Any mother will agree that pregnancy is a blessing, but as with everything, there are pros and cons, and in this case, we’re discussing how pregnancy affects your hair. Many women have their hair full and thick at the beginning of their pregnancy, only to start losing it after giving birth. This can be puzzling, and if you’ve been wondering why this is and how to deal with the postpartum hair loss that comes with childbirth, you’re on the right page. In this article, we’re going to examine postpartum hair loss, what it is, why it happens, and what you can do about it.
Hair grows in different stages, there is the growing phase (anagen) where hair grows actively, there is the transitional phase (catagen) where the growth of hair slows down, and there is the resting phase (telogen) where hair stops growing. A lot of hormonal changes occur in the body during pregnancy, the body produces estrogen, a hormone that greatly influences hair growth. High levels of estrogen-induced by pregnancy make hair stay longer in the growing phase instead of progressing to the resting phase.
This translates to fuller thicker hair during pregnancy because your hair keeps growing without moving to the resting phase. After childbirth, estrogen levels go back to normal and the influence it has on hair growth is reduced. This means a lot of your hair will move from the growing phase to the resting phase, and eventually start to fall out. An average person loses 100 hairs a day, because of the volume of hair moving into the resting phase and then eventually falling out, you might start to lose more hair than the average person.
Postpartum hair loss doesn’t happen immediately after giving birth, it happens as your hormone levels gradually return to pre-pregnancy levels and your hair starts to respond accordingly. So you might not experience postpartum hair loss until a few months after giving birth. Your postpartum hair loss won’t be forever, with time you’ll start growing new hair to replace the ones falling out. You can expect to have grown your hair back by the time you celebrate your baby’s first birthday.
Postpartum hair loss is normal as it occurs because of the hormonal changes that occur in the body during pregnancy, you can’t completely avoid it, but you can manage it. Listed below are some tips that can help you minimize the symptoms of postpartum hair loss and encourage new healthy growth.
Consistently eating a healthy diet before, during, and after pregnancy is a great way to keep your body in great shape and reduce the severity and length of postpartum hair loss. Giving your body all the nutrients it needs will speed up your recovery process and prevent your postpartum hair loss from progressing or getting worse.
You can take supplements to help your hair grow better after postpartum hair loss. Consult with your doctor to know what will work well for you and what you should avoid. Vitamin B complex, Iron, Vitamin C and E, and Zinc are recommended by the American Pregnancy Association.
Relaxation and reducing stress are great ways to get your hormones balanced and back to their pre-pregnancy levels as fast as possible. Don’t get worked up about you losing your hair. Yes, we understand it can be stressful but it is important to understand that it is a natural process and eventually, you’ll grow all your hair back. A good way to relax is to have people around the house do household chores so you don’t get stressed, you can also adopt regular moderate exercise.
A great way to deal with postpartum hair loss is to adapt to a change or hairstyle and change your hair care routine. You can start keeping short hair till your hormone levels go back to the way it was before pregnancy and childbirth. This can also help reduce the stress attached to styling your hair or visiting the salon for an elaborate hairdo.
Postpartum hair loss is a natural phenomenon, it’s nothing to be scared of. Although there isn’t much you can do to completely prevent it or stop it, the tips we’ve given above should help you handle it better. You can also find solace in the fact that it is only temporary, and with time your hair will resume its pre-pregnancy growth cycle.
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