Even if you’re not pulling your hair out over your new baby, it’s worth remembering that plenty of mums experience hair loss after pregnancy - and a few even experience it during those nine months.
But what causes it to happen? And what are the solutions?
We’ve tried to answer some of your more burning questions on the topics of hair loss and pregnancy.
I THOUGHT THAT PREGNANCY WOULD MAKE MY HAIR THICKER?
In general, very few hairs are shed during pregnancy, so your hair will often be much thicker and fuller towards the middle and end of your pregnancy. This is because raised oestrogen levels keep your hair in the growing (anagen) phase for longer than usual.
SO I WON’T LOSE MY HAIR DURING PREGNANCY?
The short answer to this one is ‘probably not’.
Hair loss during pregnancy is quite unusual; in fact (as already mentioned), most women find that their hair is thicker and fuller than ever during those nine months, thanks to all that extra oestrogen.
However, for some, the excess progesterone (a hormone which is released during pregnancy) can make hair drier, and more prone to cracking and breaking.
If this is the case, speak to your doctor or midwife about it at your next appointment. It could indicate a hormone imbalance, a thyroid issue, or a vitamin deficiency.
They can work with you to find the cause - and a solution.
WHAT IS POSTPARTUM HAIR LOSS?
Postpartum means ‘after the birth’. Postpartum hair loss, therefore, usually occurs between three and six months after a new mother has welcomed her baby into the world.
WHAT CAUSES POSTPARTUM HAIR LOSS?
Normally about 85 to 95% of the hair on your head is growing, and the other 5 to 15% is in a resting stage.
After the resting stage is complete, the hair falls out (usually while being brushed or washed) and is replaced by new hair growth.
This means that, on average, most women shed about 100 hairs a day.
But things are VERY different when you’re pregnant; as we’ve already mentioned, the increased levels of oestrogen prolong the growing stage. That means there is less hair in the resting stage, and a lot less hair falling out every day - hence the fuller, healthier looking locks.
After your baby is born, however, your oestrogen levels drop back down to normal.
That means a lot of growing hairs will suddenly enter the resting stage, all at once - which means that, yes, they will start falling out in greater numbers.
These can be very painful and will need to be cut loose as quickly as possible, so as to prevent any damage to your little one.
WHEN DO I NEED TO SPEAK TO MY DOCTOR?
You should always speak to your doctor or midwife if you are concerned about something; they are there to help. So, if your shedding becomes extreme and / or you are losing patches of hair, please do give them a call and schedule an appointment.
Definitely book an appointment if you are still losing hair around your baby’s first birthday. Typical hair loss does not usually continue that long into the postpartum period, and it could be a symptom of a thyroid problem.