What I wish I had known about hair loss after having a baby
Handfuls of hair in the shower a few months after birth can be frightening. Here is why it happens, how long it lasts and what actually helps.
By PreggieLover 4 min read
It usually starts just when you think you are getting the hang of things. Your baby is three or four months old, you finally wash your hair properly, and a clump comes away in your hand. Then another. There is hair on your pillow, in the sink and wrapped around the hairbrush. Many mums wish someone had warned them. So here it is, the honest list of what I wish I had known.
1. It is very common, and it has a name
During pregnancy, higher hormone levels keep many hairs in their growing phase, which is why lots of women have thicker hair while pregnant. After birth, hormones drop and a large group of those hairs move into the resting and shedding phase at the same time. This is often called postpartum hair shedding. It is not a sign that something is wrong with you.
2. The timing is predictable
Shedding usually begins a couple of months after birth and is often at its heaviest around three to four months. For most mums it settles gradually, and hair is usually back to its normal pattern by around baby's first birthday. Knowing that there is an end point can make the shower drain much less frightening.
3. You will probably notice your hairline first
Many mums notice thinning around the temples and front edges. Then, a few months later, short baby hairs start sprouting there and stick up at funny angles. That is regrowth, and it is good news, even if it is not very obedient.
4. Gentle care helps your hair through it
- Go easy on tension. Very tight braids, weaves, ponytails and heavy extensions pull on fragile edges. Choose looser styles for this season and give your edges a break.
- Be gentle when wet. Use a wide-toothed comb and detangle slowly from the ends upwards.
- Turn down the heat. Lower the temperature on straighteners and dryers, or let your hair air dry when you can.
- Try a satin or silk scarf or pillowcase to reduce friction overnight.
- A new cut can make thinning hair look fuller and is easier to manage with a baby grabbing at it.
5. Food matters, but there is no magic product
Your hair is built from what you eat, so regular meals with protein, iron-rich foods, fruit and vegetables support healthy regrowth. You do not need expensive "postpartum hair" supplements to get through normal shedding. If you are thinking about taking any supplement, especially while breastfeeding, check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
6. Sometimes it is worth a blood test
Ordinary postpartum shedding is spread over your whole head. Speak to your doctor if:
- You notice bald patches or very sudden, severe loss.
- The shedding is still heavy well after your baby's first birthday.
- You also feel extremely tired, breathless, cold, low or anxious, or your heart is racing.
Low iron and thyroid changes after birth can both cause hair loss and tiredness, and both can be checked with a simple blood test.
7. Watch your baby's fingers and toes
This is one nobody tells you. A loose hair can occasionally wrap tightly around a baby's toe, finger or other small part and cut off circulation. It is called a hair tourniquet. If your baby is crying in a way you cannot settle, check their fingers and toes for a thin red line or swelling. If you find one, or the area looks discoloured, get medical help promptly. Brushing your hair away from the baby and checking socks and mittens for stray hairs helps.
8. It can feel like a loss, and that is allowed
For many women, hair is tied up with identity, culture and confidence. Feeling sad about losing it does not make you vain or ungrateful. You can love your baby with your whole heart and still miss your thick, glossy pregnancy hair.
Every hair, numbered
Jesus said something that feels almost funny in the middle of a shedding season: "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:7).
He was not giving a lesson on hair care. He was telling anxious people how closely God pays attention to them. If He knows the number of hairs on your head, even as it changes daily in the shower, then He knows the bigger things too: your tiredness, your worries, your hopes for your child. You are seen in fine detail and you are of great value.
A prayer for shedding days
Lord, You know me down to every hair on my head. When I feel unattractive or unsettled by the changes in my body, remind me how precious I am to You. Grow back what has been lost in Your time, and grow my trust in You meanwhile. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
When does postpartum hair loss stop?
Shedding is often heaviest around three to four months after birth and usually settles gradually, with hair back to its normal pattern by around baby's first birthday.
Should I see a doctor about hair loss after birth?
See your doctor if you have bald patches, very sudden loss, shedding that continues after your baby's first birthday, or you also feel very tired, low or unwell.
What is a hair tourniquet?
It is when a loose hair wraps tightly around a baby's finger, toe or other small part. If your baby is very unsettled, check for a thin red line or swelling and seek medical help promptly if you find one.
This article is for general information and encouragement, not medical advice. Please talk to your doctor or midwife about your own health and your baby's.
