Is hair loss after delivery common?

Question

I had my baby 3 months back and have started losing a lot of hair since past few weeks.

Answer 1

Yes, it's normal. During pregnancy, normal hair loss almost entirely stops. You make up for it after the baby is born. You are just losing 9 months' worth of hair all at once. If, however, you develop actual bald spots, contact your doctor.

Answer 2

YES. This is because more than likely you're off the prenatal vitamins. As hair growth is common during pregnancy, hair loss is common after. If you're breastfeeding, I would recommend staying on the vitamins. There are also wonderful vitamins out there for women who are breastfeeding.

Make sure that you're getting enough iron, and drinking enough water. An unhealthy diet can also lead to hair loss.

Answer 3

What really happens is that the high estrogen levels in your body during pregnancy cause your hair to fall out at a much SLOWER rate than usual, so your hair becomes really luxuriant.

After you deliver, your estrogen levels go back to normal, so what happens is that all of the hairs that WOULD HAVE been shed in the past PLUS all of the hairs that would normally be shed right now all come out at the same time. That's why it looks as if all of your hair is falling out: It's just going back to its normal state. This accelerated loss will stop soon.

Answer 4

Hi,

I found this article. Maybe it could help.

Women have problems of hair loss during and after pregnancy. This is common and patches of baldness or hair fall can be seen. The main reasons for hair loss in women are vitamin and mineral deficiency and hormonal changes....

http://careforyourhair.blogspot.com/2006/07/hair-loss-during-and-after-pregnancy.html

Answer 5

YES YES YES! My hair started falling out after 4months.. it was so bad! it does eventually stop as my obgyn and friends have said but what I did was I started taking my prenatal vitamins again and also a hair and nail vitamin from gnc and it stopped after a week of doing that.. my hair is now still thicker then it was before I was pregnant and everyone else says that it takes sooo long to come back so you should try it.

Answer 6

Yes, dont worry, you will get back your hair. Its common for pregnant women to loose weight during pregnancy. Have a head massage, it might help you:

Reduce Hair Loss With A Thorough Head Massage
http://www.askaquery.com/Answers/qn1681.html

Answer 7

YES, hair loss after delivery is normal. I lost a little myself. My friend Sara, however, lost a ton of hair. SHe still is actually. Her hair is much thicker and and she has more of it than i do though. There are lots of things that change and never go back when you give birth. Don't stress over it. That'll just make things worse. :-)

Answer 8

This is so familiar! I can remember going through it myself. For whatever reason hormones make your hair 'stay' in longer. We're all used to losing a few hairs a day normally and never notice that during our pregnancy we just don't lose them as often. I attribute it to having our attention elsewhere (namely our growing belly!). With the reduction of hormones, the body plays catch up and you make up for lost time in the hair renewal department. Don't worry, you won't go bald.

On another note, during my pregnancy my naturally curly (read almost untamed) hair was perfectly straight by the time my daughter was born. It took almost 2 years before it was back to its natural wild self....

Answer 9

Yup, I lots loads of hair and was freaking out.But don't worry it's just for a couple more months and then it eventually stops, to what you would normally lose.Try to brush it at nite before you go to bed, and then when you wake up turn your head upside down, and run your finger through it, you should get very little falling out.Try to deep condition it as well less breakage and fall out mosture will make it stronger.My hair dresser said that it's fine to lose hair for up to a year.As long as your not getting bald pacthes, you don't have to worry. take care and enjoy being a mother. I do "]

Answer 10

It is very common and very normal. When I asked my OB why this happens, she said it was from a combination of hormones that occur following the delivery of your baby. She also said a small, but contributing factor could be the eventual discontinuation of the prenatal vitamins.