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At around 3.5 months postpartum, the hair shedding has officially arrived 🙃
The shower drain is constantly clogged, my hair brush is full after every use, and there are strands of hair scattered all over the house. If you’re in this season too, you’re definitely not alone.
Postpartum hair loss is incredibly common. Around the 3 to 4 month mark, oestrogen levels drop after being elevated during pregnancy. This hormonal shift causes hair that stayed in the “growth phase” during pregnancy to move into the shedding phase all at once.
It can feel dramatic, but in many cases, it’s a normal and temporary part of the postpartum transition.
That said, there are a few things that can make it feel worse or prolong it. As a naturopath and a mum of four, here’s how I’m supporting my body through this phase.
Iron plays a critical role in hair growth. When ferritin levels drop, shedding often increases.
Postpartum depletion is common, especially after birth or while breastfeeding, so this is always one of the first things I look at. Rather than guessing, I prefer to test and monitor properly.
I personally use a gentle, highly absorbable iron supplement like IronBiotic when needed to help maintain levels within an optimal range.
Just because pregnancy is over doesn’t mean your nutrient needs suddenly disappear.
I continue taking a comprehensive prenatal like EverNatal daily, particularly for nutrients like zinc and iodine.
Zinc supports healthy hair follicles, while iodine plays an important role in thyroid function, which is closely linked to hair health. These are often overlooked, but they matter more than most people realise in the postpartum period.
If shedding feels excessive or prolonged, it’s worth digging a little deeper.
Some of the key markers I recommend checking include:
Being told you’re “in range” doesn’t always mean things are optimal. There’s a big difference between surviving and thriving, especially in postpartum recovery.
It’s also worth being aware that postpartum thyroiditis can develop between 3 to 6 months after birth, which can impact energy, mood and hair.
Hair is primarily made from keratin, which is a protein.
In a season where it’s easy to skip meals or eat on the go, protein becomes even more important. I aim for around 20 to 30 grams per meal, especially at breakfast, to give my body the building blocks it needs.
Broken sleep, physical recovery and the mental load of motherhood all place stress on the body, and this can influence hair shedding too.
Supporting the nervous system has been key for me. This looks like prioritising rest where I can, not pushing myself unnecessarily, and using gentle magnesium support like MitoMag to help with relaxation and muscle recovery.
Simple things can make a difference here.
I avoid tight hairstyles where possible, minimise heat styling, and try to be gentle when brushing, especially when my hair is wet and more fragile.
Some degree of postpartum hair shedding is hormonal and completely normal. It’s not something we can entirely prevent, and no supplement overrides that biology.
But nutrient deficiencies, stress and depletion can absolutely make it more noticeable or prolonged.
Supporting your body during this time is less about perfection and more about giving it what it needs to recover, rebuild and rebalance.
If you’re in the thick of it, you’re not doing anything wrong. This phase does pass 🤍
10 min read
10 min read
Published research suggests iron bisglycinate is the best-tolerated form of iron during pregnancy. Studies show it may support iron status comparably to ferrous sulfate at roughly half the dose, with significantly fewer gastrointestinal side effects. Most pharmacy-shelf iron supplements in Australia use ferrous sulfate or ferrous fumarate — cheaper forms that commonly cause constipation and nausea.
