Postpartum... Baldness???

Are there any other new mothers out there who are finding themselves shedding quite a bit more hair than usual?  Anyone else feel like an animal departing with his winter coat?

I had a baby 4 months ago and for the last few weeks, I have been shedding piles of hair... literally.  I pull out a handfull or two of hair at least 3 times a day, particularly in the shower or when I'm brushing.  In addition to the trash can full of hair in the bathroom, strands drop to the floor every time I even touch my head.  I'm constantly finding long, blonde hairs on my daughter's clothes and tightly gripped in her little hands.  This morning, I found a hair wedged in her wrist roll!

Naturally, fearing for the inevitable baldness that is to come should I continue down this bizarre path, I turned to the lovely internet for help.  Again, I was surprised to see that yet another weird postpartum experience of mine is a legitimate concern for others as well.  Postpartum hair loss is a real thing.

According to BabyCenter.com, when our hormones are returning back to the pre-pregnancy state, many of us shed additional amounts of hair.  If you want to learn more, click on the BabyCenter link.  I read many articles, but the one above seems to be the most concise.  Basically, the vitamins and extra estrogen in our bodies, while pregnant, decrease the amount of hair loss (for most women) during those 9 months.  Once we've given birth, our hair apparently decides to make up for lost time and take a nose dive from our, now worried, scalps.  Not all women experience this, but those who do are probably just as freaked out as I have been.  BabyCenter also mentions that it is more noticeable for those of us with longer strands.  This definitely explains why I didn't see a decrease in hair loss after chopping 8" in desperation.   My hair is still way too long.  Too bad a pixie cut wouldn't suit the shape of my face.  Perhaps the hair loss would be less obvious if I just shaved my head.  That might confuse my daughter though.  She would mistake me for her father.

Now that we know why our hair falls out, what can we do to stop it?  Apparently, nothing.  It's supposed to go back to normal within 6 to 12 months (babycenter.com).  Fantastic!  I have an entire year to be bald!  All I can say is that I better have my hair back before her 1st birthday pictures.

In all seriousness though, I'm going to start taking vitamins again.  That should help.  I hope.

Update:  Three kids later and this whole postpartum baldness thing has been in full force EACH time.  Seriously.  I have legit bald spots all over my head.  It starts about 6 months or so after each kid is born.  This time, however, I'm going to combat it with ItWorks Hair, Skin, and Nails!  :)