Hair Loss - Washington, DC

It is very normal. I didn't breastfeed, and after each of my daughters, would lose SO much of my hair it was disgusting to wash it. I would try to get a hair cut, not super short, but take a bit off the length of it to make the falling out hair not so annoying. If you are really concerned about how much you are losing, maybe you should try to get seen by a doc to make sure everything is alright (my guess would be it is).
K.

I never lost hair from having babies, but I had a daughter whose medication caused hair loss. Her doctor said to take zinc tablets. You can find them at health food stores and pharmacies. It really worked, and the hair grew back curly!

I went through the same thing!! My kids are 18 months apart. The hair will deffinitly come back. I would talk to your doctor about taking a calcium supplement. And if I remember correctly, fish oil tablets are good for this as well. Good luck!!

One thing someone taught me that works, is to pour cool water on your hair as the last step of washing.

Normal...Arbonne's Tea Tree shampoo and Scalp revitalizing treatment helps alot too. Supllements also do help to grow back

Contact me if you want to know more.

I'm doing the same thing. Shedding like stupid amounts. My daughter is 5 months old now, and I'm still shedding like crazy. I remember doing this with my other kids too though, and I never ended up bald. It's mostly just a pain in the butt when I shower and clog the drains.

I'd never heard that shedding was due to breastfeeding, only that it was due to the hormone changes of not being pregnant anymore.

Either way, I wouldn't worry about it, it really will regulate on it's own.

Have you spoken with your hairdresser? Or your physician? Normally, hair sheds, but during pregnancy that decreases. So, once your hormones begin to return to normal, it is typical to lose a lot of hair. I actually had one stylist question whether I was undergoing chemo treatments when she did my shampoo! While you are breasfeeding, you should still be taking your prenatal vitamins, and you should try to eat healthy and get as much rest as possible. Your body is working hard to feed your baby. If your nutrition is poor that might account for some of the loss. The itchiness might also be a sign of some sort of skin condition so it might be worthwhile to check it out if you are concerned.

Hi, I had the same problem only my hair was not so thick to start out with. I went to the dr, sure that my thyroid was messed up (that would explain my difficulty losing weight). Nope, it was normal. Dr said because of the "trauma" your body goes through in pregnancy and birth it may cause your hair to fall out more than it normally does but rest assured that it is replenishing itself at the same time. He also said sometimes when you are pregnant you don't lose the normal amount of hair each day thus explaining the women whose hair seems fuller while pregnant. I felt a little silly but as I said, I didn't have thick hair to start with and I certainly didn't want to be fat and bald! Good luck!

I would consult a DR. if you are losing that much hair. I breast fed too but didn't run into that problem. I am sure my hair came out but not like your describing. I really don't think the breastfeeding is causing all that. You baby really needs those vitamins. Talk to your DR. and see what they say, they may say stop breastfeeding to see what happens. He is at the age where he will be fine to stop. Good Luck

Your body goes through many changes after birth and it is normal to lose hair after birth. If you are really concerned please see your doctor as there are thyroid issues that too can cause hair loss, itchy skin, etc.
Also watching your diet and making sure you are getting adequate vitamins and protein are essential. Stress is another culprit in hair loss. Adjustment to a new baby and all that ensues can contribute. A good stress vitamin can help but incorporating rest, meditation, and/or prayer can be a big help too. Breastfeeding isn't the culprit and it is the best thing you can do for your baby! You rock!

I saw your note and had to respond! My cousin and I had the same problem...and my hair started thin. In all our research this is the low down...it generally starts 4-6 mo. after delivery and goes till a year at times. I have to say I had a good 2 mo. of loss, but it is growing back!! And it is growing back quickly. Here are a couple tips...first be sure to wash your hair everyday! I was skipping days but it makes it worse...by washing it...it will stimulate hair growth. Also,I took Biotin which is an over the counter vitamin. Though I stopped breastfeeding around 4 mo. so I would check with your doctor to make sure it is safe to take while breastfeeding. It is troubling I know, but it does grow back...I have the little bangs to prove it!! Take care!

It also seems worse than it is, because your body didn't lose the normal amount of hair during the pregnancy, so you're a) getting rid of that, too, and b) not used to seeing that much hair come out anymore. It really will settle out around 6 months or so.

I am having the same problem! It falls out by the handfulls! I know it's normal after the birth of our children but my daughter is 9 monhts old and it is still happening. Talked to my doctor last week and she ordered a thyroid check. I also have a spot of excema on the back of my neck - just into my hairline - that was never there before. She gave some cream for that. Curious to see about the thyroid but we just have to wait it out I guess. Good luck.

Have your thyroid levels checked. My cousin lost lots of hair after having her baby and she was hypothyroid. (it was a pregnancy / hormonally induced hypothyroid and after a period of time on thyroid meds - she is now happily off them).
L. M

I don't have much to add to the advice you've already gotten, I just wanted to chime in and tell you that they are right. The same thing happened to me, I was just fortunate that I already had more hair than I knew what to do with before I even got pregnant. I've been through it twice now, and it's also true that at the 6 month mark both times it stopped. I still have the itchy scalp though and I think that is just another side effect of nursing. Your body is using up a LOT of fluid in producing milk and maybe working harder to replenish it will help with your scalp.

Don't feel bad. It happens, it's normal and maybe let your husband know that this is due to plummeting pregnancy hormones so he doesn't look at you cross-eyed when he has to keep pulling wookies out of the shower drain. :)

There is a site called thewomenshairlossproject.org or .com.

Hi A.,

It is normal for your hair to fall out postpartum. During pregnancy the process slows down, that's why it seems that when your pregnant your hair is thicker. After birth, the process starts again, hair falling out. It has nothing to do with breastfeeding. If you feel that it is an abnormal amount, you may want to go in for a check.

G. T.

Hi A.,

I had my first child last year and had the same problem. I was worried as well and thought I would go bald! But I did a lot of research and it is normal. I don't think it has to do with breastfeeding. It has more to do with your hormones during pregnancy. You always hear that pregnant women's hair looks great - shiny and healthy. Hair has a normal life cycle (meaning it grows and falls out in cycles). While you are pregnant, the hair does not fall out as it normally would (that is why pregnant women's hair looks so full and healthy). After we have the baby, our hormones change back and we begin to lose our hair at the rate of the normal hair cycle. But because we have not lost hair in so long during the pregnancy, it seems as though it is all coming out at the same time. In fact, you are not losing more hair. You are just losing the hair that you should have lost while you were pregnant. I hope this helps to make you feel better!

it has nothing to do with breastfeeding; most moms lose their hair after a few months postpartum. mine slowed down when my daughter was about 5 1/2 months old. keep taking those prenatal vitamins and that can help a little bit.

It really has to do with the hormones. Pregnancy hormones make your hair thick, and then your hormones change again when you deliver. It will probably stop at a certain point but you could also contact your dr to get a hormone panel done to see if any of them are off excessively for breastfeeding. When you figure which one's are out of wack, get some natural transdermal creams to adjust- the perscription ones can cause more harm than good. I recommend Young Living brand, which I use myself, so contact me when you find out what's up and I can tell you which one to get.
Good Luck!

What you're experiencing is pretty normal. The same thing happened to me at about 3 mos. postpartum. When you're pregnant, you tend to hardly shed any hair, but it also often grows like crazy. Once you give birth and your hormone levels are regulating, the shift in the hormone levels causes the hair loss. Like you I have very thick hair to begin with and I felt like I could have woven a sweater with all the hair I lost. It drove me crazy but it did eventually taper off, maybe after 2 - 3 mos. I don't recall for sure. The same thing happened after my 2nd baby, though I don't remember it being as bad.

It could also be your thyroid. When my 2nd was about 18 mos. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (overactive). I was shedding hair like crazy then, too, and that is one of the symptoms (also due to a change in your hormone levels). But I also had a multitude of other symptoms accompanying it as well. Chances are at 4.5 mos. postpartum, it really is just your hormone levels regulating post-pregnancy triggering the hair loss and nothing more than that. I would say if it continues for longer than a couple months, it wouldn't hurt to have your thyroid levels checked. Sometimes pregnancy can induce thryoid problems. My own hyperthyroidism likely was and after a couple years on medication, it has rectified itself and I no longer need meds. :o)

Good luck!

First of all, don't stop breastfeeding over this - your hair loss has *nothing* to do with whether or not you are breastfeeding, it's all about the fact that you are no longer pregnant.

Apparently, the hormones that we produce while we're enceinte keep us from losing any hair during that 9 months, and as they leave our system, the hair from that whole time starts falling out - all at once. Since on a normal basis we only lose a couple hairs per day, as they fall out/grow back it is less noticable - but when we lose big clumps after pregnancy, we really notice it! Since the new hair starts growing as soon as the old one falls out, you still have the hair follicles, your hair just has to grow long enough for you to see it. (If you get pregnant again, you'll have another nine months of growth without any falling out, so you won't go bald. =- )

I have really healthy thick hair too, and I lost so much after my 2nd daughter was born last September that I was getting really worried and talked to my ob/gyn about it. I lost a bunch after my first was born, but nothing like this!
Anyways, she said hair loss generally continues until month 6, then it stops. If it continued past 6 months, then she would give me a referral to a dermatologist.

Well, I hit the 6 month mark and like magic, it stopped - one day I had another handful come out in the shower, the next, nothing. My daughter just turned a year and my hair is almost back to normal - I cut my hair a bit shorter to help blend in with the stuff growing back, mostly because I lost a big patch just past my left temple and it seemed really obvious to me. It's still not all one length, but that will come with time as it grows back.

So, looks like you have another 1-2 months of hair loss left = ( but it *will* grow back. This is what I would do: If it doesn't stop during the 6 month mark get a referral to a dermatologist. Keep taking your prenatals (you should be anyways since you are breastfeeding), they are a complete vitamin source. In the meantime, wear a hat to cover your scalp (too much sun might be drying it out and causing the itch), switch from ponytails to headbands or clips (less stress on your hair), and look at your conditioner/shampoo combo to see if you should be using something more moisturizing.

Good luck!

I had the same problem after I had my son who is now 6. Your body is changing right now because it is no longer carrying another person. This can go on for 6 months or longer. My suggestion is go buy some Nixion from Ulta and see if you can take biotin or another type of hair,skin, and nail suppliment.

My daughter is 5 months old and I just had the hair loss like you. It is perfectly normal and happens around the 4 month mark. I'm also breastfeeding. The same thing happened with my older daughter too. It seems to last about 2 weeks or so then go away. They say you don't shed any hair while you're pregnant, so this is just the "extra" falling out, but it does seem like a TON! I even have two patches on each side of my face that look like bald spots!

By chance if it doesn't seem to stop, ask your doc OBGYN and see what they say. You should be still taking your prenatal or some kind of vitamin since you are nursing your son.

Good Luck!!
T.

It's totally normal!! :) The same thing happened to me with my first girl, and my husband thought it was so bizarre. About the 3rd or 4th month, I started to shed like a cat going from winter to summer. It was awful, but it does eventually stop -- I can't remember how long it lasts, though. My second girl (who is just 22 months younger than my oldest) is now a little over 3 months, and the shedding process is happening again, and I promise you, I'm not near bald!!
Of course, talk to your doc/pediatrician too. Sometimes it helps just to hear from them as well.

Hi! I'm a first time mom of a 5 month old and I don't think the hair loss is connected with breast feeding as I too am loosing a TON of hair. I am not breast feeding, my son has a milk protein allergy. Both my Dr. and hair stylist told me that it is just the change in hormones and that in time all will be well. I have changed my hair style to help cover up the thin patches, but as my hair stylist showed me, the hair is starting to grow back. Do check with your Dr. to rule out any other issues, but basically I think it is just one of those many changes that go along with being a mom :)

Hello! I am right there with you, but this is my third baby. With my first I had the extreme hair loss, or at least I thought it was. As much as I thought I would go bald I did not. It took a couple years to get my hair back to where it was before I had the baby. The second seemed to be worse (in my head I am sure) I went to a specialist and I was told it is hormonal changes, that would happen if you breast feed or do not. Some women get it and some don't. Lucky us. She did recommend the use of a preventative shampoo called Nioxin, you can get it in salons or beauty supply place in Arundel Mills Mall. My hair was back to its regular shape in 6 months. We had a surprise and I was pregnant with the third, so I am going through it again and using the Nioxin. - L.

I promise it won't all fall out! I thought I was going to be bald after my last son was born Feb 2006. I had lost a TON of hair after all of my babies but this one was the worst of all. Even the girl who cuts my hair really noticed. My husband thought I was exaggerating. So one day in the shower, I pulled it off my hands and pasted it to the wall inside the shower. When he saw it the next morning, he believed me then! LOL! He was shocked at how much hair was there. And I ware my hair short and in a 'flip-do' in the back. It's been scary but it has always stopped before anyone else could tell just from looking at me. Now at 38yrs old, I still go through my yearly 'shedding' where I loose lots of hair between July and Aug. My head always itches so bad too. It's the new hair growth. And if I rub my scalp, underneath my hair, with my finger tips, I can feel the little stubbles of new growth. There was one time my OB/GYN was gonna put me on hormones but there's no way. Especially not while I was breastfeeding. Hair or no hair, my baby is more important.

Vitamin supplements are VERY important to our overall health. You should definitely be taking supplements every day. We all tend to put it off until something happens. Then we want to look into them more. Vitamin/mineral supplements help to PREVENT many health issues.

IMPORTANT: ALL SUPPLEMENTS ARE NOT THE SAME. INFACT, MANY CAN ACTUALLY HURT US.

Email me directly at ____@____.com and I will send you an ABC news report which explains the difference, okay?

Now, seriously, do not worry about your hair coming out. I honestly know what you mean when you say it CAN'T be normal. LOL! I felt the same way. My pillow would even be covered every morning too. ( I had forgot about that until just now.)

Enjoy that baby boy! They don't stay little for long. And know that you are doing a great job.

Take Care,
N. ;) SAHM homeschooling 3 boys 12, 7 & 2 yrs old and married to a loving, sweet, hard-working man for almost 15yrs. I love to help other moms, who want to become SAHMs, reach that goal. Do you or someone you know want to become a SAHM but you just can't see how you could do it? Let me help by sharing what we did.

I went through the same thing after my son was born 2 years ago. It amazed me how much hair I didn't lose during pregnancy (way less than normal), and then I was shocked at just how much I lost about 3 months post partum! The 'intense shedding' lasted a couple months, but then slowed back down. As others have stated, I think it just has to do with hormones. Please don't stop breastfeeding! It's so wonderful for you and your baby :)

You have hair loss due to surgery, if you had a C-section, or from stress. Your body went through stress of delivery. It will get better. Pre-natals help for vitamins. If you are still having the problem after 6 months or so, then see your doctor if you want. But, it will get better in time!
Good Luck!

Don't worry it is totally normal after having a baby. My hair started falling out when my son was aroung 3 months. My son's hair also fell out at the same time. It has to do with your hormones. Mine stopped falling out when my son was 5 1/2 months.

I too had hair loss, but found that by increasing my consumption of fat and protein it got better and my breast milk richer. Of course, eating more fat and meat didn't make me feel to bad either! Eggs, real butter, real cheese etc. Good luck.

A.,

The hair loss has nothing to do with breastfeeding-- it is a normal function of your hormonal fluctuations after having had a baby. It could be that you are losing more hair than normal, however, and it might be a really good idea to go into your general practitioner and ask for a full physical. Sometimes pregnancy can help a thyroid issue kick into gear, and it may be that your extra hair loss has something along those lines as a reason behind it. The other thing you could ask for is for them to check your hormone levels, to determine if anything is out of whack there...

Please don't quit breastfeeding-- it isn't because you are breastfeeding. After each of my six deliveries, at about three months out, I lost a bunch of hair as well. It was just my norm. After a couple months of shedding, it slowed down, and things balanced out. I had my thyroid checked a couple of times over the years, but it was just normal hair loss following a pregnancy.

Good luck. Let us know how it all ends up, won't you?

Warmly,
JennyC.

rest assured, youre NOT really losing hair. when youre pregnant, you actually grow MORE hair because of the hormones (especially if you took prenatal vitamins, which is also why youre nails grow stronger and faster, and it gives you that pregnancy glow). on average, the non preggers, non breastfeeding woman loses 100 strands of hair per day (i lose way more than that, but its normal for me)... i still have a full head of crazy thick hair. youre body is just returning to normal after being pregnant. you WILL NOT GO BALD! good luck, and if youre still concerned, ask youre doctor about it :)

Hi A.! I just had a baby and I had the exact same experience. My hair was falling out in clumps every day and it scared me a little. I talked to my OB about it and she assured me over and over that it was either due to 1)hormones or 2)nutrition. Make sure you have plenty of meat, veggies, eggs, nuts, and seeds in your diet. And continue to take your pre-natals.

Right around the 6 month point is when the hair loss started to decrease and I actually have new hair growing in now. It looks a little funny, but it's so nice to know that it's going to grow back! Hang in there- I assure you it will come back!

Hey A.,
While it is normal to have some significant hair loss after pregnancy, whether breast feeding or not, it's not normal to lose quite that much. Have your doctor check your thyroid function. Hyperthyroidism can affect post partum women (it can be temporary)and one of the symptoms is hair loss. I know this because I went through it myself. I would literally pull out gobs of hair after a shower and it would clog the drain. I know how alarming it can be! But rest assured, there's an explanation. Again, have your doctor look into it.

Good Luck and Congratulations!
S.

Don't freak out, it is normal. And it isn't the breastfeeding, it's your body adjusting to it's normal hormone levels. When you were pregnant, you probably didn't lose much hair, now that your body is going back to "normal", you're losing hair regularly, plus all the hair that acumulated during your pregnancy. Unless you start feeling bald patches (in which case, I'd see a doctor), don't worry too much, it'll grow back. I've always had very thick hair, and with both of my sons I started losing it when they were 3-4 months old. To help with the dryness I'd suggest having a salon do a deep-conditioning treatment, or you could do one at home. Olive oil, wrap head up, leave in for about 30 minutes, then wash. Good luck, and congratulations on your baby.

If you are having any other symptoms you may want to have your physican check that your thyroid is under control. After I had my son I found out that I had a hyperactive thryoid. I was losing a LOT of hair, such that I was starting to worry about coming up with new hair styles to hide the bald patches. But I also had other symptoms like weight loss, feeling anxious, and being hot all the time. Once I was on medication to treat the problem my hair went back to normal. You can read about the symptoms on-line and see if you feel like it is worth mentioning to the doctor. Good luck.