hair loss and breast feeding

[baldtruth]

I am about to start weaning 3.5 month old dd to formula, and am wondering what impact this will have on my hairloss. I know it's normal to lose hair at this stage but my problem is my hair is terribly thin and fine at the best of times and my big nightmare is for it to get worse. I also get terrible hot flushes and hope that these wil dissipate once my hormones get back to 'normal' whatever that is! Any wise words very appreciated...

[MiaMamma]

I stopped breastfeeding about two months ago, had nightmare with my hair loss all through bfeeding time, was so sure I'll end up with no hair at all!! But seems like it starting to get better, still not perfect yet but I'm getting there (hopefully!). Also got special shampoo and conditioner against hair loss from my hairdresser to help.
Not an expert on the subject but just wanted to say you're not alone and things will get better

[MiaMamma]

I also treated myself with a new haircut to feel better. And I do feel (and look, too) great!!!

[Tentun]

Hi there
My boy went off the breast at around 5 months and I definitely noticed my hair falling out more but I never seemed to notice that it was getting any thinner. What I mean is, I would notice when I got out the shower or bath that I had left loads of hair behind in the plug hole and when I brushed my hair loads would come out in the brush but I never actually noticed my hair looking any thinner. It's perfectly normal though and I still have a full head of hair 15 months on.
Try not to worry too much. Our bodies just have to sort themselves out again in their own time.

[DontlookatmeImshy]

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the hairloss you have at this stage is just the extra hair you retained during pregnancy rather than anything to do with bf'ing. Our post natalgroup was a mixture of breastfeeders,bottle feeders and mixed feeders and we all started and stopped losing the hair at pretty much the same time.

My hair has alwaysbeen horribly thin andfine andit was lovely while I was pregnant.Now it's just back to how it was before,no better, no worse.

[MadamePlatypus]

Completely agree with DontLookatme. I think pretty much everybody looses the extra pregnancy hair at around 4 months. I suppose as with anything hormonal ups and downs can trigger changes in your body, but I don't think breast feeding/weaning has much to do with normal post pregnancy hair loss.

[MistletoeGolightly]

I agree with dontlookatme - I don't think its anything to do with breastfeeding, just a timing thing, I know both ff and bf mothers and they all seemed to moult at the same time! The old wives tales say that when your baby starts to teeth and dribble (ie 3 months-ish) your hair starts to fall out. That timing was certainly true with me, the loss probably lasted from 3 months to about 5 months, and slowly tailed off. I think my hair did end up slightly thinner than before I got pregnant but now (nearly 8 months) it seems to be back to normal.

[baldtruth]

thanks all, miamamma what was the shampoo and conditioner recommended to you?

[Rochwen]

I also don't think the hairloss has to do with breastfeeding. I think you stop loosing your hair during pregnancy and then once the baby is born you loose the extra hair again. I have very fine hair too and I lost a ton, handfulls in every wash, I was in tears but it stopped after a few weeks and I really think I only lost what I had 'accumulated' during pregnancy. Next all these little baby hairs started to grow. So, don't panic, you won't go bald.