Postpartum Hair Loss - Kirkland,WA

I lost lots of hair after both pregnancies. It started at about 4 months postpartum and lasted another few months. I thought I'd have no hair left, but eventually it grew back. It's normal for a lot of people. I don't know if vitamins help or not. They didn't work for me. I wish you the best. Just try not to worry.

Hi S.,
First make sure that there is no medical reason for that and than go to "Rite Aid" and get theirs "Hair and nails" vitamines. They work wonders!

Certain conditions can make it worse... so if you feel it's really abnormal, go have your thyroid checked. <grinning> Be prepared for a patronizing visit to the Doc though.

Aside from that, how long & how much & how noticeable, typically depends on the type and length of your hair + genetics.

For example:

If you have long curly hair, you're probably already used to losing handfulls in the shower, because it doesn't shed throughout the day. Or rather, it DOES, but it stays all curled up with the others until you get in the shower. Post partum curly hair loss tends to look reeeallly extreme on the shower. Yikes!

Short straight hair is noticeable all. day. long. Because you're constantly losing a poof here, a poof of hair there.

The longer your hair is, the more it will SEEM like you're losing, and the shorter your hair is the more noticeable it will be (volume, etc.). Pony tails v Down also change perception, because the holder will keep shed hair in place in the band, just like having curly hair.

Time length though, expect it for 2-6 months. And that, is determined by genetics.

Hi S.-
Try to think in terms of a comparison to how much hair you had before your pregnancy. As you know, we hang on to hair while pregnant, and then the "normal" shedding that occurs postpartum is really a release of the extra that we didn't release while we were pregnant. You should end at a place that resembles where you started before pregnancy. If you're convinced you're losing more than that, then as a doctor, the first thing that comes to mind (as has been mentioned already) are thyroid levels. But what's important in any patient is the totality of symptoms, and what that implies about what is systemically awry, rather than getting stuck on one particular symptom and manipulating (or suppressing) it. Other symptoms of thyroid problems are constipation (which to me means less than once/day, or it's difficult to pass), dry skin, "brain fog", fatigue (these last 2 are hard to tease out from "regular" postpartum though! which is where a blood test comes in handy), weight gain; there are some others but those are the biggies.

It's sad that someone else had the experience with their doc that led them to say "prepate to be patronized." Nobody should put up with that kind of treatment from their doc! Get another one, I say. Try a naturopath if you haven't been to one before. Certainly we naturopaths are individuals, and much is about connecting with the individual person you've found, so there's no guarantee. But on average I see that naturopaths are more interested in and willing to take the time to educate patients, so you shouldn't walk away feeling patronized. Naturopaths are also going to look at you more systemically, and not only be interested in the thyroid - how about the other glands that interact extensively (like the adrenals - which are just about always fatigued in a postpartum mom - and the ovaries). I'd be interested in what those are up to, as well as the rest of the physical and emotional picture.

Best wishes,
D. E., ND
Seattle

p.s., Thanks to the person who explained why us wavy/curly-haired folks lose so much hair in the shower. I never thought about that it's just getting stuck in the rest of the hair during the day, and releasing when I comb the conditioner through in the shower. Makes so much sense!

For me it happened with each of my three children - starting around 2-3 months and lasting until around 7 months when it drastically slowed - probably to normal shedding rates. Then I get all the little baby hairs that stick up and around my face and ears. Nothing I did made any difference, so take care of yourself but don't worry, everyone I know has experienced it for a few months and then it stops.

All born at holiday time too, wow! You must save up gifts all year long! We have two winter babies too =)

Have your thyroid checked. Hair loss is a symptom, I actually ended up with a temporary bald spot! Make sure they don't just check your TSH though, have them check all three levels, this is very important! I was initally misdiagnosed because they only checked my TSH.

Hope it's nothing though...I did lose more hair the second time than the first, even though my thyroid meds were regulated.