Hair loss after delivery: what is normal and when should you seek advice?

English version

Finding more hair on your brush or in the shower a few months after childbirth can be unsettling. Often, this is postpartum hair shedding: falling oestrogen levels cause hairs that remained in their growth phase during pregnancy to shed. It is usually temporary. Many women regain their usual hair fullness by their baby’s first birthday, though the timing varies.

What can you do?

Treat your hair gently, avoid tight hairstyles that pull on it, and eat regular, varied meals. A lighter conditioner or a different hairstyle may make thinning less noticeable, but shampoo cannot stop the underlying shedding.

Do not assume that every hair-loss supplement is needed or safe, particularly while breastfeeding. Ask a clinician before starting medicines or high-dose supplements.

When should you arrange an assessment?

Speak with a doctor or dermatologist if shedding is getting worse rather than settling, you notice distinct bald patches, your scalp is painful or inflamed, or your hair has not begun to recover around a year after delivery. Seek advice sooner if hair loss comes with marked tiredness, dizziness, feeling unusually cold, or other symptoms that concern you.

Childbirth is not the only possible cause of hair loss. Iron deficiency, illness and other conditions may need consideration; a clinician can decide whether an examination or blood tests are appropriate.