Hair loss after giving birth

[LemonMuffin837]

Posting for a friend as she isn't on mumsnet.

My friend gave birth in august and recently she has noticed her hair starting to fall out thick and fast. She has very thick hair but is noticing bald patches at the front, now looks like her hair is receding. Doctors have told her it's normal.
She washes its once, maybe twice a week. Only straightens it after a wash but other wise puts it up in a pony tail.
Has anyone else experienced this after having a child? If so, how long did it last? Did you hair grow back?

Thanks in advance for any tips/advice.

Yes its normal. During pregnancy you don't lose as much and it's stuck in a growth phase. After pregnancy you lose the extra hair. After dd I used to find it everywhere including her nappies! It tailed off after a few months

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/postpartum-hair-loss.aspx/amp

Thank you very much x

I gave birth in august too and my hair's coming out in fistfuls! Totally normal unfortunately; did this after my first DC too. When it grew back I had a deeply unattractive halo of frizzy regrowth all over my head. Ugh. Not looking forward to that again.

Tell your friend to consider iron supplements, as apparently being deficient (as many are after birth/whilst breastfeeding) can make it worse.

Totally normal. I lost so much hair. The worst part of having a baby for me!

Am pregnant with my first. And every day I find new things I have to look forward to!

I have always had thick hair and a few months after my first baby was born it fell out. A lot. It became very very thin. However it grew back after a few months and returned to normal. It's very common.

Completely normal. Doesn't stop it being a bit distressing though

Thank you all, she is very distressed lol. She said she always wanted thin hair but now it's falling out she's having a bit of a melt down!
I think it's the not knowing when it will stop that's upsetting her, she still wants some hair left lol.

Same here August baby and bald spots. When I was pregnant it grew so thick and shiny. Gutted.

I have had this too. I would recommend a chat with a hairdresser and perhaps changing her hairstyle if possible to disguise the thin areas.

Totally normal, usually at the temples. Started growing back about 11 months pp for me

Is she breastfeeding? Mine didn't stop falling out until I stopped pumping, but not sure if that's the issue as my mum friends who didn't bf had exactly the same loss

She is breastfeeding, she plans on stopping at 6 months as she's due back to work then.

Normal. It's just all the extra pregnancy hair falling out now that the hormones are going.

Someone mentioned iron supplements, I second that! Hair loss is unfortunately normal, I also experienced a really itchy scalp that drove me nuts. She should get her iron levels and serum ferritin checked if it's very bad or doesn't stop; low levels for both (there's circulating iron and iron stores - the former can be normal even while the latter is too low) can cause hair loss and inhibit regrowth x

It’s he most irritating part of having babies. Little piles of hair everywhere you’ve been and then that itchy, spiky can’t do bugger all with your hair stage when it grows back in

Dp is forever cursing the giant black "hair spiders" he finds all over the house. Poor bloke almost jumps out of his skin every time he glimpses one out of the corner of his eye

Well, I am currently pregnant with very thin hair and now I'm terrified! If I lose any I will be bald. Time to invest in a nice wig I think.

Don't panic, I lost loads after giving birth, the drain in the shower was completely clogged each time I washed my hair. This continued for a few months but my hair didn't end up thinner than before.

Yep totally normal. With both my pregnancies it's started at about 4 months pp and carried on for about 3-4 months. Worse with 2nd child (boy - not sure if that makes a difference!).

@RatRolyPoly

Yes! Hair spiders! We have the same issue in our house! Seem to have loads come out with the clothes from the washing machine, which then 'scuttle' around the house.

They do, they breed in the washing machine!

This happened to me but really badly. It turned out I had an under active thyroid. Would recommend a visit to the gp to get iron and thyroid checked out.

The same happened after I gave birth. The loss stated to slow down after 4/5 months and my hair line looked much more healthy after 6 months.