You run your fingers through your hair and pull out a handful. The shower drain fills up. Your ponytail is noticeably thinner. Postpartum hair loss affects up to 50% of new mothers and typically starts 3-4 months after delivery. Understanding why it happens and when it stops makes it far less frightening.
Why It Happens
During pregnancy, high estrogen levels keep more hairs in the growth (anagen) phase than usual. Normally, about 10-15% of your hair is in the resting/shedding (telogen) phase at any one time. During pregnancy, this drops to around 5% - meaning you shed less hair than normal. This is why many women enjoy thicker hair during pregnancy. After birth, estrogen drops rapidly, and all those hairs that were artificially held in the growth phase shift simultaneously into the shedding phase. The result is dramatic-seeming but temporary hair loss.
| Phase | When It Happens | What You Notice |
|---|---|---|
| During pregnancy | Throughout | Less hair in the drain - fuller hair |
| Birth to 3 months | 0-12 weeks post | Hair still looks normal |
| Shedding phase | 3-6 months post | Significant daily shedding, thinner hair |
| Recovery | 6-12 months post | Shedding reduces, regrowth starts |
| Full recovery | 12-18 months post | Hair returns to pre-pregnancy state |
What Actually Helps
No treatment prevents postpartum telogen effluvium because it is driven by a normal hormonal shift. However, these measures support healthy regrowth:
- Continue prenatal vitamins - they contain biotin and folate that support hair health
- Eat protein at every meal - hair is made of keratin, a protein
- Be gentle with your hair - avoid tight ponytails, heat styling, and harsh chemicals during this period
- Consider a shorter haircut to reduce the visual impact of shedding
- Iron deficiency can worsen shedding - ask your doctor to check your iron levels at your 6-week check
When to see a doctor
If hair loss is still severe at 12 months postpartum, see your GP. Thyroid problems (common postpartum), iron deficiency anaemia, and other conditions can cause prolonged shedding that does need treatment.