Insane hair loss during pregnancy

[Swan8]

I am really hoping someone can give me some hope. I’m 21 weeks and since the end of the first trimester have been suffering extreme hair loss. My hair is a third of the thickness it used to be. Luckily it was very thick to start with but I’m worried that if it continues at this rate I will be bald by the time the baby arrives. When I wash or brush my hair it comes out in huge clumps. The GP tested my iron, folate and thyroid and all were fine. I was just told it was “one of those things”. I spoke to the obstetrician too, who said it is unusual but must just be caused by hormones. I’m finding it really upsetting and scary. Has anyone else experienced this in pregnancy (not after - I know hair often falls out after pregnancy)? I’ve attached a photo which shows how much came out in my hands in the shower today. A lot more than that came out in the shower ... I am really hoping someone out there will tell me they had this too and it stopped in the third trimester or will have some good news.

[midnightflowers]

No idea at all but bumping for you.
I lose what I thought was a fair amount but nothing compared to what your losing, that looks like an awful lot of hair.
Have you spoke to your midwife? They maybe more knowledgeable.
Hopefully it stops/slows down soon

[Swan8]

Thanks so much @midnightflowers! I have spoken to the midwife - the response I keep getting is just “hormones do funny things”. I think they think I’m just being vain. And I am - but I genuinely am worried that at the rate it is falling out I am going to look noticeably bald soon, which is terrifying. I’m not just worried that it doesn’t look “good” - I’m worried that soon it is going to look really scary and weird.

[midnightflowers]

I’d be worried too! (Hope that doesn’t make you worry more!)
Show the picture you’ve posted to your midwife when you next see her/him.
I wish I had some advice for you! Hopefully someone will come along soon

[bettydraper31]

I know how you feel, my hair was already very fine and I can't afford to lose more! I think you only lose hair after baby is born if you've been one of the lucky ones that gets thicker hair during pregnancy. How often are you washing your hair? Have you tried using a thickening shampoo? X

[CoffeeAndCupcakes85]

You poor thing. It's miserable. I've been losing a fair amount of hair too (23 weeks). Luckily I also had a lot to begin with, but it really worries me...not now but if it doesn't stop. I'm trying to wash my hair as little as possible, as that's when I have the huge losses. I hope yours stops soon x

[JoJoSM2]

I'd go back to the GP and push for more tests. Something isn't right. Did they test for the right sort of iron? Have you got any other symptoms of anaemia?

[Expectingbsbunumber2]

I've found my hair has become a lot stronger and less is falling out when I wash or brush it. Maybe speak to your midwife about it?

[OuchLegoHurts]

I'm losing lots too, and I lost tonnes on my first (twin)n pregnancy too. I put it down to hormones. Most women lose less than normal when pregnant and then they lose loads and loads after the birth but as far as I can remember I lost in pregnancy (I think it slowed down in 2nd trimester) and then lost virtually none after the birth. Rest assured that it was never a problem for me after that so I'm not at all worried this time either!

[TanginaBarrons]

That is a lot of hair. My DS has alopecia areata and a relapse is often triggered by hormones. Also could be telegen effluvium. I would be going to a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis - that's not normal. I hope I'm not worrying you - the good news is that if you have a first instance of AA as an adult it often doesn't reoccur and TE is usually a one off occurrence too.

[Swan8]

Thanks all. I have an appointment to see a dermatologist Monday. The GP and midwife just wouldn’t take me seriously - I think because my hair looks normal they just thought I was exaggerating which was really frustrating. It only looks normal because it was so very thick to begin with. It now looks like I have “normal” thin hair. So I have got a private appointment on Monday and am really hoping they can give me some answers. My GP did do bloods - checked iron, folate and thyroid and all are fine. So I’m not holding out much hope that anything can be done, but even some reassurance from the dermatologist that the hair fall will eventually stop would be much appreciated. I’m finding it quite traumatic.

[Swan8]

I meant to add - I’m sorry to hear others are going through hair loss too, although have to admit it is a bit of a relief to hear I’m not just a freak! As some other posters have commented, the hair loss is mainly when I wash it. I have cut back to washing it every third day (I used to wash it every day - I have pretty oily hair). It has dried out with pregnancy too, so I can last 3 days now. I’ve been putting off going to the hairdressers for the last few weeks because I’m so embarrassed by how much comes out when I wash it. But I have finally braved making an appointment for this afternoon and am going to get her to cut it - it is currently half way down my back and I’m going to go shoulder length. Hopefully getting rid of some of the weight may help things ... it looks ok now (as mentioned, just as though I have normal thin hair) so I’m not at crisis point yet. But if it keeps coming out at this rate I will be soon. In some of my
lower moments I’ve been googling wigs etc. I am not overly vain, I promise, but as I mentioned I am finding this pretty traumatic. So really hoping the dermo will have some answers or at least be able to say that it is bound to stop any day now.

[Swan8]

In case anyone has this problem in the future - I saw a dermatologist today with a specialty in pregnancy and hair. And the condition I’m suffering from is telogen effluvium. It is more common post partum but can occur during pregnancy too. It usually lasts for one hair cycle (about 3 months) and doesn’t cause baldness - only the hair in the “resting” phase falls out. And it will stop. The hair loss is particularly noticeable for me because my hair is naturally so incredibly thick - so even losing a percentage of it manifests it what appears to be dramatic hair loss. But he assured me it won’t all go, I’ll continue to look like I have a full head of hair (albeit not nearly as thick as it used to be) and it will stop eventually. So all good news.

[OuchLegoHurts]

That's great to know, for you and me! I was presuming that it would be fine as it happened to me last time too and I don't remember being too upset over it...but that was ten years ago! Great to know it's normal. By the way, I took Viviscal after the birth and it made a big difference.

[Swan8]

Thanks @OuchLegoHurts - I’ll look into that post birth. The dermo also said Regain helps slow down the hair shedding. But that’s not something you can take when pregnant. So he said it’s just a matter of waiting it out and trusting that the hair in the “growth” stage is not going to fall, so I will continue to look Normal to everyone else, and the hair that is shedding is growing back even if I can’t see it and all will return to my normal in time. Now I know I’m not going to go bald I’m feeling much better and can cope with it!

[Snagz]

So glad there was a reassuring result for you, and thanks for sharing.

[shgs8]

Sorry to thread hijack but my wife has started noticing hair loss and it’s really upsetting her. I have encouraged her to come on this to speak to people who’ve been there. We haven’t told anyone yet so she can’t confide in friends. I’m basically on for reassurance for me and her. I hate seeing her so upset. I’m glad swan8 had a good result. If she’s still on and reads this it would be helpful to know how quickly her hair grew back.

[DuchyDuke]

Get your vitamin D levels tested. Even a minor deficiency can cause hair loss.

[BlueBug45]

Get vitamin D tested then if that is optimal - in my area needs to be 75nmol/L or above to be optimal - then get ferritin level, B12 and folate checked out. If GP refuses to do any individual test as they state it isn't warranted as per their right, then go and see a trichologist privately. Some trichologists are dermatologists while others are more hairdressers with additional training.

[shgs8]

Thanks all. I’ll pass the information on. Appreciated.

[shgs8]

Hi all.

Wife has had blood tests and apparently then results are in “acceptable range”.

Still loosing lots of hair. Does anyone have hints and tips.

Can only think it’s telogen effluvium. But I’m not sure what can be done other than to ride it out.

Really want her to enjoy her pregnancy but she’s so distressed it’s hard to watch.

[yogaginrepeat]

This happened to me during pregnancy but it was anaemia and improved after being put on iron tablets. Took me to faint however before it was taken seriously - apparently because my iron levels were fine around 13 weeks, they "should" also have been fine 10 weeks later. They weren't.

I would definitely push your GP or see another one - that's not normal OP.

[shgs8]

Thanks again.

My wife is taking supplements which include iron. Pregnacare I think they’re called.

I wonder if she should also take additional supplements for iron and B12. But I don’t want her taking too much.

Just at a loss that I can’t help her more.

[shgs8]

Quick update, wife has been diagnosed with alopecia areata.

We are hoping that her hair will grow back after the pregnancy.

[AnonymousNurse]

@Swan8 so sorry for restarting an old thread. I just wanted to ask how you got on with your hair? I could have wrote what you wrote word for word. I'm in the same position and for some reason cant shake the melancholy its causing! Which I know is utterly ridiculous as it's only hair!

Any advice on how you got on would be great?

Thanks

[AbbiiPaigeee]

My hair is also doing the same! I'm trying not to let it bother me too much as I know it's just due to hormones & I'm sure I won't go bald, no matter how worrying it looks. My hair has fallen out my entire life anyway as it's naturally thick, I think I'm just noticing it more during pregnancy (I'm now 14 weeks).