Overview
If you’re experiencing hair loss while breastfeeding, you’re experiencing a completely normal body change, notes the Mayo Clinic. When pregnancy hormones end and you begin nursing your baby, your body recalibrates your hormone levels. The result for many women is a loss of hair, that, while disconcerting, is not a sign of illness.
Function
Hair loss while breastfeeding signals an end of pregnancy hormones. Typically, a woman loses about 100 hairs a day, notes BabyCenter. However, the estrogen boost your body experienced to support a pregnancy also stopped your body from losing hair. During pregnancy, your hair may have been particularly lush and full. But with the beginning of breastfeeding, your body resets your hormone levels and you may begin to shed hair quickly.
Time Frame
Most nursing moms note their hair loss occurs while brushing or shampooing their hair. And while the hair loss may seem almost instantaneous, the Mayo Clinic notes that it can take up to six months for your hair to return to normal. BabyCenter suggests that it can take even longer–up to a year postpartum.
Prevention/Solution
To help minimize your hair loss, only wash your hair every other or every third day. Stick to hair styles that aren’t overly fussy or require a great deal of styling to maintain, as this can damage your hair, notes the Mayo Clinic. In addition, avoid using tools, such as hair dryers or curling irons, or chemicals on your hair.
Warning
Your hair loss can be of some concern when caring for your baby, notes BabyCenter. If you have longer hair, your shed hair can wrap around your baby’s wrists, ankles, finger or toes. If your baby begins to cry and you can’t find a source, do a quick body check to ascertain if he has a so-called “hair tourniquet,” a painful condition for a baby.
Considerations
Not all women experience a fuller head of hair during pregnancy, so not all women experience hair loss during breastfeeding. However, BabyCenter notes that hair loss is more noticeable for women who wear their hair in a longer style. If your hair loss becomes a significant issue, consult your hairdresser for an alternate style until your hair settles back into a more normal growth pattern.
