Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Postnatal hair loss.. again! Someone help me :(

17 replies

nally · 18/02/2007 12:31

After all of my pregnancies I seem to suffer extreme hair loss. I lose on average about a hamster's weight in hair every day! If I just touch my head I get balls and balls of hair come away on my hand.
I know this is (apparently) normal, as my doctors have said so. Has anyone who has suffered with the same thing, found anything to help???? I am practically bald. Our newest baby isn't even 5 months old, yet I look about a hundred!
It's enough to put me off having babies for good!!!!
HELP!!!!!!!

OP posts:
SlightlyMadScientist · 18/02/2007 15:28

Yay - NALLY!!!!!!!!

I am not stalking - honest I stumbled across thus trying to help before I realised it was you!!!!

I lost loads when I stopped BF (breatsfeeding) DD3 - for about 4-6m.

It happens because you stop losing hairs whilst you are pregant - your body is just catching up with those you should have lost over the last 9m!!!

I am sure you are not bald love - it just seems it when you are loosing so much at 1 time...

lulumama · 18/02/2007 15:31

happened to me after both of mine
got a special thickening shampoo, conditioner and solution from boots.....

it is all the hair you would have lost when pregnant, but your hair goes into a resting phase, so you don;t lose any..hence gorgeous hair when pregnant and then baldilocks after ! it does grow back ! mine started falling out when the babies were 12 weeks old and stopped about 8 weeks later...

it does get better!

prufrock · 18/02/2007 15:50

It's not just the hair you would have lost though. I had this really badly after I finished bf ds, it really really upset me as I had always had lovely thick shiny hair, and suddenly had thin and wispy bits, with a hairline that had receeded at least 2 inchse, and actual bald patches all over my head. It took about 5 months before mine stopped falling out, and another year for it to be back to normal - which it only just is.

Hair loss at this level is not "normal", it's an extreme reaction to changing hormone levels. It can be caused by a misbehaving thyroid, so ask your doctor to check that, especially if you have other symptoms like extreme fatigue. (But then who hasnt with a 5 month old.)

I actually had mine all cut off - the long hair that was left was in terrible condition, and a new short cut made the best of what I had left. I also had lowlights to create some texture. Speak to a decent hairdresser and see what they can do for you. I do sympathise with you because I know how awful it can make you feel

Original poster
nally · 18/02/2007 20:37

Thanks girls. After DD1 was born my hair started falling out and was getting fine and wispy, then when she was 8 months old I got pregnant with DS and soon it was all lovely again, which everyone commented on. Straight after he arrived it fell out and wasn't better until DS was 2 years old! Was hoping that I would avoid the same thing happening again this time, and chose not to breastfeed, but that seems to make no difference.

I got it all cut off about a month ago, because I thought better to have short fine hair, than long wispy hair, so went from hair which was down to my boobs, to just above the shoulder. It looks ok.

(DH is laughing at me because he just read the start of the thread and says I am NOT practically bald - what does he know, oh man of the lovely thick barnet!?)

Also, I asked my doctor about the thyroid thing and he says he doubts that that is the problem because of my age (!?) but has given me a form to go and get a blood test. I am not feeling particularly tired though, so who knows?

OP posts:
onlyjoking9329 · 18/02/2007 20:44

i suffer from hair loss have large bald patch and a new smaller patch, the DR says it could be lack of iron or stress, i guess mine might be stress related then!

Original poster
nally · 18/02/2007 20:45

I wish the doctors could wave a magic wand though.. would be nice

OP posts:
suziewoo13 · 18/02/2007 22:17

My hair got really thin after my DD but has been growing back since she was about 6 months. I now have spikey bits all over and have to watch how I part my hair less I look like a tennis ball!!

Original poster
nally · 18/02/2007 23:09

I am familiar with the spiky bits. Also, it turns out I have a lot of grey hair! I have always had it coloured, but haven't now for a few months. I thought there was no point forking out to get it done, if it is going to fall out anyway!! It's almost worth getting pregnant just to have that beautiful hair again - sigh.

OP posts:
liquidclocks · 18/02/2007 23:11

I lost so much hair DH made me buy a new hoover without a roller because my hair kept breaking the old one

SlightlyMadScientist · 18/02/2007 23:18

ooo - can you get hoovers without the roller???

SlightlyMadScientist · 18/02/2007 23:19

I sweep the bathroom fisrt to get the bulk of it up...

kidsrus · 18/02/2007 23:35

nally this is normal like sms said you keep it in preg and lose it after. relax it wont all fall out its just hormones adjusting, mines just settled down dd is 13mths now.
have a two tone colour to make it appear thicker and de-stress yourself as rest and relaxation will help it thicken back up stress will only thin it.singing might help too

Original poster
nally · 18/02/2007 23:38

ooooh, what shall we sing???

OP posts:
kidsrus · 18/02/2007 23:45

im too sexy for my hair! (right said fred)

Original poster
nally · 18/02/2007 23:55

Let me get my tight hot pants on, wait a minute.... pmsl

OP posts:
kidsrus · 19/02/2007 00:14

thats better can't you feel it thickening already, keep it up! good night im off to bed singing! "twinkle twinkle chocolate bar"

Original poster
nally · 02/03/2007 13:58

getting worse... look like awful baldilocks now...

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page