Postpartum Hair Loss
You're not alone — and this is what the science actually says.
One of the most common questions we hear postpartum is: Why is my hair falling out? It can be alarming, but hair shedding after pregnancy is surprisingly common — and completely normal. Read on to learn why postpartum hair loss happens and what you can expect as your body adjusts after birth.
What's Going On
During pregnancy, high estrogen levels keep hair in the growth phase — which is why many women notice thicker, more lustrous hair while pregnant. Hardly a hair falls out for 9+ months! After delivery, estrogen rapidly returns to pre-pregnancy levels, and a large number of hairs suddenly enter the resting and shedding phase all at once. This shift can lead to noticeable hair loss beginning around 2–5 months postpartum.
This type of shedding typically lasts around 6–12 weeks, though some women experience it a bit longer. The good news? It's a natural part of post-pregnancy hormone regulation — not a sign something is wrong.
What the Research Says
There's no supplement, shampoo, or pill that prevents the shedding — because the root cause is hormonal, not nutritional. However, your nutrient status matters for how well your hair regrows once shedding slows.
Supporting your body with the right building blocks helps it re-enter a normal hair growth cycle. Key nutrients include:
- Adequate protein
- Healthy fats
- Folate (in bioactive form — methylated folate)
- Iron
- Zinc
- B vitamins
- Vitamins A, C, D, and E
This is one of the many reasons we recommend women continue their high-quality prenatal or postnatal supplement into the postpartum period. You can find all of these nutrients in therapeutic doses in I Am Nurtured's Prenatal and Postnatal+.
Breastfeeding and Hair Loss
The research does not show that breastfeeding causes worse hair loss than not breastfeeding — so you're not doing anything wrong if you're seeing shedding and nursing simultaneously. If you're experiencing hair loss while breastfeeding, it's the postpartum hormone shift driving it, not your milk supply.
What Can You Do If Your Hair Loss Doesn't Slow Down?
- Get your iron levels checked — Low iron and ferritin levels in the postpartum period can contribute to hair loss. Have your doctor check these, especially if you lost a significant amount of blood at birth or had a c-section.
- Get your thyroid hormones checked — Any abnormalities in thyroid hormone production (T3 & T4) can cause changes to the hair growth cycle. Have your doctor check your thyroid levels if you are experiencing abnormal, extended hair loss.
- Check in with your stress — Everything you can do to minimize stress helps all body systems function better, including the hair growth and loss cycle.
What You Can Do Right Now
- Switch to soft scrunchies instead of traditional hair elastics to reduce breakage and pulling.
- Limit high-heat styling like blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons. Embrace the air dry, the ponytail, and the mom bun.
- Adjust the part in your hair to cover any thin spots while new growth comes in.
- Wear headbands as new baby hairs grow in along your hairline.
Bottom Line
Postpartum hair loss is a biological reset, not a deficiency. It can feel upsetting, but it's usually temporary and resolves as your hormones balance and your body continues healing. Focusing on overall nourishment and nutrient sufficiency supports not just your hair — but your whole postpartum recovery.
If your hair shedding is unusually prolonged or you're not seeing new growth after the initial shedding period, checking iron, ferritin, and thyroid status with your clinician is a good idea.
In good health,
Jeanne & the I Am Nurtured Team
SOURCES
- Effect of Pregnancy on the Human Hair Cycle: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/82326339.pdf
- Iron deficiency and hair loss: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190962205047456
- Diet & Hair Loss: Effects of Nutrient Deficiency & Supplement Use: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5315033/
- Effect of Tocotrienol supplementation in hair growth: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24575202/
- Roles of Vitamin C in skin health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/
