Hair loss - is this too much

[Prufrock]

My hair is falling out. I was kind of expecting it, but the amount and the length of time it's been going on for is getting worrying. I have always had very thick hair, but you can actually see my scalp at some points now and it's noticeably thinner. Every day in the shower it comes out in huge amounts, making a walnut sized ball when I scrunch it all up after fishing it out of the plughole. Every time I run my hands through my hair at least3/4 hairs come out - which adds up over the course of a day! And it's been like this for 3 weeks now.

I have stopped bf last week - but it was falling out before that. And ds had been having only 2 feeds a day for the last 4 months, so there doesn't seem to be a correlation there. I know it's normal to lose hair post pregnancy/feeding, but I didn't lose anywhere near this much after my first baby. Should I worry?

[charellie]

Sorry, don't know much about this so hopefully there is someone with knowledge of this.

It is probably hormonal. If you are concerned go to the Doctor who should have some more advice

[AvocadoLover]

Mine fell out for at least 6 months and there was loads - walnuts sized lumps as you describe. I got quite worried but then it just slowed down and is thickening up again now (10 months on). The regrowth is a bit odd though - lots of short hairs all over my head which refuse to lie down! It is scary, but it will get better. Even my hairdresser commented I was losing a lot at the time which worried me, but all ok now.

[Calmriver]

Please don't panic. My hair fell out so badly too. My DH says that he now knows what it must be like to live with a dog in the house!!!!!
I would lose more than about 6 each time, and went to the doctor. They often say it's stress!!! Isn't everything nowdays????Must be hormones! My hair has only recently stopped falling out as much, and DD is now 9 MONTHS OLD!!!!

[Calmriver]

Ambrosia, YES

I had them throughout my hair on the top of my head. I just had to leave them there though, I think that has calmed down a bit now!!! I don't notice it myself anyway!!!!
(blush)

[Flossam]

Pf, mine is the same. Although I'm sure it was post pregnancy, I'm sure recieving some shocking news did bring it on. I'm hoping things should settle down a bit when and if life becomes less stressful! I took a remedy from a health food shop, I can't remember the name atm, but it is liquid iron, 100% natural in a box. Couldn't get hold of it where I lived but seemed good while I had it. Also Lush do a shampoo (called new) which is supposed to help. Mine got stuck in the tin though and ended up pulling out as much hair everytime i used it. Go and see GP if really worried. They can check that everything is ok. HTH

[StrangelyBzar]

Very interesting - I am experiencing more hair loss this time round. My DS is nearly 5 months old, and I have to clear the plug hole every time. Didn't happen with my DS 5 years ago. Not too worried at the moment as my hair still keeps growing. Seems to be a common problem. Good luck.

[Freysmum]

Ahhh! I didn't have much to start with and now my pillow looks like a cat slept on it! Baby is just 4 months now. I did read somewhere that using Rosemary shampoo helps, which I've tried and apart from the pleasant smell, I don't really know if it is helping. Got the shampoo from a health shop - bit expensive though.

[mandymac]

Resurecting this thread to see if any of the original posters can tell me if their hairloss eased up and if so when? DD is now almost 5 months, my hair has been falling out a lot for about 6 weeks now and I'm going quite bald at my temples .

Is there light (and more hair) at the end of the tunnel?

[mandymac]

baldly bumping

[likklemum]

I had horrific hairloss (as you have all described). When I got out of the bath, it looked like I was wearing a pair of Mohair leggings!! my hair was fine to begin with, so it looked like I was balding (lovely). Now I am experiencing the spiky stage (joy), but I still cant wear my hair back.

[mandymac]

bumping again - does anyone know if the original posters are still around?

[mandymac]

bumping again - does anyone know if the original posters are still around?

[aprilmeadow]

I lost a lot of hair and it didnt stop coming out until a few weeks ago. My DS is 6.5mths. I too have the lovely little tufty fringe thing going on. I am seriously considering getting a fringe cut in to hide the tufts. They must be about an inch long! Am so pleased that it has stopped coming out as i was fed up of finding my hair in the most bizarre places.

[aloha]

Normal. Another spiky mini-fringe wearer here too . Happened last time too. She's nine months now and the rate of loss has slowed down. I have very thick hair so you'd never know, except it keeps blocking the hoover and plug holes.

[aprilmeadow]

I look a little odd, as i i dye my hair a darkish brown and my natural colour, that i havent seen for about 8years, i quite a bit lighter!!

[kcemum]

I lost a lot of hair after each of my 3 children, I'm still losing it now - 5 years after my last child. However I have extremly thick long hair so don't notice the loss as such until I clean the plug in the bath. I was going to talk to my GP about it but having spoken about it to my hairdresser - she says that it is normal to lose upto 100 hairs per day, so i'm not that worried.

[jabberwocky]

I lost a lot of hair although there weren't any patches where you could see scalp. I hate to say that it didn't really stop coming out until ds was about 18 months old. I started taking omega-3 supplements a month or two before that, don't know if it helped or was a coincidence, but you might consider giving it a try.

With that much loss, it never hurts to see the doc and see if they want to do something with your hormones, at least temporarily. That's what my hairdresser recommended, but then mine sorted itself out.

[mandymac]

I've just been to see GP as I am having night sweats (how very attractive ) since dd was born, so they have just done some tests, I'm awaiting the results. I forgot to mention the hairloss, but will do when I go in to discuss the tests.

[jabberwocky]

Oh, yes, the sweating. I was convinced I was going through early menopause I think mine lasted about 6 - 8 weeks.

[jabberwocky]

Did they check your thyroid?

[mandymac]

Its been 4.5 months so far Jabberwocky

[jabberwocky]

I would suspect thyroid then. I have low thyroid and had similar problems until it was diagnosed. Pregnancy can throw it off, you know. But, if that is what's going on you will just take a thyroid supplement for it.

[mandymac]

I don't know, they just took some blood and didn't really tell me what they were testing for - I forgot to ask. What are the other symptoms? I haven't had a period yet although I am still breastfeeding. Also, I lost all my baby weight very fast with no effort and am eating loads of cake & chocolate to avoid losing any more weight - yes I know poor me!