Most women complain of hair loss after pregnancy. And the question they are asking is; Is it normal to lose hair after giving birth?
Although it is shocking yet it indicates that your hair is returning to its normal condition post pregnancy. This is mostly seen in around three months after the delivery.
Approximately 75% of pregnant women experience this problem and around 100 hairs per day fall out in an average woman.
The root cause behind this hair problem is hormonal changes in pregnant women. Usually, 85 to 95 percent of hair grows while the others are in resting stage. The hairs fall out after the resting period is over and they are replaced by new hairs.
However during pregnancy, estrogen hormone prolongs the hair growth stage resulting in a lesser hair fall. Therefore, pregnant women are seen to have thicker hair growth.
But as soon as the pregnancy period ends, the levels of estrogen starts falling and hair follicles enter the resting stage.
You can see many hairs falling out while combing or washing. This hair loss after pregnancy may be quite distressing and worrying but then, this is only a temporary problem.
In fact, this is the time that your hairs will be restored back to their normal state before the pregnancy.
There could be another possibility of the hair fall. Many women prefer oral contraceptives till they desire to be pregnant. Discontinuing these birth controls creates the hormonal differences thereby resulting in shedding of hairs.
Since this hair fall problem starts just before pregnancy, many women relate these two although the main cause is the discontinuation of the contraceptives.
Other conditions which may cause hair loss after pregnancy could be miscarriage or abortion or delivery a stillborn baby. Hormonal imbalance, (particularly estrogen) may also be one of the causes of hair shedding.
To add to this problem, breast feeding also causes the depletion of woman’s nutritional reserves causing hair loss.
In order to stop this hair fall, there are no preventive measures as such. It is a normal process and will recover on its own.
All that you can do is take proper nutritional food with vitamin and mineral supplements. Again to hide your hair fall, you can try experimenting with your hairstyles and hair products.
You may have to avoid certain hairstyles as well especially those which put extra stress on your hair like braids or pigtails.
This post-partum period is the best time to cut short your tresses. The new hair cut may help in preventing hair loss after pregnancy.
Besides, proper diet is essential as they help in controlling the hair fall and enables a quick growth of new hair. Intake of prenatal vitamins can be a good way to provide nutrition to the hair.
Supplements like calcium and zinc also improves the growth of hair. Cod oil or flaxseed oil and other dietary supplements are also beneficial for the proper and quick growth of hair.
Intake of fruits and vegetables may also protect the hair follicles and help in reducing hair loss after pregnancy. It is important to take care of what you take keeping in account the nutritional values for you as well as for your baby!
During this hair fall time, it is recommended not to use any harsh cream or shampoo on the hair as they have more chemical content.
Rather mild shampoo or herbal products are better to be used. Shampoos containing mineral contents like silica and biotin are good for hair growth.
Trimming the hair from time to time ensures healthy growth of the hairs. Light massages on the scalp can also help in checking hair loss after pregnancy.
Massaging help in the stimulation of blood flow to the scalp. This in turn prompts the hair follicles to grow new hair. If you are using hair dryers or other hair instruments producing heat, it is always better to keep their temperature lowered. Avoiding them as much as possible is good for the health of hairs.
At times, the anxiety and excitement of the new member may cause emotional upheaval among many new mothers. This may also result in hair loss.
It is advised to the new mothers to stay as calm as possible and be mentally prepared for the forth coming life. This relaxation would help in checking the hair fall caused due to tension.
With all these home remedies around, if you are still worried about your hair loss after pregnancy, it is ideal to consult the health practitioners.
They may prescribe you with proper supplement for your body and help you in balancing the hormonal differences. Otherwise, there is nothing serious to worry, you should stay happy and take proper care of the new member arrived in your family!
