Hair changes are one of the less talked-about parts of having a baby. Many people notice their hair feels thicker during pregnancy, only to find it coming out in handfuls a few months after the birth. In the vast majority of cases, that is a normal and temporary process. Occasionally, though, postpartum shedding overlaps with another condition that is worth picking up, and knowing the difference can save months of uncertainty.
This article looks at what typical postpartum shedding looks like, and at three things that can sit alongside it and are easy to miss.
What usually happens
During pregnancy, hormonal changes mean that fewer hairs move into the shedding phase, so hair that would normally have fallen out stays on the head. After the birth, those hairs are released over a short period. The American Academy of Dermatology describes this as excessive shedding rather than true hair loss, explains that it usually peaks around four months after giving birth, and notes that most women see their hair return to its normal fullness by their child's first birthday.
The UK pregnancy charity Tommy's gives similar reassurance, and advises speaking to a GP if hair is coming out in clumps or leaving large bald patches.
So the baseline expectation is this: shedding that starts a few months after the birth, affects the whole scalp (often most noticeable around the hairline), and gradually settles over the following months.
Three things that can overlap
Because the first year with a new baby is exhausting in its own right, symptoms such as tiredness and low mood are easily put down to broken sleep. That makes the following conditions easy to overlook.
1. Postpartum thyroiditis
The thyroid gland controls much of the body's metabolism, and both an overactive and an underactive thyroid can affect hair. The British Thyroid Foundation explains that postpartum thyroiditis is a temporary, inflammatory condition that occurs in fewer than 1 in 10 pregnancies and usually shows up in the first 12 months after birth.
It often starts with symptoms of an overactive thyroid, such as anxiety, weight loss, feeling hot and a tremor, and is then followed by a phase that looks like an underactive thyroid, with tiredness, low mood and feeling cold. Many of these symptoms overlap with ordinary new-parent fatigue, which is why it can go unnoticed. It is more common in people who already have thyroid antibodies or a personal or family history of thyroid problems.
The condition is diagnosed with a blood test, so if hair shedding comes with any of these symptoms, it is worth mentioning them to a GP rather than assuming everything is down to lack of sleep.
2. Iron deficiency
Blood loss during and after delivery, combined with the demands of pregnancy, can leave iron stores low. According to the NHS, iron deficiency anaemia can cause tiredness, shortness of breath, a pale complexion and heart palpitations, and heavy bleeding and pregnancy are both listed among its causes.
Low iron can contribute to hair shedding and may make it last longer than it otherwise would. Again, this is picked up with a simple blood test, and it is something a GP can treat if needed. It is best not to start iron supplements without advice, particularly while breastfeeding, as the right dose depends on your results.
3. Pattern hair loss being revealed
Sometimes postpartum shedding does not so much cause a new problem as reveal an existing one. Female pattern hair loss is common and tends to develop gradually over years, so it can go unnoticed until a large shed makes the thinning more obvious.
The American Academy of Dermatology's page on female pattern hair loss describes the typical signs, most notably a widening centre parting and thinning over the top of the head, while the hairline at the front is usually preserved. If the hair has not returned to its previous fullness after a year, or if thinning is concentrated along the parting rather than spread evenly, this is worth raising with a GP or dermatologist.
A practical checklist
If you are unsure whether your shedding is typical, it can help to note the following before speaking to a health professional:
- When it started, counting in weeks or months from the birth
- Where it is thinning, whether all over, around the hairline or along the parting
- Other symptoms, particularly tiredness beyond what you would expect, feeling hot or cold, palpitations, anxiety or low mood
- Blood loss, including whether you lost a lot of blood at delivery or have had heavy periods since
- Family history of thyroid problems or thinning hair
- Photographs of your parting taken in the same light every few weeks, which make gradual change easier to see
Your health visitor or GP can then decide whether any tests are needed.
Looking after yourself in the meantime
While typical postpartum shedding usually settles without treatment, a few sensible steps can help the hair you have look and feel its best:
- Use gentle products and avoid tight hairstyles that add extra tension at the hairline
- Keep heat styling to a minimum while the hair is shedding
- Eat as well as you realistically can, with enough protein, iron-rich foods and fruit and vegetables
- Be cautious about products marketed specifically for postpartum hair loss, as the evidence for most of them is limited
The bottom line
Postpartum shedding is common and usually temporary, and most people can expect their hair to recover within the first year. What is worth watching for is shedding that comes with other symptoms, lasts beyond a year, or follows a pattern that looks different from all-over thinning. In those cases, a straightforward conversation with a GP and a blood test can rule out, or pick up, the conditions that need treatment.
For more detail on why pregnancy affects hair, how long shedding typically lasts and what helps, see this guide to postpartum hair loss, published by My Hair UK.
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