Postpartum Hair Loss

Posted by Lana on Mar 31, 2010 in Featured, Mama and Baby, Uncategorized | 3 comments

Oh, to have shiny thick hair again! Before either of my sons came along, my hair was somewhat thick, shiny, and manageable. I have always eaten a well rounded healthy diet, taken a daily vitamin supplement, exercised, and drank lots of water. During my first pregnancy, I read everything I could get my hormonal claws on, and even recall learning that my hair would be even thicker and shinier during pregnancy.

Fast forward to six weeks postpartum with my first son. All I can say is that I looked down at the shower drain and swore I saw what seemed to be a small furry creature! I pondered… Did someone put “Nair” in my shampoo as a practical joke? I left a trail of hair, like ET’s reeses pieces every where I went. My hair was coming out so fast, I thought I would be ordering a wig off of QVC any moment ! My dramatic hair loss continued for six months (sigh), but slowly the furry friend finally began disappearing from my shower drain.

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Estrogen is the culprit here. Normally, we lose around 100 hairs per day due to the hairs that are in the “resting phase.” The resting phase accounts for 5-15% of our hair. The other 90-95% of our hairs are in the growing phase. During pregnancy, that 5-15% is even lower due to increased Estrogen levels, making us lose less hair. About six weeks postpartum, estrogen levels plummet, causing the hairs that transitioned to the growing phase, to go back to the resting phase, and BOOM….bye bye thick luxurious locks- hello twiggy. Just to be sure, if you’re losing excessive amounts, getting your thyroid checked may rule out hypothyroidism (can occur as high as 10% of all new mothers).

Unfortunately there is nothing you can really do except to keep your hair pulled back in order to keep so many hairs from falling everywhere; your baby’s face, diaper, wrapping around tiny fingers, and getting in your entire family’s dinner plate. Another option would be to opt for a short cut until the hair loss slows.

Biotin is a B-complex vitamin known to strengthen hair and nails, and encourage hair growth. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try! Please check with your doctor before taking any supplements to rule out any adverse interactions with current medications you are taking. There are also shampoos that contain biotin; their effectiveness isn’t well established, so don’t expect any miracles.

Just remember that before long, your hair will stop the houdini act, allowing your dreams of becoming a hair model to once again be within reach! Hee hee.