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Childbirth

Losing my hair postpartum!!!! Is this normal?????

26 replies

lady24 · 03/12/2012 22:53

I don't really know what to make of this. DD is now just over three months and my hairs has begun to SHED...literally as of two weeks ago. when i shower, there are LOCKS of hair left in the tub. if i run my hands through my hair, let alone combing it, significant amounts of hair is removed. besides the fact that it is just horrible, and i cant remove a pony holder from my hair without ripping out half of it, i am worried that it might be something more serious. is this normal for postpartum or should i go check this out? i do remember that when my younger sis had this problem as a teen my parents were quiet worried about it and took her to the pediatrician. don't remember what happened after that though. did anyone else have this as well? is it something normal or not? please advise!!

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moonbells · 03/12/2012 22:56

Normal. Don't panic. You lose very little hair when pg and so afterwards, all the follicles that would have gradually recycled themselves during the 9mo do it all at once.

Beamur · 03/12/2012 22:56

I think it is quite common to lose quite a lot of hair postpartum - normal hair loss cycles are linked to your immune system which is altered during pregnancy, so once that goes back to normal, I think you can sometimes effectively lose all the hair you would have otherwise shed naturally over the last 9 months.
Drastic hair loss could be linked to other issues though, so if it is concerning you, go see your GP.

GalaxyDisaster · 03/12/2012 22:57

It sounds pretty normal unless it continues until the point where your hair is visibly thinning. However, as you have a family history, I might be inclined to get it checked.

What happens is pregnancy hormones stop you losing the hair you normally would in the growth/shedding cycle whilst you are pregnant. About 3-4 months pp you lose all the hair you would normally have lost over a year. It can look scary amounts. It is why the thick pregnancy hair many women get doesn't stick around.

ChocolateCoins · 03/12/2012 22:58

I had bald patches after having DD. I remember thinking the sane as you. It was really scary but honestly it's normal and my hair has now grown back.

CatchingMockingbirds · 03/12/2012 22:58

That happened to me too, it grew back though but was terrifying at the time.

lady24 · 03/12/2012 22:58

thanks all.
beamur - what kind of issues for example can be related to extreme hair loss.

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Convert · 03/12/2012 22:59

Yes, don't panic! I've got quite thick hair and it falls out loads after I have a baby. It will stop.

GlaikitFizzogTheChristmasElf · 03/12/2012 22:59

Ds was 16 weeks when my hair started falling out. I was a bit of a shock and I had loads of little tufty bits that took an age to grow out but he is 18 months now and my hair is back to normal!

I miss my swishy shiny pregnancy hair though!

Beamur · 03/12/2012 23:02

I don't know - which is why I suggest you talk to someone who does
It does sound pretty common though.

lady24 · 03/12/2012 23:02

when should i expect all this hair loss to stop though.

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GalaxyDisaster · 03/12/2012 23:03

One example is a thyroid problem (I know because it happened to a friend's mum). Or something like stress. But really it's just a warning sign IYSWIM - it's not a symptom you can use to diagnose anything. And in your case, with the timing, it is far more likely to be normal pp hair loss, unless you have specific reason to believe otherwise.

GalaxyDisaster · 03/12/2012 23:04

It lasts a while - a number of weeks. It should peak and then slow.

TeaandHobnobs · 03/12/2012 23:04

Mine has settled down now (just over 7 months) - although I have had my hair cut shorter now, so maybe I just don't notice it as much. But I'm fairly sure it isn't as extreme as it was to start with.

lady24 · 03/12/2012 23:06

thanks galaxy, looks like this is pretty normal. just came as a shock, out of no where just started losing my hair. was getting scared maybe its some kind of vit deficiency or something, but looks like it is normal.

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GalaxyDisaster · 03/12/2012 23:09

Yes, I remember thinking first time I had escaped massive hair loss. Kicked in about 16 weeks with both mine I think. Handfuls of the stuff. Cleaning the plug was . Also, with DD2 it worked its way into all of DD1's play-doh, must have been falling out as we sat and played. Had to ditch it all

IceNoSlice · 03/12/2012 23:19

My DC1 is 17 weeks and my hair is EVERYWHERE at the moment, I have to Hoover all the time. I am always finding it in DS's hands. I'm hoping it ends soon!

QTPie · 04/12/2012 08:18

Normal - to a lesser or greater extent (I was very lucky).

Are you eating ok at the moment? Balanced diet? Postnatal vitamin? Can't hurt.

As previous posters have said, because of the family history, might be worth getting it checked out.

HappyAsASandboy · 04/12/2012 08:31

I started losing mine at about 3 months post partum and shed for about 4 months. When I brush it away from my head now, I can see from the shorter regrowth that I lost about a third of my hair.

It sucks. Just when you're feeling physically different and adjusting, you lose hair :( But it does grow back eventually :)

JennyPiccolo · 04/12/2012 08:46

Unfortunately quite normal. Mine kept falling out for about a year my hairdresser said she sees it all the time.

Luckily I have loads of hair, so no bald spots, but my hair moulted like crazy. It got everywhere.

When you wash it, try coming it through with a fine toothed comb to take all the dead bits out until your next wash.

yahnyinlondon · 04/12/2012 08:53

Glad someone else asked this! 4 month old DD here, hair has been coming out in clumps esp. when I comb through my conditioner. Have to clean the drain in our manky not yet renovated bathroom

ChocolateCoins · 04/12/2012 09:22

My hair has just has just started to look normal after DD but now I'm pregnant, so it's going happen all over again

lady24 · 05/12/2012 08:42

oh gosh! sounds like we're all in the same pickle... just such a shame cuz have beautiful natural blonde hair. never touched it (never died it or treated it) just natural thick blonde hair and now its shedding like mad :(

yahnyin cleaning drain has become grotesque. bathroom not either renovated yet...

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lady24 · 05/12/2012 08:44

Qtpie do you think you suffered less hair loss cuz kept to a healthy diet?
am trying my best especially since bfeeding as well. am not so great with vitamins though...

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Clarella · 05/12/2012 08:44

Probably totally normal but I'd second checking if thyroid having a wobble

AntoinetteCosway · 05/12/2012 09:05

Mine was bad enough that I had to get a fringe cut in to cover my receding hair line. DD is 14mo now and my hair's getting back to normal.

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