After the magic of pregnancy, some strange things can happen to our bodies, including postpartum hair loss. While every woman and every pregnancy is different, in general, women tend to experience noticeable hair loss after giving birth.
But why? During pregnancy, the life cycle of your hair changes and you actually lose fewer strands per day. "This is why people often say their hair is fuller and healthier in pregnancy,” explains Dr. Danielle Jones, a board-certified ob-gyn known online as @MamaDoctorJones .
After you give birth, your estrogen levels drop, and your hair enters the "shedding" phase, so you can lose a noticeable amount of hair over a short period of time. It's n ormal to shed 50 to 100 hairs a day , says the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), but postpartum hair loss can be a sudden and shocking change for new moms: thinning spots, a hairline that appears as if it has receded, clumps of hair in your brush or sink.
The AAD calls it “ excessive hair shedding " and not "true hair loss," but that may not make you feel better when you're staring at yourself in the mirror. Dr. Jones reminds new moms that "You won't go bald, your hair is just re-setting to its pre-pregnancy state, and within six to eight months, it should be back to normal." (The AAD says that postpartum hair loss can last for up to a year , and generally peaks four months after delivery.)
This kind of postpartum hair loss generally isn’t a cause for concern and is a normal part of the prenatal and postpartum period. However, Dr. Jones recommended mothers seek medical care if their hair loss is paired with any other abnormal symptoms, such as changes in the speed or feeling of your heartbeat, excessive sweating, mood or energy concerns, numbness/tingling, or anything else that is concerning to you. And if your postpartum hair loss lasts for longer than one year after you deliver your baby, seek advice from your doctor.
How I chose the best postpartum hair loss vitamins
I started our search for these options by searching through thousands of posts in BabyCenter's Community for honest recommendations from real postpartum moms for what they think may have helped them. Next, I gave their picks to our team of editors for research and vetting. Chief on our list: making sure products contain one or more of the ingredients that the experts I consulted say have at least anecdotal evidence for working to promote hair health.
As a reminder, the FDA doesn’t review supplements for their efficacy or safety. And you will definitely want to ask your doctor before taking any new supplement, particularly if you are breastfeeding. (You should not take any of these supplements while pregnant.)
Keep reading to learn what other moms have said they recommend in the world of postpartum hair loss vitamins.
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