How much post-pregnancy hairloss is normal?

[docket]

DD was born 16 weeks ago. Over the last 4 weeks or so my hair has been falling out in copious quantities. I know this is normal but it just seems like an awful lot coming out at a time. Does anyone know how long this goes on for?

TIA

hi docket. My hairloss began when my son was 5 months old. it was initially just a few hairs on the pillow, then developed into handfulls coming out in the bath, in the brush, on my clothes. this has continued (but reduced significantly) until the present day! (my son will be 4 in dec) I'm not telling you this to worry you, because i have been to a trichologist who told me the post natal hormone drop caused the initial hairloss, but triggered a hereditory alopecia which i have got from my father who went bald at 25. I was told by a number of people that standard post natal hairloss usually ends past 9 or 10 months after birth. It sounds ridiculous, but try not to worry. It doesn't help. I have had to just ignore it for the most part. make sure you have supplements to maintain the health of your hair, and use gentle shampoo, and try not to tie it back harshly or comb too hard when its wet, etc. If you dont see a change by 9 mths, see your gp...there are thyroid complaints that can cause it...iron deficiency also...sorry this was soooo long!!

I had the same problem and, to a slightly lesser extent still do, 13 months later . It does get better but was quite alarming to see how much hair ended up in the hoover. It's a wonder there was any on left my head at all! My hairdressers knew I'd had a baby and asked if my hair was falling out (both had bf their kids) and cut my hair so it looked a bit thicker. I know it's not the same but maybe that would help a bit?

thanks for your replies. great, new baby, totally knackered AND hair loss! think i will go and have a haircut, see if they can plump it up a bit...