PRP During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: What We Advise and Why
The honest answer is that we do not offer PRP during pregnancy, and no clinic should. No trial has ever studied PRP in pregnant or breastfeeding women, so nobody can show that it is safe in that setting. The reassuring part: the heavy shedding most new mothers notice is usually telogen effluvium, which normally regrows on its own without any treatment. [1,2]
If you are pregnant and watching your hairline change, or you have recently had a baby and the shedding feels alarming, this guide explains what is happening, what can safely be checked now, and when treatment becomes an option again.
Why is my hair shedding after having a baby?
Childbirth is one of the classic triggers of telogen effluvium. During pregnancy, more hairs than usual stay in the growing phase. After delivery, those hairs move into the shedding phase together, typically starting around three months after the birth. Shedding that normally affects about 15% of follicles can rise to 30% or more, which is why the loss feels sudden and dramatic. [2]
The British Association of Dermatologists is clear on the outlook: telogen effluvium usually gets completely better without treatment. The shedding phase lasts three to six months, new hair then starts to grow, and volume gradually returns over the following months. It is considered chronic only if it continues beyond six months. [2]
Why is PRP not offered during pregnancy?
PRP involves taking a blood sample and injecting the concentrated platelets into the scalp. No clinical study has tested this in pregnant women, and without safety data the only responsible position is to wait. This is the same precaution doctors apply to almost every elective injectable treatment in pregnancy: not because harm has been proven, but because safety has not been. [1,3]
Be cautious of any clinic that will treat you while pregnant. The absence of evidence of harm is not evidence of safety, and a reputable clinic will tell you to come back after delivery rather than take the booking.
What about PRP while breastfeeding?
There is no direct research here either, so the decision needs an individual medical conversation. Many people choose to wait until weaning, partly because postpartum shedding is usually self-correcting anyway. If shedding is severe, prolonged or distressing, the right first step is an assessment and blood tests, not a treatment booking. [1,2]
What can safely be checked and treated now?
Quite a lot. A GP or hair specialist can check for the treatable drivers that make postpartum shedding worse or stop it settling:
Iron stores. Iron deficiency is a recognised cause of hair loss, and pregnancy and delivery deplete ferritin. Treating low iron helps the regrowth phase. [2,3]
Thyroid function. An underactive or overactive thyroid after pregnancy can prolong shedding and is simple to test. [3]
The pattern itself. Diffuse shedding all over the scalp fits telogen effluvium. Patches, scalp symptoms or a receding frontal hairline suggest something else that needs its own diagnosis. [2]
NHS guidance lists stress, illness and iron deficiency among the temporary causes of hair loss, and advises seeing a GP if you are worried. Most temporary loss grows back once the cause settles. [3]
When can PRP be considered?
Once pregnancy is behind you and any underlying causes have been addressed, treatment can be planned properly. If shedding has not settled by around six months, or if the density never fully returned, that is the point to assess what is driving it and whether PRP, medical treatment or simple monitoring is the right call. [2]
At The London PRP Clinic, every plan starts with diagnosis, an honest read of the evidence and agreed review points. Where PRP is appropriate, hair PRP is £450 per session or £1,215 for three sessions. Read the clinic's postpartum hair loss pathway and the evidence guide. [4,5]
Common questions
Will my hair definitely grow back after pregnancy?
For most women, yes. Telogen effluvium after childbirth usually resolves on its own within about six months, though full volume can take longer to return. Persistent shedding beyond six months should be reviewed. [2]
Can I use minoxidil while breastfeeding?
Do not start any medicated treatment while pregnant or breastfeeding without medical advice. Your doctor can weigh the options and timing with you. [3]
The shedding is terrifying. Is it really normal?
The volume of hair in the shower and on the brush can be shocking, and it is still usually normal. What is not normal is bald patches, scalp pain, redness or scaling. Those need examining. [2]
Should I have blood tests?
If shedding is heavy or prolonged, checking ferritin and thyroid function is a sensible, low-cost step your GP or our doctors can arrange. [2,3]
Arrange the right next step
If you are pregnant or newly delivered and worried about shedding, start with an assessment and the right blood tests rather than a treatment. Request a consultation, call 020 3951 3429, or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
Sources
The London PRP Clinic: Does PRP work for hair loss? The evidence, honestly.
The London PRP Clinic: Postpartum hair loss, the doctor-led recovery pathway.
The London PRP Clinic: assessment, treatment options and current prices.
The Wellness Clinical Team. Sources checked 17 October 2026. General information, not an individual diagnosis or treatment plan.