Hair loss after pregnancy aka postpartum hair loss, is not just happening to you. It happens to many women, so you are not alone. Losing one’s hair after receiving the gift of life, is not something any woman wants to deal with.
By the way, postpartum is the scientific word to describe ‘after childbirth’. It refers to the mother’s condition after birth.
Our hair grows in cycles and some hairs are in a resting phase while others are actively growing. At some point, hairs in the resting phase will fall out, and new hairs grow in their place. And this cycle changes at different stages in your life. For example, more of your hair stays in the growth phase during pregnancy. This means your hair looks healthy, full, thick, and well, just fantastic.
But hair loss after pregnancy usually occurs within the first few months after giving birth. Don’t be too alarmed as this is common and there’s no need to worry. In fact, before the baby’s first birthday, most mom’s hair will grow back to it’s pre-pregnancy thickness.
What Causes Hair Loss After Pregnancy?
There are many possible causes of postpartum hair loss. And a woman’s hair can be affected by one or more of these simultaneously. But, none of these are cause for major concern. Besides, there are many hair loss solutions and hair restoration options available for temporary hair loss.
Here are a few know causes of hair loss after giving birth.
Iron Deficiency
Pregnancy is a common time for women to become iron deficient as the developing fetus needs iron. And the pregnant mother is producing more red blood cells. Most women take a prenatal supplement, but stop after they give birth. This can lead to an iron deficiency, which may cause an increase in hair loss. It’s important for a new mother to have her iron, complete blood count, and ferritin checked within a few weeks of having her baby.
Stress
Lack of sleep is common with new moms. And this combined with the stress of looking after a newborn can negatively affect her hair cycle. Stress hormones and stress proteins can cause the growth phase of the hair cycle to shorten temporarily. This can lead to postpartum hair loss a few months later.
Weight Loss
Oftentimes, women will attempt to shed their excess pregnancy weight too quickly after giving birth. Sometimes the new mother will follow a crash diet to help speed up her weight loss. Losing more than 15 pounds over a 4 week period can cause metabolic changes which may lead to hair loss after pregnancy.
Epidural/C-section
Both an epidural and C-section require the use of a regional anesthetic. With any anesthesia, there is a risk that the woman’s hair cycle could temporarily be disturbed. Additionally, there is an increased loss of blood during a C-section surgery. As such, a lower iron level may result in some hair loss.
How To Deal With Hair Loss After Pregnancy
Many causes of postpartum hair loss are a natural part of pregnancy and with time, your hair should return to normal. However, to gain faster improvement, women can begin exercising as soon as possible. Taking relaxation time and choose good nutritional diets are also helpful. Moreover, if you’re iron deficient, you really should take an iron supplement for a few months. Make sure to first have any supplementation approved by your physician, especially if you’re breastfeeding.
Occasionally, even after regrowth, a woman’s hair may never fully recover. In these cases, we offer a range of long-term hair replacement solutions specifically for women. For more information, call us at (619) 820-0290 or click here to schedule a free confidential consultation.
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