Postpartum hair loss, brittle teeth, and bone aches: Anyone else dealing with this?

My son is three months old now, and all of a sudden, I’m dealing with some knee cartilage issues.

It started clicking like crazy almost overnight. My doctor says my joints just wore down during pregnancy because of all the extra weight, and now I’m stuck with it. Apparently, I can only manage the symptoms from here on out. To make matters worse, I’ve been told to stop climbing stairs, which is a real problem since I live in a two-story house. I guess I just have to try not to wreck my knees any further.

No pain or anything. Just a loud clicking sound whenever I hit the stairs.
I can't use chondroitin. The label says it's not recommended for breastfeeding moms.
I'm taking calcium, but I guess we'll see if it actually does anything. Maybe.
The pharmacist calmed me down a bit. Said I'll recover from this eventually since I'm still young. I guess.
My teeth aren't really an issue, but the problem is similar—they just get worn down during pregnancy.

How’s it going for you guys? What actually works?

About two months after I gave birth, my hair started falling out in massive clumps. It felt incredibly thin, almost as if there was significantly less volume than I actually possessed. My doctor at Mayo Clinic assured me this was perfectly normal; apparently, hormones keep your hair much stronger during pregnancy, so once they level out postpartum, everything just decides to shed at once. Between the hormonal shifts, a weakened immune system, breastfeeding, and general exhaustion, it’s quite the perfect storm. For me, the shedding lasted about two months, and even though I stayed on top of my prenatal vitamins, I didn't see an immediate fix. Eventually, things stabilized, and my hair returned to its pre-pregnancy state. 😁

Man, growing up, women used to scare me by saying their teeth would just fall out during pregnancy.
I honestly don't get how that even works... but whatever.

My bones and teeth have been fine, though, mostly because I load up on calcium every day through yogurt and cheese.

But my hair? It was falling out in clumps for almost a year straight.

It’s still thinning a bit, but I started using this botanical shampoo to help with the shedding, so we'll see if it actually does anything...

I’m starting to think I might go bald🤣 My hair is thinning out significantly, and my apartment is constantly covered in stray hairs.😁 I’m hoping this is just a temporary phase. I haven't been taking any supplements, and while I tried using some drugstore shampoos in the past, they didn't really make much of a difference.

My nails actually recovered during pregnancy—honestly, my hair has never been thicker 👍...but teeth? That’s a completely different story. I ended up losing one because the dentist couldn't even figure out the issue without an X-ray, so they just pulled it. Then, after giving birth, I lost another one simply because I couldn't find the time to get to the dentist sooner 😠—plus, the constant infections and rounds of antibiotics didn't help matters 😢.

As for my hair, the shedding started about 4 or 5 months postpartum and it is STILL dropping out in massive amounts 😢.

And yeah, my joints are already creaking like crazy—but hey, I'm getting older 😉.

My hair is thinning too, though I’m still eating pretty normally. I put everything in this one thread since they’re all just pregnancy side effects.
But is anyone actually having issues with their bones?
I drank a ton of milk during my pregnancy, but clearly, that didn't help.

I’m dealing with some serious knee issues right now because I have to avoid glucosamine and chondroitin entirely. My little one is only three months old, and while my knees are mostly worn out from years of sports, physical therapy is definitely helping her. It’s not about squats or anything high-impact; it's more about controlled, static resistance exercises targeting the quadriceps and the muscles surrounding the knee. That’s honestly the best way to handle cartilage problems—you reduce the friction and take the direct load off the joint. For an actual diagnosis and a tailored exercise plan, I’d highly recommend seeing a sports medicine specialist, like Dr. Summan over at the Box Office clinic in downtown Chicago.
I’ve also been struggling with hip issues. I haven't been able to fully rotate my right knee since I was eight months pregnant. I suspect it’s a two-fold problem: part of it is compensation because I’m trying to protect my knees, and the other part comes from sleeping on my side during pregnancy and dealing with awkward positions while nursing at night.
On top of all that, I've noticed a massive breakout of oily skin and acne between my breasts and on my face ever since I gave birth.

Yeah, you shouldn't take chondroitin while breastfeeding. Based on what I know, I guess it's possible to regenerate cartilage, but maybe it's complicated.
Also, can you explain some knee exercises? I don't live near Chicago, so I can't make it to any local classes.

For instance, my mom ended up with really damaged teeth after her pregnancy—but she’s also a huge cheese lover, so I guess it really just comes down to the individual.

I’ve actually heard from a few people that matcha tea is great because it’s packed with calcium, making it a safe bet for both pregnant women and nursing moms.

As for hair care, I know seaweed extracts are supposed to be amazing, though I don't know much about the specifics (like those chewy ones you find in sushi 😁).

My hair is thinning out like crazy, and I’m only 18 weeks into this

My lower back is absolutely killing me right now—just a constant, dull ache in my lumbar region—and honestly, I’m losing so much hair lately that I’ve actually started seriously considering just shaving it all off. 😢

Honestly, dealing with this hair loss is becoming an absolute nuisance 😳 I wake up every morning to find my pillowcase and sheets completely covered in strands, and I’m constantly vacuuming because the floor is just a mess of shedding. Even my clothes are ruined by it... if I weren't so careful, I'd probably be finding it in my food too. 🙄

Just checking in to say my hair is officially falling out 😢

I am seriously starting to Line. It’s actually crazy. I was feeling so good because my hair got so thick and shiny during my pregnancy...
It’s been just over two months since I gave birth.

I’m experiencing some hair loss myself—though nothing extreme, just returning to how it was before I went through my pregnancy..
During the pregnancy, I honestly had such a thick, gorgeous mane; losing it all wasn't really 🙄

What’s actually driving me crazy right now is when I stand up from a chair. With that very first step I take, I tend to limp slightly on my right leg because my tailbone (well, the pelvic area, if we're being precise) hurts on that side..

And oh, yes—my hands go numb constantly. No matter how I sit or lie down, they get this intense numbness that is just so incredibly uncomfortable..
It isn't even that sharp "pins and needles" sensation you get when you accidentally sleep on your arm; it's more of a constant, low-level tingling. I suspect it might be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, but honestly, I simply haven't had the time to make an appointment with my doctor..

I feel completely broken down—as if I need to pull over for a full mechanic's inspection and a complete replacement of all my spare parts 😁

Oh, absolutely... I also deal with those pesky little leaks after using the restroom 🙄 but I’ve been diligently practicing my Kegels, so I’m really hoping things turn around soon. 🙂

Honestly, I just feel completely mortified.

I dealt with major hair loss after giving birth—it didn't let up until I stopped nursing. It was brutal; every time I washed it, I'd just find clumps in my hands—you could actually see the thinning happening. Now, things have finally returned to normal, and whatever fell out has grown back.😍

By the way, get your iron levels checked. I ended up anemic right after having my kid... something I’ve never had to deal with before.

And don't underestimate how much it wrecks your spine!! I'm lifting an 8.5 kg weight dozens of times a day.😍

Ever since I had my baby, my hair has just... vanished. Like, it's gone. I’ve had this thick, curly hair my entire life, but now? It’s just straight, thin, and totally lifeless. I’ve cycled through every expensive shampoo and conditioner on the drugstore shelves, but nothing actually works. Honestly, I just really miss my old hair.
My teeth are all still holding up (for now, anyway).
I’ve always dealt with back pain, but lately, my knees and hips have been absolutely killing me. It’s brutal.

Since I spent my entire pregnancy mostly lying down, I’ve run into some real issues with walking lately... or rather, by the end of the day, I am just absolutely exhausted—my bones actually ache, especially when I try to stand up after sitting... so, I’m going to try to start running a bit, because this feeling is just awful... honestly, I feel like I'm 125 years old

I went through with two root canals during my pregnancy—without even getting X-rays done—and now the follow-up scan shows a total disaster 😢. My dentist wants me to wait a few months for a check-up, but I’m already looking at oral surgery... I just really hope it doesn't come down to an extraction 🙂.
And my hair? It's getting worse by the day—clogging up the drain and sticking to my brush 😢.
Don't even get me started on my back. Seriously, if I bend over for even a split second—like tossing a shirt onto the couch or fixing the bedsheets—I’m stuck 😢... it takes a full minute or two just to manage to stand upright again. All that lounging around this summer is finally catching up with me
.

Pregnancy is such a double-edged sword, isn't it? 😍
For a while there, my hair was thicker than ever, my nails were long and healthy, and my skin looked absolutely flawless 😍.

But the moment I stopped being pregnant—everything just fell apart. My hair started thinning, my nails became brittle, and then came the hemorrhoids and this endless, frustrating menstrual cycle 🙄.🙄>

I suppose I should also mention that a few months before I even conceived, I had a skiing accident where I basically crushed the cartilage in my right kneecap. I honestly assumed it would be an issue during the pregnancy itself, but strangely enough, it wasn't really a problem then; now, however, it’s started swelling up again by the end of the day 🙄.
I might just have to ask my husband to help massage the swelling away 🤣.