Hair Loss - Helena,MT

I have had luck with reducing the sodium in my diet and using hair products that have no types of sodium in the contents list -they are out there. Best wishes, Vickie SAHM of two

With both of my children I experienced the same thing. And with my first I thought I wasn't going to have any hair left. Fortunately, it did stop around 7 months. With my daughter around the same time- 6 or 7 months. Hang in there...I didn't loose all my hair. I hear that's what happens when you have teen agers. lol

Maybe you should go to the Dr. I have heard this can be a Thyroid imbalance.

H., mine started when my little guy turned 4 months. I did not breastfeed him. He just turned 1 and it has finally started to slow down. It is definately a lot thinner than it use to be. I had bald spots that finally have hair growing back in. This also happened with my first one; however, it didn't start falling out until I had stopped breastfeeding him and also lasted about 8 months.
Keep taking your vitamins. If you are concerned see your OB and have some thyroid or hormone tests ran just to make sure you are not too completely off balance. Good luck!

This IS perfectly normal after having a baby, especially if you are breastfeeding. I had freaky bald spots on my hairline when I was nursing my son, and with my daughter, while it didn't get as bad as it was with my son, I was still losing a massive amount of hair.

Any number of things are contributing factors, the nutritional demands of a newborn, plus your own body returning to normal after childbirth (yes, even several months after the birth), sleep loss...basically every possible aspect of being a new parent. One extra thing you can check is birth control. The birth control pill that I took that worked with breastfeeding had the side effect of causing hair loss. I switched birth control pills, and while I was still losing hair, it was nowhere near as drastic as it had been. Talk to your doctor, eat as healthy a diet as you can, take your vitamins, and eventually, either as you are lessening your breastfeeding time, or after you have completely stopped nursing, your hair loss will stop as well.

Also, be aware, that the very nature of your hair can change after having children. I used to have hair that was flat as a board with no wave to it at all....now, after two children, if I don't style it, it is virtual corkscrews!

Best of luck!!

If I were you I would see a doctor. It's possible your thyroid is not functioning properly.

Hormones durig pregnancy cause our hair to thicken up - it doesn't fall out as fast as usualy. After pregnancy it gets back to normal, which means loosing more at first. Chances are its normal.

However, hair loss could be a symptom of a thyroid problem. If you are noticing your hair being thinner than pre-pregnancy (look at some pictures from your wedding or just before you got pregnant to compare - its hard to just remember) you may want to mention it to your doctor. Especially if you have other symptoms of thyroid problems (decreased energy - that could be from being a new mom! - dry skin, brittle nails, feeling cold more often, mood changes). Most of the symptoms can also have other causes, too. But if you're worried, mention it to your doctor and see if he thinks you need to be checked. It doesn't hurt to gain peace of mind.

Ugh! I am so sorry you are losing hair. I have been there and it is not fun, especially having to clean it off the bathroom floor. When you're pregnant your scalp doesn't release hair so that's why pregnant women have great thick hair. After giving birth(usually about a month or so after) your scalp will start shedding that hair. My son is 3 so its hard to remember, but I think mine started falling out like crazy when he was about 1.5-2 months old and it stopped shortly after I stopped nursing at 5 months.(I was so worried about it that I had my stylist cut my hair into a bob so it would look thicker.)

If you're still having problems after nursing (if you are nursing), then you might have some unbalanced hormones. If your progesterone or estrogen levels are off balanced it could cause hair loss. It would require a blood test by your doctor to find out for sure though.

Good luck to you! I wish you the best!

I had the same thing happen, but luckily my hairstylist warned me about this when I was about 30 days from having my son! I'm so glad she did. I didn't start losing hair until my son was about 2 months old (to the point that I thought my stylist was nuts and it wasn't going to happen to me...) and was having to clean my brush out AT LEAST daily from all the hair. It didn't stop until about 6-8 months and then it grew back in like crazy too, all these little spots that stuck straight up and out (my dr. even checked my thyroid because it was growing in so much)! Frustrating! At 1 year, my hair is back to normal, so don't fret...there is an end to it! Good luck!

S., 26, mom to 14th month old and #2 on the way in Aug!!!

Ugh. I totally understand! I lost so much hair that when I got my hair cut about 18 mos after being pregnant that the stylist mentioned it. I lost the most hair around my face, it's still way shorter than the rest. It will stop! Every woman is different so there's no way to tell when, but there's no reason why you shouldn't mention it to your doc (or at the next well baby visit). Make sure you're eating well & taking your vitamins!

Hi H.! Congratulations on your baby girl. :) As these wonderful mothers have assured you, hair loss is normal after giving birth. My friend lost a lot, and had short hair growing back around her face a couple of months afterward. In the meantime, another option for stimulating hair growth is Arbonne's Thermal Fusion Hair & Scalp Revitalizer. It is reasonably priced, you can PM me if you're interested in trying it out. Best of luck!

My daughter is two, but right around the time she was 18 mos old, my hair started falling out. most people say it happens when they quit breastfeeding, some people it starts a few weeks after birth no matter what... I thought maybe I'd been passed over.. I grew a ton of new hair when I was pregnant, it was really weird.. but it starting falling out again... I kept thinking if I'd saved it all I'd have enough to stuff a new cushion for our couch.

anyway... after I got pregnant again and it stopped. not that I'm suggesting pregnancy to grow hair, but it is a normal side-effect. sorry to say... but keep up the vitamins, they'll help... and always a good idea if you are planning on having more babies.

I suggest that you have you're dr., do a TSH blood test on you to check your Thyroid. Even if you have never had a Thyroid problem before, pregnancy can knock your system out of whack.

when i was pregnant my hair STOPPED falling out. so then, of course, once baby came, the hormones changed and all that hair started coming out. just realize that though it seems like gads of hair, it's really a lot of built up hair that didn't come out for many months of pregnancy. i guess i didn't realize my hair was coming out in excessive amounts until my daughter was about 4 mos and we saw my sister who shouted. . . what is going on with your hair? i think it probably evened out around 6 months, of course my hair seems to fall out a lot normally, so it may be difficult to notice when it slows. . . . but it WILL stop!!

My daughter is now 7 months old and I just quit loosing hair about a month ago. In any case, it doesn't hurt to mention it to your doctor and at least have your thyroid checked out. I'd say 3 months is pretty norm, but if it's getting worse, there could be more going on. Congratulations on the new baby!

Heahter H,
I started shopping straight from a manufacture for our home products, they have hair products that are the most amazing and they ship them to my home and it cost me the same price as the cheaper stuff I used to get at walmart, the best part, I don't shed anymore ( sorry my humor word), my elisticity in my hair is amazing, and I can keep my perm for 2-3 years, when before I couldn't get a perm to stay in my hair for a month. I will show you how to shop from the company directly too if you are serious about fixing your hair, they have many other items you may love as well, but the hair products are much better than the salon quality that our hair dresser used on her own, she even started getting it. lol you can email me at ____@____.com or even go to gotgreennow.fourpointmoms.com

Hormones are dirty little things when they do things like this to us!! You need to find someone who specializes in hormone replacement therapy, not just your regular Dr. In Salt Lake city, I love Dr Steven Jepson. Good Luck!

H.,
This is totally normal! I know it sucks. It will stop and you'll grow new hair. Next year you will have all these cute little whispies and faux sideburns. :)I have really thick hair and it takes about 18 months for me to get back to normal.

I would have your thyroid checked. After I had my first daughter the same thing happened to my hair. It was more than just losing hair from having a baby. I called my doctor and she told me over the phone that she thought it was my thyroid. She had me go to the lab for a blood test and put me on synthroid medication. I have been on the medication ever since but after I have a baby it takes a while to regulate my thryroid again. I was also really tired but thought that was because of the new baby.

I would get it checked as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the longer it will take to regulate your thyroid if that is the problem. And your hair will continue to fall out. I also used Nioxin hair products to help stimulate the hair growth. It helped a lot too.

Good luck ang congratulations on your baby.

I would try having your thyroid checked. M hair fell out for five months before I went to the doctor and told him about it. I should have guessed thyroid issues since it runs in the family, but I didn't know the symptoms: sensitivity to cold, loss of hair, fatigue...You could look up your symptoms on webmd.com.

Here is what I was told by my doc....having a new little one is a little stressful and your body went through a tremendous undertaking, its normal. He had me continue to take prenatal vitamins and I used the Nioxin shampoo and conditioner. It starts of slow helping at first but then it really kicks in! I had lost a whole patch of hair and mine was cut short at the time so it was pretty embarrassing!

It's funny, people ususally don't mention hair loss as a side effect from having children-and then you have to find out for yourself.

If you are truly concerned, go see your doctor. Your primary care physician may refer you to a dermatologist. They can give you advice and suggestions. It may take a little while for your hair to stop falling out, even up to a year. It's good that you are taking vitamins. The Nioxin shampoo and conditioner may be able to help a little bit with your hair loss. I know it's frustrating, but you will need to be patient with your body. Unfortunately for me, I have "male pattern baldness" that runs in the women in my family. I have been told that my only recourse may be to start using Rogaine. :( Good luck to you!!

One of the main reasons it seems like we loose SO MUCH hair after having a baby is that normally people lose a certain amount everyday but when you are pregnant you actually hold on to most of your hair. I am pregnant now and I only get 2-3 hairs falling out in the shower. This is very different from after I had my daughter and I was grossing myself out with the handfulls of hair that would come out everyday. I am pretty sure it does not have to do with breastfeeding(for most women) I started losing after my daughter was born and I lost the most the first year...however I nursed her till she was 2 so and by that time I was pregnant and started keeping more of my hair again. CHeck with a Dr. if it is really bothering you but your hormones will eventually balance. My hair does not seem any thinner eventhough I felt like I lost SO much after having my daughter.

It is normal for your hair to fall out after having a baby. Mine did after my second son. It was in clumps all over the house. It took about 5 months before it stopped falling out and now I have flyh aways. From the hair regrowing in, so I got my hair layered and it looks fine. Good look and don't worry it will stop falling out before you loose it all.

How frustrating!! I agree that it could be your thyroid. I have had far better help with my thyroid from this protocol than I had with synthroid or armour thyroid -- http://wilsonstemperaturesyndrome.com/ThyroidAndHairLoss.htm (You can find a dr. in your area on there too.) I didn't have hair loss but my thyroid went crazy after I had my son. Please send me a message if you have any questions at all.

H.,

Hair loss can be triggered by various things, especially having a new baby and stress. Of course as we age hair tends to thin as well. Another reason hair could be falling out is due other medical reasons you may or may not be aware of.

The best answer is to seek out a physician. Hair loss is not at all uncommon for your situation, but you may just get it looked into a little deeper.

There is no sure answer to how long it could last. However, try not to stress yourself out over it because that only makes the problem worse. I know easier said then done. Vitamins and increased protein intake will help, but the length of time will depend on how long it takes your body to recover from whatever was causing the hair loss.

For temporary fix you may consider a different hair style that will afford you the opportunity to create a little volume easier & kind of 'mask' the fact your hair is thinning. As a hair stylist and seeing this issue often in women and men that would be the best and quickest cosmetic solution I could offer.

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/hairloss...

Take a deep breath - this is not uncommon!
Stay well - C.

I'm a Hair stylist and that is way to much loss. Do you have other things going on, tired, not that hungry ect. If so, yes go to the Dr your tyroid may be off. Never hurts to have them check. Yes the Nixion will help stop or slow loss and is very different from rogain, you don't have to keep using it after the loss has stoped and it will also help if your hormons are making your scalp flake. I too had all of this after both my boys. If you have any questions you may contact me at Aloha Salon Castle Rock, (I wont sell you the sun, just good advise on hair) Good luck A.

H.,
My son is 3 now and I had a bad hair loss problem up until about 2 months ago. It is very normal to lose hair from the hormone changed of pregnancy. My doctor was not worried about it up until a year ago. They finally figured out that it was my thyroid that was causing the issues. You may want to mention it to your health care provider that you are concerned.
Good luck.
J.

Hi!

I have been doing hair for a handful of years and I see this a lot. Sometime hair loss last for several months after the birth of your little one. Keeping your Vitamins intake will help replace what you have lost as well as keeping your skin and nails looking awesome. (everything you take into your body comes out your hair, skin and nails) Another thing you can do is stimulate the hair and scalp. There are several products to do that with. The best on the market is Nioxin. There is a cleansing shampoo, conditioner and stimulator. Right now is a good time to buy because most of it is on sale. It can get pretty pricey. It works! I have offered to my little Old ladies and the little gal who have had cancer treatments. Ask the person who does your hair if they can get you Nioxin since it's sold only in salons.

With each of my kids (I have 3) I lost a complete bald spot. Not one I could hide since it was my bangs and the "corner" of my forehead. It took about 6 months for things to level out. If it bothers you that much talk to your DR and have him check you hormone levels. Our bodies do amazing things creating these little creatures, but then rebel later.

Hi H.. Congrats on your new baby!!
The same thing happened to me last year about 4 months after my baby was born. It was so frustrating!! My hair dresser recommended the Nioxin shampoo/conditioner that a few other ladies have mentioned. I picked it up at Ulta. It was not cheap BUT it worked!! I've now got a new little layer of hair growing in around my face. It may be worth a try if you don't want to wait for your body to adjust to post pregnancy!
Best of luck,
C.