Hair Loss After Childbirth - Is This Normal?

The birth of a baby is a very special time as well as a very stressful one. Let's face it- your body has been through many significant changes in a short period of time and there are bound to be some consequences from this. Even if you don't realize it, your body and hormones are going through quite a number of changes in the weeks and months following your delivery. One change that many women notice is hair loss.

I know that finding giant clumps of hair in the drain or stuck to your hairbrush can cause quite the panic. Sometimes, you will lose so much hair that you will wonder if there is any left on your head. Don't panic. Loosing hair after childbirth is normal and in most cases is no cause for concern. For most women, it takes just a few months for your hair to stop this strange behavior and your thick locks to return to normal.

Typically, it is the third month to sixth month after you have your baby when this condition really becomes obvious. Your hair will seem to literally be falling out everywhere and if you are not careful, you can really stop up a vacuum cleaner with the sheer volume of locks on the loose.

This is primarily caused by shifts in your hormone levels. After you have a baby, it takes several months for your estrogen level to return to its pre-pregnancy state. In the meantime, your postpartum estrogen levels are very low and this causes a sudden loss of resting hair follicles. If you breastfeed, this phenomenon can be delayed or even last longer. Not surprisingly, this is also common when women stop taking the birth control pill. It's all about the estrogen. A sudden drop in levels and your hair is on the loose.

Fortunately, by the time your baby is 9 to 12 months old, all of your systems will be back to normal and your hair will start to thicken once again. Usually there is no treatment recommended for this condition other than the wait it out approach. If you are especially concerned or if the problem lasts longer than the typical three to six months, your doctor can run tests to look in to other possible problems but this outcome is very uncommon.

In the meantime, using hair thickening shampoos may be your best bet for coping with the loss of hair. Also be sure that your shower has an adequate hair catcher attachment or else you can risk plumbing problems. Personally, I found that a ponytail was the most practical approach since loose hair was like a magnet for small fingers anyhow.

Above all else, know that this is normal and you are highly unlikely to be going bald any time soon. After a long pregnancy, losing some hair is the last of the strange bodily changes you have to look forward to. By the time your baby celebrates their first birthday, your hair should be as thick and strong as it was before baby came on to the scene.