Hi Val,
I found myself studying the causes of hair loss when approached by a
very distressed mother who was about to wean because of it. Hair's
what I discovered:
The hair loss is not because of breastfeeding at all.
Mothers who are formula feeding have the same thing happen. When you
are pregnant, your hair and nails usually grow faster. Hair and nails
are also susceptible to stress in some people. It is the stress of
birth that causes in some people, for the hair shaft to have a
"break" when the baby is born. This can cause significant hair loss
and thinning about 3 - 6 months later.
It was described to me that hair has an active phase and passive phase
when growing. Those hairs that were actively growing when baby was
born, had this interrupted by the birth, were weakened and will break
away. They will keep growing though, and if the mother looks closely,
she will probably see the new, downy hair close to the scalp.
Reassurance that this is temporary, and maybe a nice haircut will
probably help. New mums can feel a little down on self esteem already!
The mum that I counselled kept feeding her baby, got an easy to care
for, shorter haircut and her hair did grow back again. It's
distressing though, especially if your hair is already thin!
Hope all works out well,
Querida

Querida David
Alyangula, NT. Australia
NMAA Counsellor, NT
Editor 'Upfront'
NT Publications review team
Email: [log in to unmask]
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-----Original Message-----
From: Val Best RN RM IBCLC <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, 2 April 1998 7:50
Subject: Hair Loss


I must admit that I have not checked the archives on this one, but
can anyone tell me why some breastfeeding women experience hair loss?
My husband has a client who's hair is falling out in chunks, to the
point that she now has a receeding hair line.  I have heard of hair
loss in lactating mums, but never thought to find out why.
Val in Busselton, Western Australia
RN RM IBCLC