Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

Did any of you notice that your hair was shedding a LOT more after having your baby?
I have read that during pregnancy your hair sheds less- hence why some people notice that their hair is much thicker while pregnant.
I did notice a lot less hair in the shower drain while preggo and by the end of my pregnancy my hair was noticablely thicker.

But now, about 12 weeks PP I notice that it is shedding like CRAZY and I am pulling clumps out of the shower drain and off the comb after I shower.


I am assuming the honeymoon is over and all that hair that I didn't shed over the 9 months is coming out now.
I am still taking my prenatals so it can't be that.

Anyone else notice this? When did it level off?

Message edited 9/14/2010 12:33:45 PM.

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

OMG. I have to sweep my floor every morning. I grab handfuls of my hair out of the boys hands all day long. I must lose 30 pieces of hair a day. At this rate, I'll be bald in no time.

I'm glad I am not the only one!

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

yup I did up until my daughter was 6 months old I couldn't stand it

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

Yea I started losing my hair around 10-12 weeks PP and just now at 6 months it's starting to taper off.

With my 1st pg it was sooooo bad that I actually had a bald spot forming in the front and then it started growing back in and I had all these little tiny spiky hairs all along my hairline.

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

Totally normal.

At the rate I'm losing hair I should be bald by Christmas!!

With DS#1 I don't think the hair shedding tapered off for at least 3-4 months.

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

Oh yes... one of those little things nobody tells you about pregnancy and the aftermath!

Here is the best explanation I have been able to find from babycenter.com:


Many new moms are surprised to find themselves shedding more hair than usual in the first few months after giving birth, but it's perfectly normal. And there's no need to panic: You won't go bald. In fact, your hair should be back to normal by your baby's first birthday.

Here's what's going on. Normally, about 85 to 95 percent of the hair on your head is growing and the other 5 to 15 percent is in a resting stage. After the resting period, this hair falls out — often while you're brushing or shampooing it — and is replaced by new growth. An average woman sheds about 100 hairs a day.

During pregnancy, increased levels of estrogen prolong the growing stage. There are fewer hairs in the resting stage and fewer falling out each day, so you have thicker, more luxuriant tresses.

After you give birth, your estrogen levels take a tumble and a lot more hair follicles enter the resting stage. Soon you'll have more hair coming out in the shower or on the brush. This unusual shedding will taper off and your hair will be back to its pre-pregnancy thickness about six to 12 months after you give birth.

By the way, not all women notice dramatic changes in their hair during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Among those who do, it tends to be more obvious among women with longer hair.

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

normal! mine started falling out around 8-10w PP! Now at 4months, its slowing down a little bit but still falling out more than normal

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

DS is 5.5 months and my hair is shedding like crazy!!

The girls at my office made fun of me Friday bc I rubbed my foot on the carpet and a HUGE clump of hair came up. The same in my bedroom it drives DH crazy!!

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

Aggh! I thought I had escaped the PP hair loss but I started losing my hair at 10 months PP!!!

I grab handfuls of hair, it falls while i'm eating, DS grabs pieces off the floor, when I wash my hair I lose tons more I see no decrease in the amount I'm losing and it's been weeks.

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

At around 12 weeks pp I started shedding like CRAZY!! I still am shedding but not as much. During pregnancy I had stopped losing hair completely..so my hair was really thick.

I can't wait until it goes back to normal levels...while it's slowed down it's still quite a bit.

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

all the hair you DIDNT lose during pregnancy has to come out. lol. i was BEYOND shedding. lol I thought i was going bald.

now 8 mths later its growing back and my hair looks so weird!

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

All the sudden at 8 weeks PP, I started shedding like a maniac!! I'm now almost 8 MONTHS PP and it has not slowed down a bit!!

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

Yes! I have clumps of hair coming out all of time Since about 12 weeks I have noticed this. My hair was super long and I just chopped it all off b/c it was just too much to deal with.

I'm hoping it will taper off soon like some pp's said happened

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

it is falling out like crazy has been for weeks! I cut my hair so short bc I'm tired of it being everywhere. I hope it stops soon before I go bald!

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

13m PP here and still have thin gross hair. it falls out like CRAZY.

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

I thought I was going to go bald, seriously.
Probably around 5 months it stopped

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

Yes, it was ridiculous for a while... clumps! It's also really wavey now, my hair was pin straight before giving birth!

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

I am 10 month`s PP and I am still shedding...I just lost about 5 pounds of hair in the shower...

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

totally normal.

mine juststarted (15 w pp) but honestly this happens to me once a year anyway, you will not go bald

my hair is so thick... in fact I just had my cousin (hairdresser) thin it out for me

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

I was loosing clumps, it peeked at 3m, at 6m its back to how it was pre-preg.

I also got a haircut, it was driving me insane to see long clumps fall out, short clumps where a little more tolerable.

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

All I have to say is that for xmas i'm asking for my hair back...

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

Yikes!
Looks like I will be needing some hair extensions soon!

Thanks for the feedback ladies.
The problem is my hair is fine and thin to begin with that I can't afford to lose any of it!

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

yep!!! i am shedding like an animal

AND

i discovered my first GRAY HAIR yesterday afternoon!!!!! of course, my hair is layered and the gray was in the longest layer!! ahhhhhhhh!!!!


i named her lillith

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

my experience has been totally different than anything I have ever read about. My hair was fine......until about 6 months pp and it started falling out and getting awful. It is AWFUL now. I am actually embarrassed by the amount that falls out all over the place.
I am weaning off bf'ing and wonder if that is the cause.

Re: Can we discuss our hair postpartum please?

the amount of hair i lose shocks me daily. its disgusting and at this rate, i will definitely be bald by halloween.

eta for spelling

Message edited 9/14/2010 10:55:13 PM.