Hair Falling Out After Pregnancy? What's Normal Month by Month

Hair falling out after pregnancy is normal and temporary. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says shedding usually peaks about four months after giving birth. Most women see their hair return to its normal fullness by their child's first birthday.

If you're a few months in, pulling hair off your sweater and out of the drain, that's the expected part. The less obvious part is that postpartum hair loss arrives in the same months as two other common causes of shedding. It can hide them, so the timing is worth knowing.

When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Start and Stop?

Excessive shedding can start about two months after giving birth and usually peaks about four months after. Here is the AAD timeline, with the postpartum thyroid windows from the American Thyroid Association (ATA) laid on top.

• About 2 months after birth: the AAD says a new mom can see excessive hair shedding about two months after giving birth.
• 1 to 4 months: if postpartum thyroiditis happens, its overactive phase begins 1 to 4 months after delivery and lasts 1 to 3 months.
• About 4 months: shedding usually peaks.
• 4 to 8 months: the underactive thyroid phase typically starts, and it may last up to 9 to 12 months.
• The first birthday: most women see their hair back to its normal fullness. If yours isn't after one year, the AAD suggests seeing a dermatologist.

The overlap is the useful bit. A thyroid problem that thins hair can start in exactly the window where everyone expects you to shed.

Why Does Hair Fall Out After Having a Baby?

Falling estrogen is the cause, and the AAD calls the excess shedding telogen effluvium. Cleveland Clinic explains that high estrogen in late pregnancy holds hair in its growth phase. When estrogen drops after birth, many of those hairs move into a resting phase and shed a few months later.

So this is shedding, not hair loss. It's normal to shed 50 to 100 hairs a day, and this is extra shedding on top of that.

The AAD draws the line this way. With true hair loss, something stops the hair from growing, and it won't grow until the cause stops. Shedding stops on its own as your body readjusts.

Is It Normal Shedding or Something Else?

Usually it's normal shedding, but a postpartum shed can show up a thinning problem that was already starting. One clinic study makes the point sharply.

Researchers in Cairo examined 200 women seen for postpartum hair loss at a university dermatology clinic. Only 9.5% had telogen effluvium alone. Most also had female pattern hair loss, traction alopecia from pulled hairstyles, or both.

These were women who sought help, at a single clinic, so the figures don't apply to every new mom. But it explains why the AAD's one-year cutoff matters. If your part looks wider, or your temples look thinner, rather than all-over shedding, that pattern deserves a look. The main causes of hair loss in women are sorted there by how long each can wait.

What If You Wear Braids, Locs or a Head Covering?

Keep any style loose at the hairline while you're shedding. The AAD says that the continual pulling can lead to permanent hair loss when hair is often worn tightly pulled back.

Broken hairs around your forehead are different. The AAD lists them as an early sign of traction. Stinging, crusts or tenting on the scalp mean you should change the style right away.

The AAD's advice on hairstyles that pull fits this stage well:

• Loosen braids, especially around the hairline, and choose thicker braids and locs.
• Wear braids for no longer than 6 to 8 weeks, and switch styles regularly.
• Take out weaves or extensions right away if they hurt or irritate your scalp. Sewn-in weaves are kinder than bonding glue.
• Under a hijab, wrap or other head covering, pull your hair back loosely.

The AAD says traction alopecia can become permanent the longer it goes untreated. Whether thinning edges grow back depends on how long the pulling went on.

Could It Be Your Thyroid or Iron?

It could, and both are easy to miss in the first year. The AAD says thinning hair can come from a thyroid problem, and that treating the thyroid disease can reverse the hair loss. The same page links too little iron to noticeable hair loss.

The ATA says postpartum thyroiditis affects about 5 to 10% of women in the US. The overactive phase brings anxiety, insomnia, a fast heart rate, fatigue, weight loss and irritability. The ATA notes these often get blamed on the stress of a new baby.

The underactive phase brings fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, depression and poor exercise tolerance. Most women's thyroid recovers within 12 to 18 months of symptoms starting. About 20% of those who reach the underactive phase stay underactive.

Your risk is higher if you have thyroid antibodies, type 1 diabetes, a past thyroid problem or a family history of thyroid disease. Thyroid-related hair loss is handled differently from ordinary shedding, so ask your doctor whether your thyroid should be checked if those symptoms sound familiar.

Iron runs low for a plainer reason. Mayo Clinic says that without iron supplements, many pregnant people get iron deficiency anemia, and losing blood means losing iron. Mayo also says not to diagnose or treat it yourself, and warns that too much iron can be harmful. The tests to ask for with low iron are worth knowing before the appointment.

Do Hair Vitamins Help Postpartum Shedding?

There's little evidence they do, and biotin can get in the way of the thyroid test you might need. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements says supplements with biotin above recommended amounts may cause false results in some lab tests, including thyroid hormone tests.

The same office says there is little scientific evidence for the hair, skin and nail claims. Biotin is also found in some multivitamins and B-complex supplements, so tell your doctor about every supplement you take, including your prenatal, before any blood test.

Is Minoxidil Safe While Breastfeeding?

The advice differs by source, so don't start it without asking your doctor. Cleveland Clinic says you shouldn't use minoxidil if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

LactMed, the NIH drug and lactation database, is less strict. It says topical minoxidil is acceptable once breastfeeding is established.

It also warns to keep your baby away from treated skin. Your baby can absorb it, which can cause side effects such as excess hair growth. It advises caution with oral minoxidil, particularly at high doses or when breastfeeding a newborn.

For ordinary postpartum shedding, the AAD says you don't have to do anything to remedy it. Minoxidil is a question for pattern hair loss, and that needs a diagnosis first.

Can You Stop Hair Falling Out After Pregnancy?

No, but you can make it look fuller while it settles. The AAD suggests a volumizing shampoo, and says to skip any shampoo labeled as conditioning. Use a conditioner made for fine hair, mostly on the ends, and avoid heavy intensive conditioners.

A shorter cut can help, and it saves time.

One more thing to watch: a loose hair can wrap around your baby's finger or toe. The AAD says this hair tourniquet is very rare. Find a loose end and gently unwind it, or carefully cut it if there's no loose end. If it's wound too tightly or embedded in the skin, get medical help.

The rest of your body is on its own schedule, and how long postpartum recovery really takes covers what's normal beyond the six-week check.

When Should You See a Doctor About Postpartum Hair Loss?

See a dermatologist if your hair hasn't regained its normal fullness after one year. Go sooner if you see patches, a widening part, thinning edges, or scalp pain or crusts.

Watch for a racing heart, unexplained weight changes or tiredness beyond what night feeds explain. If shedding comes with any of these, ask your doctor whether your thyroid and iron should be checked. Say if you're breastfeeding before starting any treatment, and list every supplement you take.

Low mood is a symptom of the underactive thyroid phase, but it can also be postpartum depression. The National Institute of Mental Health says severe mood changes, or ones lasting over two weeks after birth, may signal postpartum depression.

The signs to take seriously include a sad, anxious or empty mood most days, trouble bonding with your baby, or constant doubts about caring for them. Your doctor can tell which it is, so mention it either way. In the US, the free National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is open 24/7 in English and Spanish. Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call or text 988 any time. In the US that's the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and in Canada the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline. If your life is at risk or you can't keep yourself safe, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.

In the UK and Ireland, call Samaritans free on 116 123, or 999 in a UK emergency. Elsewhere, call your local emergency number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Normal for Hair to Fall Out 3 Months After Pregnancy?

Yes. The AAD says many new moms see noticeable hair loss a few months after having a baby. Shedding usually peaks about four months after giving birth, so month three is right on schedule.

Does Breastfeeding Make Postpartum Hair Loss Worse?

The evidence is mixed. The Cairo clinic study linked breastfeeding to shedding combined with pattern hair loss. Earlier studies disagree: one found a link and a smaller one, of 58 women, found none. The Cairo study looked at one point in time, so it can't show cause.

How Much Hair Is Normal to Lose After Pregnancy?

More than usual. The AAD says shedding 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal, and postpartum shedding is extra on top of that. If you see bald patches rather than all-over thinning, see a dermatologist.