Losing hair after having a baby

Around three months after giving birth, a lot of women notice hair coming out in handfuls. In the shower, on the pillow, in the brush. It looks alarming. For most women it’s normal, and it stops on its own.

Why it happens

During pregnancy, high oestrogen keeps hair in its growing phase longer than usual, so you shed less and your hair often looks thicker. After the birth, hormones drop back to normal and all that hair that should have fallen out over nine months starts falling out at once. Doctors call it telogen effluvium. It usually starts two to four months after the birth, peaks around month four, and settles by month six to twelve.

What’s normal

Shedding all over the head rather than in patches. Noticeably more hair than before, but no bald spots. Thinning around the hairline and temples is common. New short baby hairs growing in along the front are a good sign — that’s regrowth.

When to see someone

If it’s still heavy after twelve months, if you see bald patches rather than general thinning, if your scalp is sore, itchy or flaky, or if you’re also exhausted, cold all the time or gaining weight. Those can point to thyroid problems or low iron, both common after pregnancy and both treatable. Ask your GP for a blood test.

Why tracking matters

The hard part isn’t the shedding — it’s not knowing whether it’s getting better. By the time you get to a GP you can’t remember what it looked like in month two, and “I think it’s a bit less” isn’t much for a doctor to go on. One photo of your parting each month, in the same light, tells you and them exactly what’s happening. Most women see it turn around between month six and nine. If yours doesn’t, you’ll have the evidence to get taken seriously.