all that thick hair I had during pregnancy finally falling out. It stopped after a while. Could have been when my kids started eating more solids, but I don't remember. I just kept on nursing, because hair falling out or not, I was going to give my kids the best nutrition possible. We'll see with baby #3 when it stops. She's 6 months now and I still notice extra hair in the shower drain.

Tina - posted on 02/13/2010

I don't think loss of hair has anything to do with breastfeeding. (IMO)....I think it's more of a hormonal balance thing now that you're not pregnant anymore. Remember that nice shiny thick head of hair you had while you were pregnant?!? Well, that's because it falls out at a much slower rate while you're pregnant and now that you're not pregnant...you're body is catching up and kicking out all those hairs that it should have fallen out while you were pregnant. Now.....it usually starts at about 3 months and ends about 5 or 6 months....maybe you're body's just taking a little longer to get through the cycle. I lost a ton of hair after my little guy was born (who's 10 mo's now) but it stopped about 6-7 months along. I went and cut it all off (well...almost all!) when he was 6 months and that's when it started slowing down (I'm sure cutting had nothing to do with it....). I struggled for a while though cuz I had long hair and it was so disheartening to see it all over the shower, the floor, on the brush....it never seemed to stop!! I'd clean up after the shower (and there were clumps of it) and then I'd blow dry it and start with the clean up process all over again. Hang in there....it'll end soon. And I'm still BF'ing, btw.

Lerin - posted on 02/13/2010

Are the strands breaking or falling out completely or a combo? If they're breaking or more breakage than falling out, maybe consider a shorter hair cut? If thats not the case or you don't want to go short (I can't tell from your picture how long your hair is) then ofcourse regular trims. Are you still taking prenatal vitamins? A good place to start if you're not. Another thing is do you keep your hair pulled back really tight alot? That creates ALOT of strain. Other stuff to consider would be a fortifying shampoo & conditioner and trying to avoid things that can damage your hair, like chemicals (perms, coloring) and heat (blow dryers & flat irons..) Good luck!

Kimberly - posted on 02/13/2010

Hey Michelle, Ive been breastfeedingd for just over three months and I've started lossing my hair too! There isnt really anything that you can do about it but a few things I found that help a little ways using a really wide toothed comb, try doing a treatment in the shower( I know this one is sooo hard to do!) and I try not to tie my hair up in ponytails as much as I can which again is hard. My hairdresser said the same thing till I stop breastfeeding it wont stop but thankfully I have really thick hair! Hope it helps!