Is hair loss normal after pregnancy?

Keri - posted on 01/24/2010

I've read that the hormones cause your hair to thicken during pregnancy (though I didn't notice it), so it's basically getting back to normal. My hair is still very thick after 2 babies, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Jada - posted on 01/24/2010

My best advice for everyone is keep taking those prenatal vitamins for up to 1 year after u have a baby. I do hair for a living and those vitamins will help with the hairloss, your skin and your nails. Its a major do I even take them on a normal day to day just because you wont get a better vitamin then the prenatal vitamins and my daughter is now 8years old. Now remember this isnt going to stop the shedding altogether.But will help start new hair to grow and keep what isnt falling out healthy.

Kelli - posted on 01/24/2010

Every1 handles stress differently, but 1 of the ways is thru hair loss. It takes 3 months for the stress to show thru hair loss as the hair goes thru cycles. The stress of giving birth/c-section and drugs (if you had pain relief) take their toll on us. My son is now 20mths old and I am still suffering hair loss (but I am just recovering from PostNatal Depression). Next time you go thru something stressful take note of your hair in 3 mths time, you'll notice that it falls out more than usual.

Katie - posted on 01/23/2010

Very normal. Mine started falling out when I stopped breastfeeding (quite a bit actually) and it lasted for months, about 4 if I remember correcly. Its all hormones.

Annah - posted on 01/23/2010

My son is 2 years old and I'm still loosing hair. I have had everything checked out and they say nothings wrong with me. I just deal with it. My hair used to be so thick I couldn't get it in a pony tail, now it's so thin I can't keep them in my hair. It sucks but what can I do. They say there is nothing I can do. Sorry for the bad news.

Belinda - posted on 01/23/2010

It could be a number of things,1) your hormones,2) your thryroid,or 3)postpartum alopecia. dont let the name scare you it just means a thinning of the hair and is very common in women who have just had kids. Its caused by stress and your hair just thins out through the scalp.some women get it really bad and others its just the falling out in the shower or when brushing your hair. It normally starts about 2-3 months after the baby is born and will in most cases go away when your hair starts to grow back. I really wouldnt worry about it too much unless it keeps on.

Eva - posted on 01/23/2010

My son's doctor told me that when we're pregnant, we don't shed hair so after we give birth, we lose twice as much but be sure you check and make sure it does't get wrapped around their fingers and toes or, if you have a boy, his winkie, too.

Eleanor - posted on 01/22/2010

I got an wafull fright when it started happening to me but apparently it is normal. It lasted about 6 months for me.

Lacey - posted on 01/22/2010

Absolutely, while you're pregnant all the hormones in your body make your hair stay in the growing stage, which is what makes it look so full and shiny, especially if you were taking prenatal pills. So after you deliver your body go's back to normal. My hair is accually thinner now as compared to pre-pregnancy :(

Jess - posted on 01/22/2010

i actually got a a bald spot, its very common and it usually stops within a few months!

Terri - posted on 01/22/2010

I started losing mine about 3 months after having my baby but minr was alot of hair it scared me so bad i called my doctor but aroud 7 months it slowed down now im fine just alot less hair

Amber - posted on 01/22/2010

I have lost so much hair too! My daughter is almost 6 months now and I am losing chunks of hair at a time. especially when I get out of the shower, I have to unclog the drain every time.

Candice - posted on 01/22/2010

OH YES! Some women lose it in clumps/handfuls. It can happen for up to 1 year after giving birth.

Renee - posted on 01/22/2010

After I had my son my nice thick long hair got thin. My brush would be full of hair each time I would brush my hair. I started to keep it tied back, braided, etc to keep from shedding through out the day. My son is 20 mos old and my hair started to thicken up again, and now I am pregnant again and will probably go through the same thing with loosing my hair no sooner than it started to come back.
I experimented with different shampoos to see if that would help as well...nothing conclusive. :)

Debbie - posted on 01/22/2010

my boy is 9 mnt old and im really worried that my hair is still falling out so much, how long does it last? i will visit my doctor to check my thyroid.

Jessie - posted on 01/21/2010

my hair has been falling out since about 3 months too. he is 6 months old now. i have started carrying around a lint roller to pick up my hair all over the place!!

Stephanie - posted on 01/21/2010

BTDT. Before I had my first baby ( he is 9 1/2yrs old now) I had hair so thick I could barely get my fingers through my bangs, after I had him, my hair thined out a LOT. After baby number 2 (he is 9 1/2months old), I am still loosing hair. Like you said, several strands at a time, its normal and nothing to worry about. When you are pregnant you stop loosing your hair due to hormones, afterwards, those hormones drop and you start to lose it. I suggest you brush your hair before your shower, that has helped me. After 9 1/2 months I am still loosing hair, its slowed down but, it's still occuring. If you are really worried, call your OBGYN.

Carly - posted on 01/21/2010

I def. will :)

Amanda - posted on 01/20/2010

Your welcome.. But if it don't stop just talk to your doctor about your Thyroid. I have a thyroid problem it started when I got pregnant and it has gotten worse and I am on 100mcg of medicine a day.

Carly - posted on 01/20/2010

Thanks ladies! Im sooo relieved :)

Amanda - posted on 01/20/2010

yes , i have a 9 month old and my hair pouring out , its terrible . but yes it should pass i just hope sooner rather than later !!

Leah - posted on 01/20/2010

my baby is also 5 months old and about 2 months or so ago i started losing hair like mad, we have to clean out the shower almost weekly. my doctor and my hairstylist said that it was very normal. i have lost about the same amount of hair that i gained while i was pregnant, which was alot!

Melissa - posted on 01/20/2010

oh god..I had my little boy 8 months ago and I STILL have hair falling out!LOL...my hair is very thin, it lost all volume/thickness...I know it sucks,but my doc told me that it will pass..hang in there!

Kelli - posted on 01/20/2010

Yes it is. It started right after i had my daughter 10 months ago. It finally slowed down in the last 2 months. There for a while, I was like " Man if i lose anymore hair Im going to be bald." lol. I had to vacumm all the time and when i took a shower i had hair all in the shower. It was everywhere.

Amanda - posted on 01/20/2010

Yes its normal but you could also have your dr check your thyroid levels a lot of woman after they have babies will have thyroid problems

Mindy - posted on 01/20/2010

Yes very common, I started to loose mine after I stopped breast feeding, I didn't loose much, but I was a little worried, But it is very normal.