Hair loss - how much is too much???

[Lucylucy57]

I had my son five months ago and for the last two months my hair has been falling out in clumps. Now I know that hair does this following pregnancy as the follicles hold on to the hairs during pregnancy then release then after as hormones change but I didn't expect this. I've developed large bald patches around the front of my head, like a receading hairling and also around my ears. The general thickness of my hair is a fraction of what it was even before pregnancy. If I tie my hair back it looks very odd indeed. People stare. I've taken to wearing scarves. People tell me that it will slow down eventually but I think I'll be bald by then! Every day it falls out in clumps - all day. When I get out of bed in the mornings, I feel it all fall down my back and I have to collect it from the sheets. I've been taking vitamins and iron but it dosnt seem to be helping.
How much hair loss is normal? This is so distressing.
Should I go to the doctors?

I could have written your post word for word. I dread washing and even brushing my hair as it makes me so sad. Have very obvious bald patches now, and a pathetic pony tail. I have to wear it up though as a)it falls out all day long and gets in every thing and b) My daughter starts swinging on it.

I wonder if I should go to the doctors but don't like wasting their time. Makes me so sad, I am thinking of shaving my head to stop me worrying

Sorry no advice, but you are not alone.

Hi Umicar, its comforting to know I'm not alone. None of my family or friends seem to have suffered with hair loss this much after their babies. I also put off washing it as long as possible as I spend the whole time picking hair up. I've already blocked the plug hole on the shower tray despite desperately trying to catch all that falls.
I think I might phone the docs on Monday as this just can't be normal.
How long has yours been falling out for?

This didn't happen when I had my son 4 years ago (it thinned, but back to the thickness it was previously) so I am at a loss as to why it's happening now.

I think it started when daughter was about 2 months old (she has just turned 5 months). When I saw my hairdresser a couple of weeks ago she thought I'd already lost 60-70% of my hair!

Do post back if the docs have anything to say about it. I wonder if it may be a thyroid issue perhaps.

I worried about this when DS was tiny and went to the GP. She reassured me that so long as you (or probably someone else!) can see new hairs growing in, then it will just be the hormonal thing and will settle out of its own accord.

But if the patches where you have lost a lot of hair are smooth and hairless then you need to get it looked into as it could be something else and need investigation.

HTH!

^^ Thanks, thats reassuring. I don't have new hair there yet but perhaps it is too soon? Will keep an eye! Has yours grown back ok?

Oh, DS is 19 now, so it's been back to its normal level for a very long time

I think you ought to be able to see at least little short bits coming in - it might feel a bit like soft stubble?

I'm on my third time of having this now, once as a uni student due to stress, once post pregnancy and now post a late in life bout if glandular fever. it is horribly stressful. Last two times turned out fine for me, hopefully same again this time...

I had hair loss when My daughter was about 3months, it lasted for 9 months, it was really stressing me, in the end my hairdresser told me to cut it very short, which I did, and funny enough it stopped falling out, maybe it was just a coincidence.
Anyway my hair did all grow back, but on the other hand My sister's hair did not grow back after her second pregnancy, she has almost bald patches, hopefully yours will resolve.

I think cutting mine would just highlight it's strange hairline and bald patches. I'm using the long bits as a comb over!!
Umicar, your baby is the same age as mine so I expect our hair is at a very similar stage. I daren't even visit my hairdresser, I'm too embarrassed. I'm making a docs appointment on Monday so I'll let you know what he says. He's always been very good with me so I'm sure he won't fob me off.
Thank you everyone for sharing - I feel less freaky knowing it hasn't just happened to me.