From BB-"Women during pregnancy will also frequently experience a high grow rate (and reduced shed rate). "

I would agree with you on this statement, in the last 6 years I have given birth to two girls, and my hair grew quite a bit. Then again it was also in the time frame of ages 20 through 26.

But now that my baby is almost 5 months old and my hormones  have settled I am shedding more than my cat going from winter to summer.

I have always heard that it is the new growth (from being pregnant) that comes out (after giving birth). Does anyone know if there is in facts in that? Also, is there anything do to about all the shedding? It is very annoying and disappointing. I feel like I will be bald in another year at this rate.

Maybe I'm just be paranoid (sp?)! Maybe it just seems like I'm losing more now, but I'm just losing the same amount before I got pregnant**does that make sense**.

Input anyone? Eveyone?

Don't worry- you won't go bald.  I have two sons.  With each pregnancy and for a little while postpartum- I had the best, fasted growing hair of my life.  It was probably twice the volume it is now.  The higher estrogen levels cause the hairs that would have been scheduled to shed -not to, then, after you give birth, the changing hormone levels cause those hairs to shed.
After my first son, especially, I shed tons- but my pregnancy book warned that was a possibilty. But I didn't go bald! And it did come back.
Unfortunatley, after my second son, I chopped off all my hair to a near pixie- which I now  hear is common, in women in late pregnancy or right after giving birth.

i don't know a lot about the whole pregnancy thing , but i knoe that basil, prsley, nettle, rosemary, and sage help with hair loss and/or thinning. i think you can either use them as a rinse or as oils (especially parsley)

HTH

I've never had kids so my hormonal changes have been of a different nature but I certainly am one of those people whose follicals react strongly to any hormonal change.

Usually it just runs it's course and then you deal with new growth.  This can however, take up to a year - some people even longer.

My personal experience is that good scalp massage to stimulate and get rid of the hairs that are ready to come out is a very good thing (Helloooooo Martha*snork*).

Most boards and product lines that address hairloss usually believe that more frequent washing helps to keep any DHT (the trouble maker if you are sensitive to it) off your scalp, loosens dead hair and keeps oils and dead skin cells moving out rather than cementing (for lack of a better word) and hindering the free flow and exchange in your follicales.

I know many are trying to wash less and I'm certainly not criticizing whatever works.  In issues of hair loss I have personally found that working that dead hair out, although scary at first is more beneficial in the long term.

Don't any body smack me please *ducking under desk*...g

Gabi - you can come out from under the desk - we won't hit you!

You are right, if you have too much build up on the scalp, it can cause hair loss and thinning.  Whether you should wash more frequently or less frequently probably depends on your scalp.  I have dry skin and scalp, so washing less often works well for me.  A person with oilier scalp probably should wash more frequently. So, both methods have their place. 

(How's that for being diplomatic?  8)  )

Come on, Gabi, you can stay out here - you might miss out on a party if you stay under there!

I guess I could add that the types of shampoos and conditioners (i.e. the ingredients) probably has a lot to do with the build up on the scalp/hair as well as the frequency.

LOL - when you shed with hair as long as yours is, one hair can look like a handful!  I wouldn't worry about the shedding, I'm sure it will get back to normal soon enough.

As for the scritching, I'll leave that to some of the other experts around here since I don't seem to have the need to scritch.