hair loss after pregnancy

[sazman]

Hi All,
Just wondered if anyone had any advice re severe hair loss after pregnancy. MY DS2 is 4 months and in this last week my hair has started falling out massively...in just a week or so my fringe has really thinned out and hair line is receding. At the moment no one would probably notice because my hair is pretty thick anyway but if it continues at the rate it has in this last week, they soon will! The plug hole is constantly blocked ad i'm having to hoover more than normal! I know hair loss is normal after pregnancy..this is worse than after my DS1 though. Does anyone know of any changes to my diet i could make or supplements i could take which would help?? Don't know whether it's worth visiting my GP?? Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks.

[Andrea157]

Hi sazman,

I'm in the same situation as you, I've been having severe hair loss for 4 weeks now and I just went to see my GP yesterday, he wasn't too sure why (possibly stress / anxiety), but he took 4 vials of blood to be tested - now all I have to do is wait a week or so to find out the results (hormonal / thyroid imbalance) is my guess, or it could be that I'm perhaps anemic???

My hair was already fine to start with and during pregnancy (with my now gorgeous little girl) I retained my hair and it got lovely and full for the first time in my life, then as previously mention it started coming out 4 weeks ago in big clumps and strands, I too also have a receding hair line and my fringe is now practically non - existent. The GP prescribed me a steroid based lotion, so I've to put this on twice a day for a few days, then decrease it to once a day. It's very distressing, isn't it? I'm trying really hard not to stress about it all, as I doubt it would help.

What ever you do, don't take any hair, nail and skin vitamins if your breastfeeding, as some of the vitamins and minerals could be harmful to the baby!! Just wanted to say that your not alone, but perhaps a wee visit to see your GP may help and he/she will prescribe something for you.

I was told that rosemary essential oil, rubbed into the scalp with a carrier oil may help (although it's not a proven method) and also rising your hair in fresh freezing cold water helps stimulate the hair follicles. Hopes this help a little.

Let me know how you get on

[stillkissingfrogs]

Had to post as this is not happening to me at this moment but did after having both my children and always after 6-9months following the birth.

First time round i tried had the tests etc and it was put down to alopecia (i wasnt stressed until i started to loose my hair!lol) i tried special lotions vitamins shampoo's sprays the lot and was getting more and more stressed. I then went to a chemist's in tears asking what i could try next i was only 21 i was gutted. She explained that with all the different things i was doing (lotions and potions and with stressing) i was making matters worse.

I went away with a ph balanced shampoo and conditioner (think it was sunsilk PH neautral with calming almond or avokado) and some basic multi vits and told to let nature take its course.

The hairloss did stop and my hair returned to normal, after my 2nd child it started again and i went straight in with the ph neautral shampoo and multivits and just told myself it would come back as before and i didnt loose half as much hair that time round.

It is awful to have this happen, and what worked may not give you the same results it did me just wanted to offer my support and comments on what worked in my opinion

[sazman]

Hi Andrea and Stillkissingfrogs,
Thank you both for your support...it just helps knowing i'm not the only one and that it's prob hormone and pregnancy related and hopefully will eventually get better! Andrea, please let me know how you get on with blood results. I'm going to try the rosemary essential oil and freezing cold water thing if i dare!!

[winogal]

Hi. Just wanted to say that I'm in the same boat. DS2 is 9 months and although my hair loss doesnt seem too bad now, what I'm left with is super thin hair (I was also fine-haired to begin with). I had a thyroid test but it came back negative, so am trying to chill out about it and hope that it will go back to normal soon. In meantime am taking a multivitamin/mineral tablet daily and opting for a short hair do and am looking at hats!

It'll come good for us, keep the faith!

[Andrea157]

G'morning sazman,

Will be calling the GP tomorrow to see if the results are back, will let you know the outcome. I think the steroid lotion might be working a little too...just wishing my hair would grow back to normal (soon).

[AMumInScotland]

I had this with DS (long long ago...) and went to the GP. She explained at that point about how it's a hormonal thing which makes your hair follicles "hold onto " the hairs while you're pregnant and then lots of them "let go" at this stage.

She said that the important thing in deciding whether to worry or not was whether new hairs were growing in - if you (or rather DP or a friend) look at your scalp, you should be able to see the new hairs coming in.

If so, it's probably just the hormones, and will settle soon enough.

If the skin is smooth and no new hairs coming in, then it could be something which needs investigation.

[hamstring]

i was going to post about this as i too am losing hair around the front. i dont notice any hair coming out particularly but have receeded hair line and im sure its got worseI had baby 6 months ago and hoping this is the cause. Is it necessary to see the Dr do you think?

[Andrea157]

Well, called GP for results and everything came back normal, which I am pleased about, but I still don't understand why my hair is falling out, the only thing I can think of is that it may be stress related, as I have had quite a bit on my plate lately....who knows!!!

[PacificDogwood]

It is dreadful, isn't it!

I used to have to stop the shower to unplug the plughole halfway through washing my (short!) hair after DS1. I hate the mess it makes too.
After DS2 and 3 same thing happened, lost tons of hair from about 4 to 6 months postnatal, looked positively bald at the front. It then all grew back. Don't get me started on really really short regrowth, grrrr!
It is to do with hair not falling out while you are pregnant, then all of it falls out at the same time, IYKWIM.
Do not worry! If you are eating a normal kind of diet you'll be fine.
If you want have blood count, iron levels and protein checked out.
But it WILL grow back.

[piprabbit]

I had the same thing after both DC, and after severe illness. I was frantic, but found it very comforting when I realised that I could feel little tiny prickles of new-grown hair when I ran my fingers along my hairline. I couldn't see this new hair but was relieved to know it was on it's way.

I remember someone saying that hair loss is often triggered 3-4 months after a 'traumatic' event (as in something big happening to you physically - not a scare).

It's another one of those fantastic side effects of having children that never gets much of a mention, including crumbly fingernails and dry skin .

[livismum]

Just nearly posted the same thing! have been in tears in the shower and have had my hair tied up and away for couple of weeks DD is 5 1/2 months and im still breastfeeding

I had the same think with my eldest but the fact that its happened before and i know its because of the whole not losing hair when pg thing, but its still horrible!

[helly3811]

i am the same, my hair was really thick before i got pregnant and now it is so thin. i have to pull the hair out of the brush at least 3 times after i have washed my hair! and i now have 2 bald patches! i am really worried about this and have made an appointment to see my gp however i am worried my doctor will think its nothing and tell me is a normal thing that happens after pregnancy, because at this rate i will end up with no hair!!! it is reassuring to know im not the only one tho and i am thankful to have read some of your comments as i now know that there is somthing that my gp should be able to do! thank you!! xxx

[Telesales650]

Please do not worry your hair will return thick and healthy, I had a Gynea op this February and got myslf all clued up all about what happens except it didnt mention hairloss afterwards .
The first time I washed my hair sfter my op it fell out in handfuls and I phoned my GP he said that was shock after the illness I had had and not to worry I will not go bald.!!
I havent and my hair is back to its normal bob.!

[camlew]

just joined mumsnet and reading about hair loss after pregnancy. My baby is 5 months old and since he was three months old my hair has been falling out. Its getting so bad that iam scared to wash or brush it, and just noticed bald patches at the side. I also dont know whether to bother the G.P,he may think iam wasting his time. This did not happen with my other three, but am very stressed this time and just returned to work, feel a little better seeing others going through the same.

[DinahRod]

Mine is falling out after having dc3, did the same with dc2 as well. Was almost at the point of buying some bandannas to cover thinning front (depends how bad it gets this time!) but over about 4-6m it did gradually improve without me really noticing it. I also took vitamin B6, B12, iron and folic acid which I think helped.

[moajab]

This didn't happen to me after my first two were born and I was convinced that it was a myth... until I had my third and my hair started to fall out big time at about 4 months. I think it continued for about 4 or 5 months and I was convinced that I would end up totally bald, but luckily it never got that bad and by the time DS3 was 8 or 9 months old it stopped falling out at such a rate and has been normal ever since.

[Karoleann]

I had it at three months with both of mine, dr said it may be breastfeeding and actually a couple of weeks after i stopped my hair stopped falling out.
Obviously not for everyone if you're hoping to feed yourself for six months and you can't go bak once you've stopped!

[Elphiesmummy]

My baby is 4 1/2 mnths old now and in the last month my hair has rapidly fallen out, i had an especially traumatic birth as i have a large uterine fibroid i had to have a classical c-section (up and down cut not bikini cut), i was starting to think it was just me as all my friends said they lost a bit of hair but i now have hardly any fringe left my hair has receded so much. i am going to try the shampoo idea as well as uping my iron suplements as i am permanently anaemic at the moment after a few blood transfusions. i will let you know how i get on with doing that. it is starting to make me really upset, i already look 6months pregnant due to the fibroid (it is 30cm across) so really didn't need to be going bald on top of people asking how many months pregnant i am, then the embarassment of having to tell them i'm not.

[ira31]

Thank God, Im not alone!
As you guys, I'm losing so much hair I think I'll be bald an a few weeks time! :(
I have tried every single trick but nothing works!
My baby boy is 5 1/2 months old and at the moment I just can not see the end of my hair loss! It is very upsetting. I have long hair and cutting it off is not the option. :(

[Kiki9]

I have a 5 months old baby, and my hair started to fall like never before, it's crazy. Got interested, and all I could do is some olive oil treament from time to time, eggs with lemon, and antioxidant fruits, such as: berries, oranges, plums, apples, pineapples and more. if this doesn't work go for a blood test and see whether you need to take some supplements of vitamins or not.
I did, and I had anemia, everything dropped so bad, so i'm having vitamins as well.
Will keep you posted what happens next.
Good luck ;)
Kat.

[jenniec79]

You don't lose hair at the normal rate during pregnancy, but afterwards all the hairs that would have shed/come out in shower/hairbrush but didn't - all fall out at once. Breastfeeding is another round of hormonal craziness after that of pregnancy, so I'm sure it does have an effect, but happened to my mum too and I was an SMA baby!

Entirely normal. Don't worry!

COI: hospital doc.

[mamalula]

My hair is falling out too, my ds2 is 5 months old. I had thin hair to begin with and now I look like big, fat, disgusting, bald thing. I live in France and my french is not too good so I haven't seen a dr since the birth and really don't have the courage to get out there. God, I hope things get better soon!

[sandraw74]

have you tried Dianette for hair loss after pregnancy?? I used it for both this and acne after my 2nd child 7 months back...it worked for both problems and its even a contraception too...so it will stop baby number 3 lol

[Cdmumof3]

I'm in the same boat guys! This happened around the 4 month stage after the birth of my first 2, and didn't go on for very long. (few months max) However since the birth of my third, I have been experiencing severe hair fall since he was three months, and he's now 13 months! Luckily I had very thick hair, but it's been quite distressing in what is generally a quite unglamourous time in life anyway. I'm still breastfeeding so maybe that has something to do with it (although I bf 'til 20 months before and as I say the hair fall period was short) but my hair is starting to come in. All over my head, there are hairs approximately an inch long. Unfortunately, most of them are coming in white:-( So I've gone from being a long haired vibrant redhead, to a receding, permanently-hair-up, ponytail-half-the-size-it-was greying frump. Can't even treat myself to an expensive hair-do, as nothing will look good right now until more hair grows in.
The things no-one mentions about being a mum! Least I have my beautiful baby to remind me it's all worth it

[DoItTooJulia]

Zombie thread!