To have a baby is a difficult yet satisfying process called motherhood. A woman does a lot of sacrifice to conceive properly starting from changing food habits, lifestyle, following a strict recommended routine and much more. It’s a rigorous period which is challenging with having to deal with health imbalances, taking care of several nitty-gritties and the fear of giving birth normally. A woman suffers through hormonal imbalances like hair loss, mood swings and weight changes. It’s a known fact that motherhood is no easy-peasy thing to happen and pass away with a whimper.
Of course there are magical and blessed moments too when your baby smiles at you, grips your pinky finger tightly and laughs sweetly at your sight.This is a phase of mixed emotions with some serious postpartum concerns like hair loss which have to be dealt with care and due concern.
At the time of pregnancy the hormones in a woman’s body change drastically. One of the first hormones to spike is called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin(hCG). It is the hormone which indicates that you are pregnant. Pregnancy also causes many other hormone levels to rise including estrogen, progesterone, oxytocin, prolactin. The volume of blood also rises during pregnancy to about 50 percent more than the normal volume. After the birth of the baby many hormone levels drop fast which includes estrogen and progesterone. These hormones get back to normal after 24 hours of birth though prolactin level stays high till you breastfeed your child.
Reason of postpartum hair loss
After childbirth many women have to deal with the problem of hair loss. Initially starting with pregnancy, hair feels particularly glossy and thick. It is because of hormonal fluctuations occurring naturally and estrogen which has a deep impact on the hair growth cycles. A spike in estrogen occurring during pregnancy with increased rate of blood flow slows down the rate of hair falling naturally which results in a thicker amount of hair. But after the birth of the baby these hormone levels start to drop which leads to sudden and large amounts of hair fall.
How hormones affect hair
Hormones are the topmost reason for hair changes during pregnancy. At the time of pregnancy the high levels of estrogen prevent the usual rate of hair loss. We may have seen that our hair falls out in small amounts daily. But on the onset of pregnancy the hair fall rate decreases. This is supported by increased blood volume and circulation which too contributes to less than normal hair fall during pregnancy.
But when the baby is born the hormone levels drop and hair starts to fall in larger amounts.This rate of increased hair fall can last as long as a year and is at the highest level in the fourth month.
The time period of postpartum hair loss
Postpartum hair loss starts typically 2 to 4 months after the birth of the child. Generally this is a normal phenomenon as the hair restores itself naturally within 6 months to a year period. During this hair fall period you may experience large chunks of hair falling out which you fear would lead to baldness soon but this is a natural way of your body recalibrating and your hair growth patterns would go back to normal ways in some time.
Things to do about postpartum hair loss
To experience hair fall after pregnancy is very natural and normal which can’t be stopped or altered entirely. It is an absolutely normal phenomenon.
But there are some ways to keep your hair healthy and prevent damage when it is replenishing itself also making it look fuller.
1.Avoid hair styling by curling iron– Heating the hair with a dryer or curling iron leads to faster thinning. So you should try to avoid styling your hair and let it air-dry naturally till this time of pregnancy. But if it really is necessary for you to use curling iron then you should use a heat protectant spray to limit hair loss. Brushing hair in a too rough manner can also make your hair fall out more. So try to brush gently with a soft hair brush and don’t brush it more than once in a day.
2.Focus on diet– You should include a variety of fruits, vegetables and proteins in your diet because at this time a balanced diet will make sure to help in all your metabolic processes better and fulfill the body’s needs of adequate nutrients. Some foods which can improve hair health are dark leafy greens having iron and vitamin C, sweet potatoes and carrots to replenish beta carotene, eggs for vitamin D and fish for omega-3 and magnesium.
3.Have vitamins as supplements– You should take prescribed vitamins as a supplement if you are not taking a balanced diet as they nourish overall health. You should continue with your prenatal vitamins after the baby is born and especially when you are breast-feeding the baby.
4.Take care of hair shampoo– It has been found that conditioning shampoos lead to hair thinning. Then you must use good quality voluminizers which can help reverse this thinning process and give it added luster and gloss.
5.Avoid stress– You should also aim at reducing stress of any sort. You should keep your environment filled with lighter moments and try to keep yourself happy. The initial effort to do so should come from you only. Some ways to avoid stress would be by taking long and relaxing baths, meditating, reading books, listening to music, going for walks and taking time to pamper yourself.
Conclusion
It sometimes is an alarming discovery that despite following your regular hair care routine you find large clumps of hair tangled in your hair brush. This is the time after your pregnancy and you are worried. But you should not panic about postpartum hair loss as it is a perfectly natural phenomenon. It is manageable by following the above given points and focusing on self care. After all, sacrifices lead to bounty gains and in this case your hair woes lead you to see your little bundle of joy playing happily, smiling and even winking back at you. Isn’t that awesome?