Pregnancy is not only an emotional but also a physical journey that often tests the psychological well-being of women. Changes in hormones affect almost every function of the body, from internal to external aspects including hair, skin, and nails. Some of the changes like pregnancy hair loss or alopecia are highly unsightly but fortunately temporary in nature.
However, these changes can and do cause undue worry to expectant mothers despite the fact that they are very common effects of pregnancy. While it should be noted that postpartum/post-pregnancy hair loss is the most common scenario, an expectant mother should be aware of early pregnancy hair loss as well as postpartum hair loss and work closely with your gynecologist to manage the process.
Early Pregnancy Hair Loss
Most women do not experience this scenario but if you happen to be one who does, there might be vitamin or mineral deficiency in your system and you should be seeking the advice of your gynecologist. Hair loss has a direct correlation to the imbalances of hormones and estrogen levels. And to complicate matters, if you have been trying to get pregnant and stopped taking birth control pills abruptly, alopecia can arise. And when you finally realized you are successfully impregnated, you start are experiencing alopecia and are led to associate it with your pregnancy. Alopecia due to hormonal changes like thyroid disorder in pregnancy can happen during the process and your doctor should be able to help treat the condition.
Postpartum hair loss, on the other hand, is a normal and temporary scenario that is not related to breastfeeding. Generally speaking, most expectant mothers do not usually experience much alopecia during pregnancy until after three months from childbirth when the full impact of post-pregnancy hair loss is more often felt. This is the time when your hormones have normalized to original levels and the hair that was supposed to have fallen off during pregnancy due to low estrogen levels did not.
The time frame between childbirth and the start of shedding correlates to the length of the resting phase of your hair growth which is an average of 3 months and ranges from 1 to 6 months. You might find that alopecia is more intense especially when your hair grew much faster during pregnancy. You can expect to return to your usual cycle within six months after birth.
While your post-pregnancy hair loss is temporary, it could deteriorate over a period of as long as half a year or longer after childbirth before they grow back again. Keep your cool and manage the process nonchalantly. Comb it lightly and gently, and try not to blow dry it or use curlers. Do not tie up your hair as this will stretch and pull at the roots, weakening the already weak follicles and this includes avoiding weaves, braids, and pigtails. Have a well-nourished and balanced diet as well as get sufficient exercise and rest. Check with your doctor to ensure that you are not suffering from post-pregnancy hormonal imbalance and his or her recommendation on the right type of shampoos too.
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