Post Partum Hair Loss

After giving birth, new mothers must contend with post partum depression and postpartum hair loss. It is as if the stretch marks, weight game and early morning feedings is not enough. New mothers must also cope with hair loss. The gradual hair loss after pregnancy is devastating. The body has undergone a major hormonal shift and as a result, some hair loss is normal.

The timing of the hair loss after pregnancy is not random. After nursing stops, many women notice that the hair is starts to thin. Large clumps of hair come out while shampooing or combing the hair. The hair loss may not be noticed until six months after the delivery of the bundle of joy. The body compensates for the extreme loss of nutrients that the mother experiences while nursing the baby. The sudden hormonal imbalance adds to the hair loss.

Some women notice the hair loss immediately. Before the birth of a child, it is important to consult with your obstetrician to discuss the changes that the body will experience. Not only are the changes during the pregnancy an important topic for discussion. The changes that occur after delivery are even more important. If the woman knows that certain conditions are only temporary, there is no cause for panic. However, if there is no open discussion regarding the hair loss, stress can be the result.

There may be other reasons for hair loss. These circumstances should be discussed with your obstetrician from a positive perspective. There may be occasion for the doctor to prescribe vitamins for the hair. These vitamins can nurture the body while the new mother nurtures the newborn. Since stress is an inherent factor during and after pregnancy, the new mother can learn relaxation techniques.

If hair loss becomes an obvious problem, there are hair extensions that can be added to the hair. This is a temporary solution but can help prepare for special occasions. Wigs are an option. Today’s woman can compliment her temporary hair loss with hairpieces at a very low cost.

Dealing with the hormonal imbalance that occurs after pregnancy is enough of a stressor. Having to deal with hair loss must be made simple and as care free as possible. Discuss options for hairstyles with the hair stylist. The important point
to remember is the hair loss is temporary. The hair loss is a reaction of your body’s natural coping mechanism.

During pregnancy, hair loss is minimum because the body is conserving the nutrients to provide for the fetus. The scalp hair actually goes into a kind of “resting state”. This resting state is the normal growing, shedding of hair. But after pregnancy, the hairs that have been resting begin to fall out. The hair becomes thinner. It is at this stage that new mothers show alarm. This hair loss is not a permanent condition. The condition starts to improve within a six-month period. This condition is not considered a disease but a normal progression from pregnancy to the post pregnancy state.