Hair Loss After Birth - Springfield Gardens,NY

Updated on November 09, 2010
L.A. asks from Kew Gardens, NY
24 answers

Dear ladies:

I hear that after giving birth, one's thick mane of hair falls out in clumps. Is it true? if so, when did it happen to you? did you get a pixie cut to minimize the effects?

thanks for the tips.

PS, our little one is 3 and a half weeks and no signs of shedding on my part as yet.

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So What Happened?

Now that we are at 3.5 months, and I am back to work, it seems my hair is falling out in keeping with the rumors. I get a nice amount in the brush and more collects at the drain. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I don't loose too much.

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J.C.

answers from New York on

I agree with the fact that it happens at 3 months. It's a harmonal change. But some of my friends didn't notice much hair loss - but I had a lot. It's funny, that hormonal change also cause me to get PPD. Happened at the same time.

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M.B.

answers from New York on

Yes, it's true. It typically doesn't start until 6-12 pp (it started for me around 13 weeks). I don't know anyone whose hair as gotten so thin they had to cut it off, though.

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K.M.

answers from New York on

Only difference I noticed was my hair grew a little slower after I gave birth. I could go a little longer between colorings, like maybe two weeks longer. Very subtle difference for me!

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

The shedding usually comes around four months. It doesn't matter how long your hair is, so a shorter cut won't help. I had three bald spots as a result, and it fell out in huge clumps. Sorry, but it's just one of the side effects. Totally worth it, but not any fun.

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S.J.

answers from New York on

Hold onto your hat! I used to brush my hair on my front porch. I assume my hair was included in many bird's nests that year! It doesn't really make your hair look bad, but you'll miss all that fullness.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.D.

answers from New York on

no not everyone i never lost any hair

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E.M.

answers from New York on

It happens at 3 months. To the day. And no, I didn't get a pixie cut. No one over 20 should!!

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T.M.

answers from New York on

Oh my, why look for problems when they don't (yet) exist? You will have enough real challenges with the new baby - lack of sleepl when you might even feel like PULLING your hair out, being only:-), so don't go borrowing trouble. However, should your hair fall out, it is not a permanent situation (think Princess Caroline of Monaco who had to wear a clever headscarf to cover her totally bald head for a long time--and her hair returned!). But you will likely not lose any hair, if you have not already. Try to forget about your hair and relax and enjoy the baby! And yes, a pixie cut might be a fun change. Best of luck with the little one!

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I.S.

answers from New York on

Hi Lori, congrats on your little one. Don't worry about your hair. It's probably not going to be that bad. Besides, during autumn season more hair naturally falls off. Ask your doctor if you could take iron medication.You may have been taking it during your pregnancy, but ask if you can. Eat foods with iron, like chickory, spinach, lentils (all types of beans), although if you're breastfeeding, beans may make the baby gassy. Discuss it with your doc. No need to worry, and if you have long hair, keep it. I liked and still do like having mine long.

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S.R.

answers from San Francisco on

I lost more hair than usual a few months after giving birth. It didn't come out in clumps, it just thinned out back to what it was before I was pregnant. My hair also got a lot darker after the second kid.

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E.C.

answers from New York on

It wasn't THAT bad - my hair got thicker during pregnancy and went back to normal afterwards - but nobody noticed outside my hairbrush!

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A.H.

answers from New York on

Yes, it will happen, probably in a month or so, but not in such a dramatic fashion that you would need to get a new haircut to mask it, especially if your currently got lots of thick hair. You'll just start noticing a lot more hair falling out when your brush and when you shower.

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R.J.

answers from New York on

Hi-
I know how you feel. I was concerned too. Mine started coming at 11 weeks and it felt like a lot of hair, but no one was able to tell, so try not to worry! Congrats on your little one!

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J.P.

answers from New York on

Mine fell out by the handful when dd was 3 months and I was so thankful that a friend had warned me because we do freak out at weird stuff as new moms. It was a ton of hair for me, but like the others no one would notice except me and my dh who wasn't fond of all the hair in our bed and shower. It stopped about 2 months later and life went on. Congrats on your little one and don't sweat the small stuff. :)

L.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My hair thinned out terribly, especially in the front. I definitely started to worry that if it didn't stop, I would not be able to camoflauge it anymore. And I worried that it wasn't going to grow back. It was awful. I can't say I remember when it started, but it was probably a couple months after he was born? Fortunately, it did stop, and the hair regrew back to my 'normal', thank God. I'd say it lasted until he was almost a year?

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S.B.

answers from Wichita on

mine just seemed to come out alot, like if you ran your fingers through your hair or combed it, alot more came out than normal. I didnt have huge clumps come out, though.

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R.B.

answers from New York on

The thing is while you are pregnant your hair stops falling out then once you have the baby all the hair that didn't fall out starts to fall out. So it seems like you are loosing loads of hair. Sometimes due to crazy hormones someone gets pregnancy related alopecia and that is when your hair will come out in chunks. I would not assume that is going to happen to you. It is pretty unusual.

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L.M.

answers from Chicago on

My hair came out also. I was going to the beautician and she was noticing the hair loss. She cut it even and then I used Profectiv hair breakage lotion, conditioner and shampoo.

You stated your hair hasn't came out, so I wouldn't worry about. You have enough things to be concerned with and that's your new baby. I would just shampoo and condition your hair and don't forget about taking care of YOU!

R.M.

answers from Modesto on

Its very rare for the mom to lose her hair except for pulling it out with frustration or you baby getting a handful and pulling it out ;)
Some women will have a hormonal change that may cause a tad of shedding but most dont. I never did. I would not worry about it. Worrying might make your hair fall out!

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B.B.

answers from Missoula on

My hair got thick and gorgeous during my first pregnancy. About 3 months after my son was born, I lost a ton of hair, and ended up with hair that was finer than before I got pregnant.

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L.S.

answers from New York on

Mine started at 12 weeks. My daughter is now 15 weeks old and I have no idea how I'm not bald yet. My drain is always totally clogged after a shower and my walls are covered in hair. It's disgusting. I don't look like I'm balding, which is good, but my hair is definitely not as full. Don't stress it... that may just make it worse! LOL

Congrats on your little one!!!!!!

N.T.

answers from New York on

Hi Lori:

That is a myth. Hair loss occurs with anyone if there is an internal health issue.

N.
Founder/Organic Mommy and Baby Healthcare Solutions
http://www.WholeCreations.com

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M.R.

answers from Phoenix on

Oh, the things I did not know....this was a big one. Mine fell out between 3-4 months. But way LESS with each subsequent pregnancy. I had long, thick naturally blonde hair and my brush was just full every time, or my clothes covered, so I stopped wearing all black. It looked horrid. Haircut? good idea, did not think of it back then, just wore it back out of my face or up in a clip mainly to keep babies little fingers from pulling it.

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C.M.

answers from Dallas on

I think my started falling out a few months after.

My bet is that it will start the day you think to yourself that it's not going to happen to you. ha!

And just when you think you will be bald (and believe me, you will feel SURE you will end up bald) it will ease up...

My poor DH for putting up with me asking him daily for months if there bald spots on my scalp.

hehehe - the small price of having such a large miracle

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