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post partum hair loss - please help!

18 replies

mikesh909 · 22/04/2017 20:19

My first DD is coming up on 5 months and the rate at which my hair appears to be falling out is alarming. I do understand that this is to be expected... but I also feel like if it keeps going as it is right now, I will surely have none left? I suppose I am fortunate in that I have always had very fine hair but masses of it, so right now, it doesn't look that bad.

I find hairs literally everywhere, which is irritating enough. My scalp is also itchy, which I presume is something to do with the regrowth. I am in desperate need of a haircut anyway, but I'm actually embarrassed to go to the hairdressers in this state and am semi afraid as to what their vigorous washing and blowdrying would do to the hairs that are still clinging on. How long does this go on for? Is there anything I can do or is this just pregnancy's final indignation?

OP posts:
Notlostjustexploring · 22/04/2017 20:29

It's shit, isn't it. I think it is because you don't really lose hair in the last few months of pregnancy (apparently) so your scalp is playing catchup as it were. But it's seriously alarming!

I think the moulting stopped when my son was about five months old and I seem to have a normal amount of hair left. However at peak moult I was having to stop a shower mid way to unblock the plug as the shower tray was filling and I'd fill a hairbrush just brushing my hair in the morning. I also ended up with an itchy scalp but I'm prone to that whenever I'm tired/rundown/stressed.

But yes, just when you think pregnancy is done with you, you get a final kick in the teeth!

N0tfinished · 22/04/2017 20:44

Oh god I remember that! I thought I'd have a bald patch (I didn't)

It is definitely a kick in the teeth, just when you're feeling more 'normal' after the tiny baby stage - bam! Baldness beckons.

I think you just have to get on with it though. I doubt if any product can help. I would treat your hair & scalp gently though... maybe a very gentle shampoo/wash as little as possible...

April241 · 22/04/2017 20:55

My twins are 7 months now and my hair loss was pretty intense. Started about 4 months pp and lasted 2 months before it went to just a few hairs each day. I used to wash my hair every 3 or 4 days as i was worried about pulling it all out but in the end I started washing it every day.

Not sure if that helped really but at least it didn't look so alarming in the shower as it did when I left it for 3/4 days and had clumps of the stuff!

April241 · 22/04/2017 20:57

Oh, and in the last week I've noticed I now have some regrowth right at the front of my head, a little patch of hair that's about an inch long and sticks up!! I didn't even realise I'd lost hair from there!

It does get better, in a few weeks you'll have a tuft like me! Grin

Mustardnowletsnotbesilly · 22/04/2017 21:03

God I think I broke the hoover with all my hair falling out. It lasted about 2 months then you get all this tufty regrowth. I got mine cut into a bob to hide it a bit. It does grow bad don't worry!

MakingBaconPancakes · 22/04/2017 21:32

I felt like that.
It stops 12 months after!
I had a fringe cut to hide the hair halo.

moobeana · 22/04/2017 21:38

This was me! Good news - 5 months was my peak for hair loss. I also took iron tablets and it slowed the loss a bit too.

It stopped at around 10 months. The regrow the was a pain, I had a fuzzy halo for a few months!

ememem84 · 22/04/2017 21:43

You're hair falls out after baby???? First time preggo here. I did not know that

I have thick glossy lovely hair now. And before pregnancy it was thick and unruly.

Dammit.

SkiBike007 · 22/04/2017 21:55

I suffered more with my second it fell out lots after I stopped Breast feeding at 11mths, and didn't really recover until I had my long hair cut into short bob and took 2-3yrs to recover...(alas then the grey really hit..) Another one of those things they don't warn you about pre-kids!!

mikesh909 · 24/04/2017 00:28

Thanks everyone. It does help to remember it's not just me. And yes, ememem84, no-one told me either... (see also, after pains!) I am worried that like SkiBike007 suggests, things worsen again on stopping breastfeeding and that it's probably worse second time around.

So no miracle supplements to be taken then? Maybe I will try the iron supplements, can i take those while breastfeeding? What about the hairdressers? Better to go now or wait until things (hopefully) stabilise? The tufty hair halo has already started to make an appearance but I think it optimistic to imagine it will be back to normal in a few months as my hair is (was?) super long so the new ones have got a lot of catching up to do...

OP posts:
UntilTheCowsComeHome · 24/04/2017 00:34

I lost loads of hair after having my DS2 11 years ago. I had small bald patches around my hair line.

I'm afraid to say that my hair never properly recovered. It's thinner now than it ever was before but luckily the bald patches are no more.

Now, stress seems to trigger the hair loss again and I lose it in exactly the same places as post pregnancy which is weird.

I wish I could have my lovely thick hair back.

junglebookisthebest · 24/04/2017 08:04

Mine seems to have slowed the shedding at last (10 month baby) but just recently it's gone greasy really quick - is that another hormonal/post pregnancy symptom? Used to get away with washing it just once a week but now it's looking limp after 2. Not quite finished breastfeeding but it's clearly reducing as baby eats more food.
Do I wait it out or start looking for products to deal with living with a greasy mop?

BagelDog · 24/04/2017 08:14

Mine did peak she'd at 4 to 6 months, then stayed greasy Ina sort of pre menstrual way as long as I was feeding, then settled down. Smallest is now 15 moths and I have a good crop of hair about 15cm long all over inc a thick fringe, and then the pre baby hair is about sixty cm.... an interesting look...!

BagelDog · 24/04/2017 08:15

Dry shampoo saved my sanity and helped stretch between washes a bit.

SoulAccount · 24/04/2017 08:21

Don't worry, it's totally normal.
See how a pp says she is pg and has hair which is thicker and glossier than usual? Your hair falls out a lot less during pregnancy, and then falls out later.

You are simply returning to 'normal'. And if it does get a bit thinner, it will soon come back in turn.

ppeatfruit · 24/04/2017 10:21

Magnesium and evening primrose supplements will help. So does an exercise that I still do (i haven't been pregnant for years but my hair was falling out for some reason so I did this and it grew back really well. Stopped falling out too.

You just place your finger tips either side of your central parting and push your scalp (not your hair) gently back and forwards 3 times in the morning and at night , or whenever you have the time.

You do this around the base of the back of your head too. I also use water softener when I wash my hair and gentle products without any SLS in.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 24/04/2017 10:31

I had a visibly receding hairline when I wore my hair back during peak hair loss. And unfortunately when you have a small baby you want to wear your hair back all the time.

I think the regrowth stage was worse though

ememem84 · 24/04/2017 12:52

They really should tell you all this stuff. Not sure who "they" are mind.

I'm enjoying my swooshy glossy hair. And super clear skin at present.

cant wait for it to all go to shit!!

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