It’s perfectly normal to suffer some hair loss after having a baby. Not all women do, and your hair may act very differently from one pregnancy to another. Most women recover from this uneventfully, six to twelve months after the birth.
So, what is the process that leads to temporary postpartum hair loss? Let’s take a look:
- Hormonal changes with estrogen and progesterone. Hormones have a big influence on hair growth, and during pregnancy and after the birth, the woman’s body goes through a lot of hormonal changes with significant increases and decreases in estrogen and progesterone.
- Hair growth stages. Because of all the hormonal changes, the normal stages and cycle of hair growth change. There are four stages of hair growth: anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen. After giving birth, when hormones return to normal limits, for some women, more hair than the usual 10% enters the exogen phase is shed.
- Iron Deficiency. Something else that can contribute to hair after pregnancy is an iron deficiency. Pregnant women are at an increased risk of iron deficiency, so make sure you’re getting enough iron before and after the pregnancy. Remember that ingesting something with vitamin C at the same time as you eat iron-rich foods or take an iron supplement helps with the absorption of iron.
- Thyroid Issues. And last but not least, there’s the thyroid. And there seems to be a link between not having enough iron and then having a problem with the thyroid. The thyroid function (or lack thereof) also influences hair loss. So, after pregnancy, especially if your iron has been low, doctors often look at thyroid function.
The good news is that not all pregnant women suffer a flush of hair loss after pregnancy, and if the woman does experience it, it’s temporary. The big hormonal changes are part and parcel of pregnancy.
If your hair loss after pregnancy is significant, then definitely talk to your doctor about it.
We are here for you when you’re ready to start treatment for hair loss.
If you have any questions about treatment for hair loss or any of our products, we encourage you to call us directly at (844) 280-4680.