The following information was given to Nursing Mothers' Association of
Australia Breastfeeding Counsellors several years ago by a trichologist, a
specialist in hair and scalp problems.

"If the human body undergoes any trauma, either physical or emotional, blood
vessels contract...[and]...blood supply is temporarily cut off to the hair
roots.  When any damage is caused to the hair roots it takes 2-3 months to
manifest itself by the hair actually falling out, ie there is about 2-3
months growth between the hair root and the scalp.  The trauma...could be a
major emotional upset, an accident, surgery or childbirth.

Also the human goes through a regular moulting process; our hair is growing
and falling out all the time. During the third trimester of pregnancy, for
some reason, the normal degree of moulting doesn't take place and so most
women finish off their pregnancies with a lovely thick head of hair.  Then
comes the 'trauma' of childbirth and 2-3 months later the mother wails "My
hair is coming out in handfuls".

...This ongoing process lasts about 2-3 months as well...It has nothing to
do with breastfeeding."

I can vouch for the lovely thick head of hair.  Photos of me just before and
after the birth of each of my babies show me with the most beautiful
luxuriant head of hair that I have ever had.

lesley McBurney, Brisbane, Australia (in the middle of a LOOONG heat wave)