Why it happens
Postpartum hair loss can be alarming — handfuls of hair in the shower or on your pillow — but it's a normal, temporary process. During pregnancy, high oestrogen levels keep more of your hair in its growing phase, so you shed less and your hair feels thicker. After birth, hormone levels drop, and all that retained hair moves into the shedding phase at once.
So you're not losing more hair than normal overall — you're catching up on the shedding that pregnancy delayed.
When it starts and stops
Postpartum shedding usually begins around two to four months after birth and often peaks around the fourth month. For most women it settles by around six to twelve months after delivery, and hair thickness gradually returns to its pre-pregnancy state. It's genuinely temporary — it isn't permanent hair loss.
It can feel dramatic while it's happening, but it's self-limiting and doesn't require treatment to stop.
What helps, and when to check
There's no need to treat normal postpartum shedding — being gentle with your hair, eating well and not over-styling can help while it settles. However, see a GP if hair loss is severe, continues beyond about a year, comes with other symptoms (like fatigue, weight changes or feeling cold), or if you notice patchy bald spots — these can point to iron deficiency, thyroid problems or other causes worth checking.
Since iron and thyroid issues are common after birth and easily tested, a telehealth consult can arrange bloods if your hair loss seems more than the usual postpartum shed.
References & sources
- 1.Postnatal depression — Pregnancy Birth & Baby
- 2.Postnatal depression — healthdirect
- 3.Your body after having a baby — Pregnancy Birth & Baby
This content is general information and not a substitute for individual medical advice. Please consult a GP for your personal situation.
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