hair, hair | a post-partum rant

A woman’s lament regarding post partum hair loss.

post partum hair loss

 

Hair, hair, all over the place

Those long dark locks are now a disgrace

 

Prenatal pills gave them a nice boost

But now there’s just more of them to lose

 

By the handful they’re coming out

Enough to make a grown woman pout

 

Once thick and lush, now thin and weak

Those hairs are departing, the outlook is bleak.

 

Weaved through socks and clogging the drain

Taking over the house and assaulting my brain

 

Baked into muffins and mixed into dip

And ALWAYS stuck to the gloss on my lips

 

In baby’s neck rolls and wrapped around toes

I’m just hoping they’re not up his nose

 

Found one in my armpit and a few in my bra

And gagged when I sucked one right through a straw

 

The situation’s bad, it’s causing us grief

I’m waiting for the day this madness will cease

 

Please God please, wasn’t birth enough

Without having to endure this awful stuff?

 

The work of a mother is thankless yet noble

But this hair loss stuff is sure causing me trouble

 

I’m losing my mind as much as my hair

This really does seem so entirely unfair

 

I’m tired of wading through hair all around

This post-partum hair loss is beating me down

 

So rescue me now, make the crazy stop

End the Great Shed before I give it the CHOP

 

 

Dear friends, five weeks and counting. Please tell me the Great Post Partum Shed will be over soon.


 

About Author

Adriel Booker is an author, speaker, and advocate based in Sydney, Australia who believes storytelling, beauty, and the grace of God will change the world. Adriel has become a trusted voice in areas of motherhood and parenting, Christian spirituality, and global women's issues. She's also known for her work with the Love A Mama Collective—serving under-resourced women in developing nations through safe birth initiatives—as well as her years spent as a Bible teacher and leadership coach. Her latest book is Grace Like Scarlett: Grieving with Hope after Miscarriage and Loss and she's made the companion grief journal available for free. Find Adriel across all social media platforms at @adrielbooker or sign up for LoveNotes, Adriel's 'secret posts' that aren't published anywhere else online. ✌️

26 Comments

  • Queenie
    31 January 2012 at 1:08 am

    Ugh. It’s the worst. Literally. I could have made a sweater (or 3!) with all the hair I lost.
    Queenie recently posted..What Would You Do?My Profile

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  • Mandy@ a sorta fairytale
    31 January 2012 at 2:18 am

    Oh post partum hair loss is the worst!! To be honest, it never really got better for me and Bennett is 2 now! Can’t believe I still have any hair on,yhead at all! BTW, I mentioned you on my blog today 🙂
    Mandy@ a sorta fairytale recently posted..Two boys. And why I want them.My Profile

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  • Becky
    31 January 2012 at 2:52 am

    My “favorite” part is the regrowth. You know, all the little hairs coming in that stand on-end at the hair line and in the part. Just a few words. Headbands. Hair gel. Pony tails. Lol!
    Becky recently posted..Pregnancy Update: 20 Weeks!My Profile

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  • Angel
    31 January 2012 at 3:11 am

    I so wish I could tell you it only lasts a little while, but honestly my hair fell out FOREVER! I thought for sure I was going to be bald by the time all was said and done. But I wasn’t and eventually it did slow. Then I said enough and I did chop it off, lol. Now it still sheds but at least I’m not getting strangled any more. Hang in there Momma, it gets better!!!!!!
    Angel recently posted..Adventures with Mom 1st EditionMy Profile

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  • Micheline
    31 January 2012 at 3:31 am

    Ha, great poem. I can so relate right now. For some reason I’m determined to have long hair right now, but of course it’s always up in a bun or ponytail. I’m glad the “messy” look is on trend.
    Micheline recently posted..{Sponsored Post} Q’s Kind Nums: Chocolate Milk!My Profile

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  • Megan @ boho mama
    31 January 2012 at 4:07 am

    Oh yeah, it’s terrible. Sorry, but we’re seven months in and I’m still pulling out handfuls. But maybe, just maybe, it will be different for you!
    Megan @ boho mama recently posted..Milk-Friendly breastfeeding interview!My Profile

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  • Life As Wife
    31 January 2012 at 4:54 am

    This post is too funny (but stinky at the same time!)

    I didn’t start shedding until little man was almost 8 months! It was so weird!
    Life As Wife recently posted..The Greatest Day EverMy Profile

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  • Katherine
    31 January 2012 at 5:24 am

    hahaha! that is hilarious.
    Katherine recently posted..Really Hitting that Wall HardMy Profile

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  • Courtney Kirkland
    31 January 2012 at 5:55 am

    I have that same issue. Even though Little Man is going on 4 years old, I still find my hair coming out in handfuls sometimes. 🙂 Maybe it’s just part of motherhood. LOL This made me laugh! Too funny!
    Courtney Kirkland recently posted..Move to ManualMy Profile

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  • Tiffany
    31 January 2012 at 7:21 am

    I lost tons of hair after both kids but I’d say it’s back to normal now – although less curly than it was. After our second, I found out that I had postpartum thyroidism, which also contributed to all the loss of hair. I’m guessing I had it after I had my first, as well, but I didn’t know the signs.

    Reply
  • Laura
    31 January 2012 at 10:29 am

    I’m really sorry for your (hair) loss; that part of post-partum really bites. But hey, your poetry was really funny!

    Reply
  • casey
    31 January 2012 at 12:55 pm

    I smiled when I read the comment about the regrowth because that was what I was annoyed with…all the baby hairs around the perimeter of my face shooting up all the time. I do feel like my hair grew back a good deal after I stopped nursing but, that was baby #1. Lemme get back to you when I get around to having #2:). Sorry momma!
    casey recently posted..Silly GirlMy Profile

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    • Adriel @ The Mommyhood Memos
      31 January 2012 at 9:45 pm

      haha, yeah, i completely forgot about all those spikey baby hairs that come in! geeze! it DOES get worse! 😉 i didn’t notice any differences in my hair after i stopped bf-ing, but i guess i was 19 or 20 weeks pregnant so there you go! hmmm…..
      Adriel @ The Mommyhood Memos recently posted..hair, hair | a post-partum rantMy Profile

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  • Lindsey Whitney
    4 February 2012 at 4:35 am

    Haha! VERY TRUE! With my first, my hair never fell out, but with #2, it’s falling out by the clump-fuls. Very gross. You can always tell when I’ve taken a shower!
    Lindsey Whitney recently posted..Simple Media = Lots of FunMy Profile

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  • bio hair treatment
    29 September 2013 at 10:19 pm

    I so wish I could tell you it only lasts a little while, but honestly my hair fell out FOREVER! I thought for sure I was going to be bald by the time all was said and done. But I wasn’t and eventually it did slow. Then I said enough and I did chop it off, lol. Now it still sheds but at least I’m not getting strangled any more. Hang in there Momma, it gets better!!!!!!

    Reply
  • natural hair loss shampoo
    27 November 2013 at 4:06 pm

    Hey! This is myy 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a
    quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy
    reading your bloog posts. Can you suggest any
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    natural hair loss shampoo recently posted..natural hair loss shampooMy Profile

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  • 100 Little Things About Pregnancy, Birth, and Being a First Time Mom
    15 December 2013 at 9:51 am

    […] 13. Enjoy that hair. You will soon be losing it in copious amounts. […]

    Reply
  • Marta
    27 July 2014 at 10:08 pm

    My little one is 8 months old now and I’m still losing tons of hair… it doesn’t help that she likes to grab and pull at what remaining hair I have… I hope I don’t go bald. Haha.

    Reply
  • briella p
    1 May 2018 at 9:01 am

    I had the same experience! After I had my baby my hair started falling out like crazy. After many doctor visits and tests, he recommended that I use a natural shampoo, because my post-baby body was now not having a good reaction to the chemicals in shampoos. He recommended the Made from Earth Tea & Protein Shampoo, because its all natural, and has proteins in it.

    After about one week, I could see my hair getting stronger and filling out more. It has stopped falling out now. You will need a condtioner after using this shampoo, because it does make your hair like squeaky clean (from the tea tree oil), but its worth it because you get your hair back!

    Reply

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