I already have one child so I did know about how your hair falls out during the postpartum period. Well, somehow I forgot how much your hair really falls out. It is amazing how much amnesia you have when raising a child and then doing it a second (or more) time around. During my pregnancy with Adelynn, my hair was thick and healthy. I would get compliments on my hair looking good. This was huge to me considering years earlier, I thought I was already getting a receding hairline. During the first three months, my hair remained full and healthy. I thought I was going to avoid the postpartum hair loss that most moms hate. Well, I was wrong. My hair loss started right after the three-month mark and has been falling out ever since. I frequently hear about my husband’s toes getting snarled with my hair. I feel like cousin Itt from Adam’s Family when I take a shower. My hair is literally everywhere. It is all over my clothes, on the floor like a tumbleweed, my kids are wearing my hair. It is crazy but it is also NORMAL. During pregnancy, due to all of the wonderful hormones, we do not shed our hair like we would normally do during those nine months. That is why your hair feels fuller during your pregnancy. After you have your baby, you begin to shed all that hair that you did not loose during your pregnancy. That is why it seems like you are loosing so much hair. Just take a deep breath and know that your hair loss will not last forever. You will get new hair growth back. While there is not anything that you can really do to stop the post partum hair loss there are a few things you can do to help with the process.
· Take your prenatal vitamin even after the baby’s arrival
It is important to continue taking your prenatal vitamins even in the postnatal period. Having a vitamin deficiency can lead to hair loss and breakage. If you are breastfeeding this is especially important.
· Keep up on getting your hair trimmed
Getting your hair regularly cut might sound counterintuitive but it is important to do. Trimming your hair helps with split ends and breakage. Plus, you get some mama time and who does not love getting their hair shampooed. Also, try not to wear super tight pony tails that pull the hair. I know, what mom does not wear the mom bun? Just try to keep it a little loose.
· Keep your scalp healthy
There are many scalp and hair detox products aimed at reducing build up on your scalp and help to unclog the pores. Having a health scalp helps with the hair regrowth. Maintaining an adequate water intake is important to help with nourishing your scalp and reducing dandruff. If you are breastfeeding it is especially important in keeping up with your water intake.
It is normal to have increased hair loss during the postpartum period. Know that your hair should start growing back and stop falling out so much anywhere from six months to a year. If you feel like you are loosing a significant amount of hair it is important to speak with your doctor about it. Your doctor can perform blood test to make sure you are not deficient with any nutrients and also screen for illnesses. You know your body best! Remember that you are doing a great job mama and those little pesky wisp of hair will start growing back before you know it. So hang in there! It is amazing what our bodies can do and the different stages that it goes through. For any significant others out there, try to be as supportive and patient as possible. No, we are not trying to clog the vacuum, sink, or bathtub on purpose. :0)
This is after just one shower. This does not include the hair I lost during the day or while combing my hair. This picture is not to be gross just help to give an idea with how much hair I am losing. My hope is for other postpartum moms not to feel so alone during this period and know that while the postpartum hair loss can be frustrating, it is normal.