Hair loss following a pregnancy is quite common and many new mothers are actually unaware of the condition until after it happens. After the birth of a baby (sometimes up to several months after) many new moms begin to lose their hair gradually.
While a woman’s hair, during pregnancy, is often the envy of other women, because it takes on a glow and a shine that is only matched by the expecting mother’s glowing skin and aura, such is not the case after the child is born. The beautiful appearance of a pregnant woman’s hair is attributed to the prenatal vitamins, increase in circulation and hormonal surges that occur during pregnancy. Hairs stay in the growing phase, as a result, creating a thick, voluminous hair.
After a baby is born, however, the sudden drop in hormone levels and loss of circulation sends a signal to the body, telling the hairs that would have naturally shed during pregnancy to begin falling out. Sometimes the result is extreme and a woman loses handfuls of hair at a time.
Typically, the shedding begins to stop within six months and the hair is only slightly thinner than it was before pregnancy. However, in some women, the effects are more noticeable.
In order to curb the effects of post-pregnancy hair loss, it is important for a woman to take extra care of herself following the birth of her new child, including nutritional support and rest. It is best for a woman to nap when her child naps, eat healthy foods and continue nutritional supplement plans to help prevent postpartum hair loss.
A relaxing scalp massage using warm coconut oils or nurturing essential oils can also have a positive effect on postpartum hair. In addition, natural treatments such as reflexology, massage, or acupuncture can also help restore the body’s balance during this time and reverse the effects on a woman’s hair.
There is no doubt that hair loss after pregnancy can be severe, but it is typically a temporary condition and, eventually, a woman’s hair will return to its natural, beautiful state.
