Hair Loss - Creswell, OR

The same thing happened to me while breastfeeding so I can relate. I didn't worry about it though I don't know really know if you should be concerned. Once I quit breastfeeding I stopped losing so much hair.

J.,

Completely NORMAL! My whole pregnancy, I hardly lost any hair. It wasn't until my son was around 4 months that I started losing it. And lots of it! It lasted around a month, then went back to "normal", meaning how much hair I normally lost before I was pregnant.

Here's the scientific reason why:

Normally 85-95% of hair is in a growing stage and 5-15% is in a resting stage. After the resting stage, the hairs fall out. During pregnancy, you have increased estrogen which prolongs the growth period. Therefore the amount of hairs in the resting stage is far less than usual. After the pregnancy is over, the estrogen levels drop off drastically and a lot more hairs enter is resting stage. So basically, you're now losing all the hair you would have lost normally. I don't believe breastfeeding has anything to do with it, but you do have elevated hormones while breastfeeding. It happens to all women. In some it happens right away and in others it takes a few months.

I hope this helps!

R.

It's completely normal to have this kind of hair loss after giving birth. Same thing happened to me with both of my kids, it was actually worse this last time. here's an article about it http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/physrecovery/11721....
it's totally true! when im pregnant I have really thick beautiful hair, and postpartum all of it falls out. I actually had really long hair when i was pg with my son and cut about 15 inches off in July cuz I was sick of the shedding, and keeping it shorter really helps. It seems like a lot but you're just losing all that extra hair you kept in during pregnancy. the shedding should slow down within the next few months hopefully. My son will be one in Feb. and Im still doing some shedding though, but its definitely slowed down some.

Totally normal! I had the SAME thing happen to me, and was totally not expecting it! I learned that when you're pregnant, you don't loose the hair you normally do when not pregnant. So, in fact, you're hair really does get a bit thicker. About three months after you have the baby, you're hormones begin really regulating, and you begin loosing the hair you should have lost during the nine (almost ten) months you were pregnant.

It totally stinks! But, at least it's completely normal.

This is normal after pregnancy, but if you are worried, call your doctor and have your thyroid and iron levels checked, including ferritin.

So normal, I'm afraid! Our hair looks so great while we're pregnant because we getting so much extra but then the hormones kick back in and say, "Okay... all done... we're going to rip it out now - but, hey, look how gorgeous your baby is!"

I remembered taking some extra source of vitamins that my doctor recommended which I ended up getting at Trader Joe's. Good luck with not being too worried about it... unfortunately, your hair growth hormone and breastfeeding don't seem to be working in synch on this stuff. Eventually, your hair gets back to where it was before you were pregnant and it all balances out. Have you always had pretty thick hair or is it on the curly side?

I am 27 and also breastfeed my almost 5 month old. I lose a lot of hair as well but I have thick hair that never seems to stop growing so I don't miss it. I think that as long as you are not running your fingers through your hair and come out with clumps in your hands then you are ok

Hair loss after having a baby is very common. It is due to hormonal changes. Most woman have an increase in hair (thickness) and rate of growth while pregnant. Then afterward it comes out. I thought I was going to go bald after both my girls. My husband complained about the drain always getting clogged and the carpet of hair on the bathroom floor. I still have lots of hair on my head though.

Hair loss after having a baby is perfectly normal it is actually call postpartum alopecia. I have a 1 year old and I had the same problem. Don't worry though it does grow back. Your next battle is when it does come back you have whats called new growth and you will have the little short peices of hair standing up and driving you crazy. All will be ok don't worry ok?

Hi J., I am new to this group, but I figured I should answer. My son is now three years old and I recall clearly that while breastfeeding and shortly after his brith I lost hair too. In fact, I recall it would be on my pillow the following morning! My doctor suggested it was normal and that once your hormones adjust it would subside. I suggest you bring it up with your doctor at your next visit. Unfortunately, I can't recall if I took additional supplements, but I know that my doctor reassured me this as normal.
I guess I have experienced memory loss too:)...hope this helps.

Hair loss is due to hormonal fluctuations and is common after having a baby. It is also common after having a major surgery. Once it has happened to you once it is more likely to happen again. Unless there is some underlying illness it should stop by your baby's first birthday. I started experiencing this problem after I had my thryroid surgically removed. Since then I have had it with both my pregnancies and at various other times due to a myriad of medical problems I won't bore you with. Anyway, take heart it won't last forever, you won't go bald, and if you're lucky it will come back thicker than before. In the mean time I suggest buying a hair snare for your bathtub. :)

Make your own jello, using gelatin and your favorite jiuce. Eat about a cup every day, you'll notice a tremendous difference in a week or two.

L. Nerus, LAc

A couple of months after I had my son, I did experience hair loss and from what I hear it's completely normal. Because of a hormone that is no longer in your system, it causes all the hair growth to stop.

I would ask your hairdresser for suggestions to help with the hair loss.

Hair loss is naturally caused by stress. In my opinion the stress of a new life in your hands is what is causing yor hair loss. Also I have had some hair loss after having my son, and all of my friends with kids have expierienced the same thing. I was actually so upset that I spent ALOT of money on hair extentions, which only lasted a month.

Hi,
I think this is absolutely normal. Your hair thickens while you are pregnant and now as your hormones change again it will go back to a more pre-pregnancy level. Nothing to worry about! Good for you to be breastfeeding, keep up the good work!

Hi J.,

This is totally normal. Your body was over compensating while you were pregnant. You’re just now getting rid of all the excesses. This can take up to a year for your body to completely readjust. If it continues for more than a couple of months you may want to have your thyroid checked.

Stay on your vitamins while you are breast feeding and make sure that you are not trying to diet right now or you can loose your milk.

Congratulations on your new addition.

L.
Nutritionist
www.herbalmom.com

Don't worry this is completely normal. I too noticed about 2-3 months after giving birth that I started losing massive amounts of hair. During pregnancy the hormones make you lose a lot less. So, now that your hormones are different you are now just losing the hair that you would have during your pregnancy. It has nothing to do with breastfeeding nor will supplements change it. I wouldn't be concerned unless it goes on for more than a month or two.

Hope this helped.

Jen in Hawaii
(I used to live in Corvallis and had my daughter there.)

Anemia is one cause hair loss. Most common symptom is tiredness. do you have dizzyness, short breath, or confusion? Have blood levels checked.

Another cause is demodex mites. or sebhorrea.

I had the same problem after I had my son. About 4 months after I had him I started to lose a lot of hair. It started to come back, but it stinks at first because it's so short. The majority of the hair I lost was right in front, so I cut bangs to cover it up. If you are really concerned you could talk to your Dr., but I don't think you need to.

I had the problem and everyone told me it is normal. Unfortunately, many women experience this because of a thyroid imbalance after pregnancy. So many women have it that it is now considered normal! It's not! If it continues for more than just a month or two while your hormones get back in balnace, you should really have your thyroid checked. Make the doctor check your Free T3 and Free T4, NOT JUST YOUR TSH!!! Very important.
My doctor never caught it and I ended up having an autoimmune condition of the thyroid. Food allergies and intolerances contributed to this but that is another story... If you have intestinal problems, a known thyroid problem, food allergies, headaches,fertility problems, etc., it could be a gluten intolerance or Celiac disease. Contact me if you want.

Take care,
L.