Hair falling out like crazy!

FutureMrsW9

Is anyone else experiencing this?  Everything I've read and people I've talked to have said the exact opposite - your hair is supposed to grow like crazy and be super thick during pregnancy.  I'm 7 weeks today, and for the past two weeks or so I've had noticeably more hair loss - like clumps, particularly when I shower and get my hair wet.  I always lose a few hairs everyday when I shower, etc. but this has been an exorbitant amount.  My hair doesn't feel thinner like if I hold it all as if to put it in a pony tail, but I do notice a ton of small hairs sticking up around my hairline/forehead, so I'm not sure if it's breaking or actually coming out from the root.  Either way it's very concerning because it's so much and this has never happened to me before.  I'm actually known by my one group of friends as "LL," which stands for Luscious Locks because if nothing else I do have really nice hair - don't take this away from me!  Thoughts or experience with this?

sunflowermama42212

your hair goes through three stages of growth. dormant, growth and shed phase. You could be shedding more then normal because of all the hormones. Mine shed like crazy too. Hormones effect the hair dramatically im sure once first tri is over and the hormoes start to calm down you should start to see it get thicker and longer. Also some woman can go from straight hair to curly during pregnancy its normal unless your seeing bald spots then I would go see your doctor. 

eta: grammer

DoublePortion

Lurker... I agree with PP about the crazy hormones probably being the culprit, but I'd also suggest having your thyroid checked if you haven't already. Pregnancy can mess with your thyroid and hair loss is a symptom of an under-active thyroid. It's worth checking out.

FutureMrsW9

DoublePortion Thanks!  I did see this on some of the other blogs that I searched so I'm definitely going to mention it when I go in for my u/s and b/w on Thursday.  I'm currently on synthroid because according to my RE I had ever so slight hypothyroidism (level was 3.8, which technically is still normal since it's under 4, but RE wants it under 2.5).  I'm wondering if since it was so minimal the dose of synthroid I'm on is too high and it's making me hyper vs. hypo.  I had no thyroid issues prior to pregnancy.  I do see a correlation between when I started taking the synthroid and when the hair loss started, but also could be coincidence.

BeeBee08

I had the same situation in first-tri and with the correlation between hairloss and synthroid.  I started my synthroid 3 weeks prior to my ET and by 6w, my TSH had gone from 2.85 to 1.4.  I was worried about the hair loss because of what I had experienced with my losses.  By around 10 weeks my TSH was 1.8 and my hair was getting nice and thick like everyone always talks about.  I bet yours will too.  Good Luck!

FutureMrsW9

BeeBee08 Did you have a thyroid issue prior to becoming pregnant?  I did not, so I didn't start the synthroid until I was about 4 1/2 weeks and I'm 7 weeks today, so it's been about 3 weeks since I've been on it.  My TSH hasn't been tested since that initial test, so I'm not sure where I stand now. 

I did call the nurse today and left a message asking about the hair loss and possible correlation with the TSH levels/synthroid - of course my regular nurse is out on vacation this week, so hopefully her fill-in will be as prompt.  Hopefully they'll call me back tomorrow and can add in a TSH test to my blood work on Thursday.  I'd even be willing to pay for it OOP just for peace of mind to know what's going on either way.

becomingmommyagain

I'm losing hair from my head like crazy, but my "wild hairs" seem to be sucking up the prenatal vitamins. I have these wild stray hairs on my tummy from when I had my tubal surgery. And there's this clear hair that pops up between my chin and my neck every couple weeks... But the worst thing is the acne. My skin is TERRIBLE. I NEVER have skin problems...ever. But wow-wy....I'm totally blaming the estrogen & progesterone for that one...but it's awful. I have to find a heavier foundation to cover it.

BeeBee08

I was diagnosed as sub-clinical hypothyroid a couple of weeks before our IVF as another last ditch effort on getting and staying pregnant.  2.85 was the highest I had ever tested.  I was told to have my thyroid monitored once each trimester, that's all.  Basically I don't have a thyroid issue, it was just an additional attempt to get my TSH nice and low.  I don't know if it had anything to do with the hairloss issue, but it is interesting we have the same situation.

Hopefully they can answer you!

Peanutz21

i think it's the hormones causing the fall out

i read somewhere your hair is supposed to grow more/appear shinier around 14/15 weeks

FutureMrsW9

becomingmommyagain said:

I'm losing hair from my head like crazy, but my "wild hairs" seem to be sucking up the prenatal vitamins. I have these wild stray hairs on my tummy from when I had my tubal surgery. And there's this clear hair that pops up between my chin and my neck every couple weeks... But the worst thing is the acne. My skin is TERRIBLE. I NEVER have skin problems...ever. But wow-wy....I'm totally blaming the estrogen & progesterone for that one...but it's awful. I have to find a heavier foundation to cover it.

becomingmommyagain Ummm I know what you mean about "wild hairs" - I think I have more hair on my stomach than DH, it's so gross.  I always had a little happy trail, but this is full on monkey status.  I went and got it waxed a couple weeks ago and now it's ready for round two.  I also get tons of hairs on my friggin' chin and neck now - WTF!  A lot of those are actually thicker and more whisker-like.  The PCOS made me get darker sideburns and hair on the sides of my face, but it's easy enough to just bleach and pluck the couple thicker ones and I'm good for a couple months....of course now idk if I can bleach it, so it's starting to look like I have shadows everywhere again.  I used to have acne super bad as a teenager and it's cleared up as an adult....I've gotten a few small breakouts on my chin so far, but nothing that required extra makeup yet.  I'm PRAYING the acne monster doesn't come back, it'll just bring back awful memories of my high school days yuck!