As a new mum, there are so many things to think about. Giving birth is incredible and causes massive changes to happen to your body (not to mention your emotions). Plus, postpartum concerns, like hair loss, can cause even more stress. If you’re dealing with postpartum hair loss and find yourself unsure of how to cope, we’re here to give you an insight into what you’re experiencing.
First things first, congratulations if you’re a new or expecting mum! What an exciting time. We want you to know that when it comes to postpartum hair concerns, you’re definitely not alone. Whether you’ve noticed your hair thinning or falling out, know that this happens to many women post-childbirth.
What you might be noticing
As well as hair loss, maybe you’re noticing that you can’t style your hair the way you did before giving birth. If this is not your first pregnancy, you might even be noticing differences in your hair changes compared to last time. Your emotions are most likely running high as it is, not to mention having to deal with your hair.
Why does it happen?
The short version is: You may have noticed your hair felt thick and healthy during your pregnancy. This is because of hormonal fluctuations that naturally occur – estrogen especially has a significant impact on your hair cycles. This spike in estrogen, combined with the increased blood flow, slows down your normal rate of hair loss. This leads to thicker hair. However, once your baby arrives, these hormone levels drop, leading to sudden and significant hair fall.
While most women experience the same amount of hair loss that would have typically happened over the nine months if you weren’t pregnant, losing it all at once can feel like quite a shock.
What can I do about it?
The most important thing we want you to take away from this is: Experiencing hair fall after pregnancy is natural and normal! In saying that, there are definitely steps you can take to keep your hair as healthy as you can during this process. If you can, keep heat styling to a minimum during this time, so as to avoid unnecessary damage. Between the high temperatures and the pulling as you style, it can cause even more hair loss.
Keeping your diet balanced and nourishing is also a great way to maintain hair health. Foods that are packed full of vitamins and minerals are so good for your hair! As well as this, sticking to natural hair care products can go a long way in keeping those locks in great condition.