Hair Loss During Pregnancy and Postpartum

If you have just recently noticed that your hair is falling out during your pregnancy or immediately after the birth of your child, do not distress. It is more common thann you might think, and though it is not the most pleasant experience, it is completely normal. There are several different ways that you can cope with your hair loss during pregnancy as well as after your baby is born. The first thing is to understand that losing your hair is not, although you might feel differently, the end of the world. It is just as common and normal to lose hair after your pregnancy as it is to lose it during the pregnancy.

First of all, you may be wondering what causes the hair loss phenomenon? The main culprit in this event is the great increase in hormones that occurs in your body when you become pregnant. The same thing happens after the birth of your baby. As you may already know, hormones rise and fall anytime your body goes through something different, especially if it is traumatic, like childbirth, for example. While you are growing your precious cargo, your body is trying to help you nurture and protect your baby by protecting itself. Your body is producing elevated levels of the hormone called Estrogen during pregnancy, which aids in the growth of your unborn child. The higher levels of Estrogen immediately prompt your body to grow more hair by communicating this need to the hair follicles themselves. Women love the lustrous fullness that comes with pregnancy, and you can thank your elevated levels of Estrogen for that! Along with your scalp, you are likely to notice more hairs sprouting up in other places as well, like your armpits, legs and pubic areas. Many women cite that the hair is thicker and grows much more quickly than normal.

So now we know what is causing the hair to grow in so quickly, why exactly is it falling out? Chances are, if you are experience a great loss during the pregnancy itself you could be lacking important vitamins/minerals. You may be able to get to the bottom of this by consulting with your physician or a dietitian. We all know that when we are growing a baby that our body needs more of all the good things in life, and losing your hair could be just the warning you need to alert you that you are lacking on one area or another. Now, after your baby is born, you will experience a sudden drop in many of the hormones in your body. This accounts for the surprising loss of hair that begins. Do not despair too much, it is just your hormones trying to adjust and get back in sync with your body.

There are a few things that you can do to help soothe your scalp and your pride. It has been shown that you can find some solace in a bottle - shampoo bottle that is. You can consult with your stylist for more information regarding brands that will pamper your over-tired mommy hair.

Another good thing to remember is that the hair loss will not go on forever. Most women report that the post-partum shed is over in about three to six months. The best advice that I can offer is to just try to hang in there. Confide in other moms, they will know exactly what you are talking about!