Hair Loss After Pregnancy and Now a Thin Coif

Don't worry. It will all come back, it just takes a while. Breastfeeding will make it take a little longer.My third child is 14 months old and my new hair growth is maybe an inch long. I breastfed him til 1 year. I yeaned his big sister at 6 months and my hair grew back twice as fast. It is all about hormones.

I don't remember having the hair loss the first time around, but I definitely did with my 2nd son. I have thin hair to begin with and it got even thinner, especially in one spot, but it is back to normal now. I just had my hairdresser cut it to hide the thinning better for a few cuts. I used a "scalp treatment for early stages of thin-looking hair" called Nioxin. It was the same stuff my mom used after radiation.

Hi there! My hair REALLY thinned out after both of my children, both times when my babies were about 4 months and it lasted quite a bit....it almost looked like I had a receding hair line and it was not cute at all! I am happy to report that it all grew back in fine and you would never know it now. Best of luck! L.

Hi S.,
My name is M. R. I am responding to your request re: hair loss. It is normal to lose some hair but not as much as you have said.
I believe I can help you.
I am an Executive Consultant with a company called Nouveau Cosmeceticals. We have a product that restores hair & stimulates hair growth. If you would like to know more about this product you can call me at: ###-###-#### (h); ###-###-#### (c) or go to my web site at: mynouveau.com/1077 One of the icons top left says dramatic results. If you click on that it gives a picture of a man named Mike and shows how thin his hair was, then the picture of the new growth, etc.
I would be happy to talk to you when it is convenient.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Warmly,
M.

I had a friend who lost alot of hair with her first baby and it never came back. The second baby she lost even more, which never came back. The doctor told her it was to do with the hormones during pregnancy. You could see an endrocronologist (Not sure of the spelling), that doctor may have some solution for you. Best of luck.

S.,
I am absolutely in the same situation. My son is 4 months old and I am breastfeeding also. I was not able to breastfeed my older son and I don't remember this kind of hair loss.
My beautician advised me to get my thyroid checked though...I might do it.

Hi S.!

Since my keyboard has erased my comment twice, I will make it short! I had a similiar experience and found it was my thyroid. Thyroid is more common than people think, esp. after a woman has a baby. I would
have your Doctor check it out! Good luck!
Marsee

Are you still taking your prenatals?? you didn't mention, but make sure you are still taking them..This is normal to lose a lot or little hair and the nail thing too. My girl had two children back to back, by the time is had been 6 months after the second baby she lost A LOT of hair, so much she couldn't pull her hair back becuase she looked like she was bolding...Her hair did grow back, i wouldn't say it's as strong as before but at least it's back...I've noticed that I have had to baby my hair a lot more since I had children with leave-in-conditions and I still take vitamins to help, but like you I had really thick hair so a little thining is okay..Congrats!! I hope this helps

N.

S., I breast feed for 13 months. I had an intial lose around month 5 (when my period started) and then again when I stopped creast feeding. My hair has come back like normal now, just there are a ton of little short pieces. Remember hair only grows about 1/2 inch a month.

Hi S.,

My daughter is no a year and I have been able to fill up the sink with hair after every shower since she was born. I normally have really thick hair and it is so thin now. You don't loose any hair though while you are pregnant because of the hormones, so some then loose it after birth. The past couple of months have been better but I still loose a couple of handfulls every shower. You'll notice the baby hairs though here in a couple of months. Don't worry and congrats on the baby!

K.

Hi S.. Congrats on mommyhood! I just had my second baby in November, and have really been noticing my hair falling out too. This happened with my first son, so I wasn't surprised, and I actually expected it to happen this time around. I am breastfeeding my baby as well. I also already know that I have a Thyroid problem as a result of my radiation treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma when I was 19. I take medication every day, but have to be checked regularly to make sure my hormones stay balanced. Unless you are having other symptoms of Hypo- or Hyper-thyroidism, then I would just assume that you're experiencing normal hairloss from your pregnancy.
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Hi Nicole,

I am not expert, but my Naturopath has said that hair thinning/loss is often a vitamin/mineral deficiency.
And considering that you are breast feeding, it seems that a lot of your nutrition is going into the breast milk, and depriving you of what YOU need.

That is why you read that many women had that problem, but it normalized after they stopped breastfeeding.

I have been taking a wonderful All-In-One liquid vitamin/mineral supplement called Vibe. I noticed that my hair grows like crazy, so do my nails.

Vibe isn't sold in stores, it is only available through independent distributors. www.vibeforme.com/smartidea

My whole family has been taking Vibe for 3 years now and not only do we look great :) we feel great too!!!

If you have questions, maybe I could help you or I could hook you up with my Naturopath. He is amazing! He will do a phone consultation free of charge.

D.
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Have you had your thyroid checked? My hair started falling out when I started having trouble with my thyroid, this was long before I had my baby. Good luck.

Same thing happened to me. My best friend is also my hairdresser. My hair fell out in clumps the first time she did my hair post-birth. It has been a year now and my hair is nearly back to normal. Just give it time. Here is some advice she gave me.

1-do not use dandruff shampoo as it will peretuate the problem of itchy scalp.

2-Get your hairdresser to give you a conditioning treatment.

3-Buy 2 different professional shampoo/conditioning products from your hairdresser (1 deep therapy for scalp once every two weeks, 1 set for "usual" washing that keeps hair healthy) I use Bed-Head products.

4-Do not wash your hair every day (2-3 times a week max).

5-Do not use a brush on wet hair. Use only a comb. Brushes tend to stretch & break off hair.

6-Comb wet hair in little strokes starting at the bottom. This way if your hair is snarly after washing you will not tend to pull out hair that has not left the follicle.

7-avoid using hair ties if you can (especially ones with a metal piece on it). They rip your hair out.

8-when conditioning your hair, leave a little in. Just wash most of it out.

Good luck! I know how frustrating this is.

Hi S.,
Your whole letter sounds like me. I have a 6.5 month old and I'm still nursing him (and work part time). This is my second child and I lost SOME hair after my first, but not at all the handfuls I'm losing this time! Sometimes I freak out at the handful I get when I wash my hair. I always wanted thinner hair, but now it's thinner than I like and I'm concerned I'll never get it back. I meant to ask my OB last visit, but forgot. Guess, I'll go get my thyroid checked...
Thanks, D.

I had this happen to me. I was loosing hair in clumps it was alot the hair was everywhere. I would sometimes put it in a pony tail and I could feel the strands of hair comming off. I have thick full hair so no one really believed me how excessive it was. I kept on hearing its normal, it happens to everyone, its a surge in hormones, you are breastfeeding. NOT TRUE! NOT NORMAL, NOT OK! Hair loss is also a sign of thyroid disease. I saw my Dr. and explained the hair loss, she ordered blood test and my thyroid came back underactive! It was so UNDERACTIVE it was to the point of not functioning anymore. Which also explains the weight. I found out I had this problem when the baby was 5 months old she is now 8 months old and my thyroid is still being controlled with medication.

Hi S.,

I lost my hair each time I had an other child, 5 in all. My hair came back even better than before, each time. I nursed each of my babies too. I found I would also loose my hair any time I had sugery as well. Each time with out fail it did come back. I'm so happy for you to be a MOM it's the best Job in the world, next to being a grandma! Lots of Love, M.

I only lost a minimal amount of hair after both the births I have given so far, but I also started my period right away as well. I think you should get checked for Thyroid problems and if you have none, I would try the natural solutions that people have listed for help with the hair loss.

it sounds like vitamin B&C deficiency to me - the best source of the safest most natural vitamin C is the Camu Camu fruit - it has the highest level of naturally occurring vitamin C in any plant plus it has the full profile of B vitamins as well as all the naturally occurring minerals and amino acids - these make it so your body can assimilate and use these vitamins instead of just flushing them through your system - the nutrients beta-carotene, riboflavin and niacin are optimal in assisting the body create healthy hair, nails and skin - if you are interested in more information or a sample of the most pure form of this product available - contact me or check out my website: www.shootingstarherbs.amazonherb.net

Go to an acupuncturist / chinese herbalist. There are many in town. What happens to us after giving birth is very explainable in chinese medicine (I am an acupuncturist myself, and pregnant). It is called Blood deficiency, and there are herbs that can help. We used to treat people for postpartum hair loss all the time when I was interning at school (in town) and it usually worked well.

I had this happen after both of my boys were born and it all grew back. I actually had two obvious layers of hair because I had lost so much. I actually freaked out with the loss and thought I was going bald. I was not but it was a lot thinner. My doctor told me that it was because I had given all my vitamins to the baby and it was very normal. I did not have any bald spots but it was drastically thinner.

N.

I too lost a lot of my hair after the birth of my first child. I use to barely get a rubber band around it twice, and then all of the sudden I was wrapping one around my hair four times easily. It did eventually grow back to be as thick as it was before I was pregnant. Now I am going through it again with baby number two. So try not to worry too much.

You know, the same thing happened to me after my last two pregnancies. I lost half my ponytail!

I have an 8 1/2 month old daughter, and I'm just starting to notice little short hairs growing in. I got it all back after the last birth, so I'm not too worried this time. I be if you look, you'll find short hairs growing in. Fear not! My personal theory is that birth is pretty tough on our systems, and our follicles don't all stand up to the stress. I breastfed my last one for 2 1/2 years and I don't think that had any negative effect on my hair...I think it was just the birth. Although you might want to continue with your prenatal vitamins, since you're supporting a whole other human being.

As far as the itchy/dandruff thing I have that, too. I have to be careful to use a conditioner without lauryl sulfates, and a special shampoo. I like Neem Care, same color as Neutrogena T-gel but without all the yucky tar and crud. I buy it at Whole Foods or Wild Oats.

Good luck!

You might get your thyroid checked. I have had three children. With my first two I had some hair loss. But with my third I really struggled with post partum stuff. So I went to see a lady about it. She tested my thyroid- it was way down. She said it contols so many things- weight, emotions, hair loss...... Anyway I have been taking natural stuff for my thyroid since I had my last baby (3 1/2 months) and have not yet lost any hair. I think it is due to building my thyroid up right after having my baby. These are my thoughts. Might be worth a try. Good luck!

S.,
I can totally help you with your hair growth.
Have you ever heard of Arbonne? We have a hair stimulant that has had amazing results. There is even a 45 day money back guarantee.

If you would like to learn more,
feel free to check out my website and email me :)
T.
www.tesabartell.myarbonne.com

tell the obgyn. It could be a thyroid issue or medication your taking, or a number of other immune things, did you dye your hair in past?. Keep the amount of hair that comes out for emphasis. No thinning/balding after birth to any great extent.

S. ~

I lost TONS of hair from about 3 months postpartum until probably 6 months. I had very long hair and lots of it, half way down my back. I've heard it is normal for some women, I had a lot of complications with my delivery but the doctors related to my other complications said it was hormones and that it just happens (I also had night sweats which they said were hormone related and both of these symptoms also happened to my SIL).

Before my hair started falling out it "hurt" like when you have it in a ponytail for too long and that happened for a month or so. I thought my hair would never stop falling out and that I would surely go bald. I think I probably had about 40% hair loss - no lie, and I remember the days of my hair tie wrapping more times around than it ever had :(. My son is now 10 months old and my regrowth is about 6 inches long. I cut my hair in a bob and you can't even tell anymore. I just told my self that I would have a "bad hair year" which sucks because my hair is (was) one of my best features... oh well!

I would suggest getting a good hair cut, people kept telling me that and I thought they were crazy, but it really helped. If you want to discuss it further feel free to send me an email!

Good luck and don't stress about it, it's just hair and it WILL come back!

OK, I'm not an expert, but my son is just 11 months old and I had some hair/nail backlash until recently. I say 'backlash' because both were so great during pregnancy! In fact, I just realized today that my nails are finally stronger and growing beyond my fingertips again! My hair will probably follow suit, and hopefully yours too.

S., I feel your pain :) I have lost some hair after each of my pregnancies, but I lost a lot more after this last one. I just had a physical and found out my thyroid levels were low so I have been put on a med that is helping with the other symptoms and my hair doesnt seem to be coming out as much. The med is safe to take while nursing also!

Good luck and congrats on the baby!

I have had the same problem and started using the Head and Shoulders new line. I use the one for silky smooth hair, I was having trouble with it knotting up, but you can use whatever one you think you need. I have been using it for about a month now and have seen a huge difference! It will eventually go back to the way it was before pregnancy, it just takes a while. Good luck!

M.

Some hairloss is normal after delivery (usually happens anywhere between 6-9mos).
What you are experiencing may be something entirely different.

Please look into Dysbiosis.
Not too many people are aware of it...and that it causes ALOT of different related conditions such as the hairloss you are experiencing.

I suffered from hives, hairloss & candida (thrush).
I recently went thru a change in my diet (cannot do the cleanse yet since I am pregnant and will be nursing soon too). But, the changes in my food intake has drastically made a difference.

Here is a link:
http://iamzenjen.tripod.com/
Let me know if you run into any problems accessing the site.

Good luck & CONGRATS on your baby girl!
~D.

S.,

DO go tell your doctor about this. Yes, it can be a sign of thyroid issues. It could be a sign of a gluten allergy/intolerance. Each could have been triggered by pregnancy. The hair tips are all good too. With luck, the doc will eliminate these other possibilities, and things will return to normal.

Congrats on your baby though.

~D.

Hey S.!
It may be normal, though I didn't lose near that much hair. you might want to talk to your doctor about it... I have heard multiple times that excessive losing of hair (and fatigue) can be signs of a thyroid problem. I know that it's easily managed with medicine and I think it just takes a blood test to make sure everything is working normally. It might be worth a look... Good luck!