Hair Loss after Childbirth

[SydneyDoula]

Does anyone know WHY this occurs, particularly only to some women and not all?
My mother experienced it with all four of her children but my sister didn't lose any....
Lulu is now 6 months old (today!) and I'm losing handfuls of it!!!
I've got really thick hair but I'm not going to have any left it keeps falling out at this rate...

Any info? Suggestions?

[Elizabeth]

I think it happens because, during pregnancy, your body holds in lots of nutrients and other good things to help your baby grow. All of these nutrients also stop your hair from naturally falling out, which is why some women have sort of "untamed" hair during pregnancy. When the pregnancy ends, your body stops storing nutrients in the same way, and your hair begins to naturally fall out again. At first, it can be more hair than normal, but it will eventually begin to grow and fall out normally as it did before pregnancy. I could be completely wrong, but I've heard that somewhere before!

[AmandaB]

OKay so here is what I know ...

It is hormone based that we end up with the best hair of our lives during pregnancy. I was losing handfuls after my dd was born, to the point I was keeping it in aiplock bags to show my GP. I, then decided to read (instead of freak out). What I learned was that you will never loose all your hair. You may find you are "loosing" more because your hair is thicker. Don't panic, it will resolve it's self.

[MothertheMother]

I'll have to disagree with "the best hair of our lives during pregnancy" I have very thick hair as a norm and I hated my hair during pregnancy! It was so thick that it was flat and if you've ever seen my mess of curls you'd know that it doesn't normally do flat! Anyway...lol....I think it just seems like a lot because you get used to how little falls out during pregnancy and then you just start shedding the extra hair all at once.

[b'earth angel]

It is most certainly hormone related. You have that dive in hormones after birth, and it seems like all of your hair is going to fall out, but it wont!
I think it may also have something to do with nutrition. Even the least healthiest types (you know who you are) individual usually takes prenatals while pregnant. These make for extra luxurious hair and nails (I said usually MTM!). Then when it does fall out it freaks you out since it is thicker. And you haven't been losing much in the previous months so it seems like a large quantitiy.