After giving birth, new moms often face a host of physical complications that appear as their bodies return to normal. In addition to sore breasts and hot flashes, you might start to notice large clumps or strands of your hair coming out when you brush your hair or take a shower. Postpartum hair loss affects 40 to 50 percent of pregnant women, according to the American Pregnancy Association. While you cannot stop it, dietary supplements, as well as changes to your haircare routine, can help minimize its effects to keep your hair looking its best.
Significance
During pregnancy you might experience thicker and fuller hair due to an increase in the hormone estrogen, which extends your hair's growing cycle and lessens the rate at which it falls out. After you give birth, you will often begin to shed this extra hair as your hormones return to their normal levels. Although the experience can be alarming, you will not go bald--your shedding will taper off and your hair should return to normal by the time your baby turns 1 year old.
Dietary Solutions
Changes in your diet, as well as certain dietary supplements might help decrease the shedding and help your hair return to normal more quickly. Kelly Bonyata, a lactation consultant and owner of the breastfeeding advice site Kellymom.com, suggests that a diet rich in protein can decrease shedding in some women. The American Pregnancy Association recommends consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which contains flavonoids and antioxidants that can protect the hair follicles and encourage re-growth. Adding a multi-vitamin to your diet or supplementing it with Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Biotin, Vitamin B Complex and Zinc might also offer some positive results.
Haircare Solutions
Changing your hairstyle and haircare products can improve your hair's appearance. Talk to your stylist to find a haircut that can flatter your thinning locks. Many new moms find this is the perfect time to move to a short, low-maintenance hairdo. Look for thickening shampoos and mousses specifically designed to maximize volume in thin hair. Avoid or minimize the use of hot styling instruments on your hair, such as blow dryers or flat irons. Since hair falls out more quickly when brushed or shampooed, you might want to shampoo less frequently and be very gentle when combing your fragile locks.
Misconceptions
Since locks often start to fall out around 3 months postpartum, many breastfeeding moms mistakenly make a connection between breastfeeding and hair loss. While the timing might appear suspicious, Bonyata stresses that there is no link between hair loss and breastfeeding. The hair loss occurs due to pregnancy hormones and equally affects breastfeeding and formula-feeding mothers. Discontinuing breastfeeding is not a solution for postpartum hair loss.
Warning
Some common postpartum health conditions, such as hypo-thyroidism or iron-deficiency anemia, can also cause hair loss. If your hair loss doesn’t slow down by 6 months postpartum, or it appears excessive, dermatologist Sandra Johnson, M.D., FAAD urges you to make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
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