POSTNATAL RECOVERY
Postpartum Hair Loss: What to Expect & When It Settles
Finding more hair than usual in the shower, on your clothes or in your hairbrush can feel alarming after having a baby. This short guide explains why postpartum shedding happens, the pattern many people notice and when it is worth asking your GP for advice.
Why does hair fall out after having a baby?
During pregnancy, hormonal changes mean normal hair shedding slows for many people. After birth, hormone levels change again and the hairs retained during pregnancy begin to shed.
Because more hairs can enter the shedding stage at around the same time, the amount may look dramatic. This is a recognised postpartum change and does not automatically mean that something is wrong.
When does postpartum hair loss start?
Increased shedding commonly becomes noticeable during the first few months after birth. The NHS notes that women commonly lose more hair than usual up to around three months after having a baby.
This is an approximate pattern rather than a deadline. Bodies recover differently, and you may notice the change earlier or later than someone else.
How long does it last?
Postpartum shedding is generally temporary. NHS-linked guidance from Just One Norfolk says the process settles over the first year, but there is no single date when everyone’s hair will feel back to normal.
The pace of shedding and regrowth varies. Try not to judge recovery against another parent’s timeline, particularly when sleep, health, stress and individual hair cycles can all differ.
Is there anything I need to do?
Postpartum shedding does not usually require a special product or complicated routine. A few gentle habits may help reduce avoidable pulling and breakage while the shedding settles.
- Treat your hair gently when washing and brushing.
- Avoid excessive pulling or tugging.
- Tie hair back gently rather than tightly.
- Keep unnecessary heat and styling damage to a minimum.
- Ask your GP before trying supplements, medicines or commercial hair-loss treatments, especially while pregnant or breastfeeding.
When should I speak to my GP?
See your GP if you are worried about your hair loss. Ask for advice if it appears patchy, leaves large bald areas, seems unusually severe or persistent, or is accompanied by other symptoms that concern you.
Temporary hair loss can have causes other than postpartum hormonal changes, including illness, stress, weight loss or iron deficiency. A GP can consider your symptoms and circumstances rather than asking you to diagnose the cause yourself.