How to Treat Postpartum Hair Loss

However, after pregnancy – usually about in your third or fourth month after delivering your baby it is not uncommon to experience hair loss which affects somewhere between 40 to 50 percent of women. But don’t be alarmed if you are part of this percentage as this hair loss phase is only temporary. But it can be a challenging time especially if you were experiencing a ton of growth during your pregnancy.

Hair loss and thinning hair can be scary after you’re pregnant. You have so many more resposibilities to take care of. The last thing you want to worry about is your hair! But it's a reality. I wonder why women don’t talk about it? Pregnant women need to know. At least we’ll know we’re not alone.

So, what is this shedding of hair called?

Telogen Effluvium! Telo who? I know, hard to say but there is a name for it and doctors are aware of it so don’t be alarmed. Telogen effluvium is the excessive shedding of hair that occurs after pregnancy.

It can occur one to five months following birth but usually peaks at around 3-4 months after the delivery of your little one as your hair follicles start to rejuvenate themselves. Three months is usually the time when many women begin seeing signs that their hair is shedding more than normal. This shedding of hair can last up to 15 months following the birth of your child! But not always. It can sometimes end much sooner.

But what happens is after you deliver, your hormones return to their normal levels. This means the hair falls out and returns to the normal cycle. The normal hair loss that you did not experience during your pregnancy may fall out all at once after you deliver your child. That’s why you may find you see more hair in the shower and when you’re coming out your hair now that your little bundle of joy has arrived.

Remember pregnancy causes a lot of hormonal changes to your body so you will experience some changes that were not evident prior to you becoming pregnant. It will take your body time to recover – especially if you are breastfeeding. But just remember, it’s all worth it! That little bundle of joy is a gift! But don’t forget... It’s important to continue to eat well and continue taking your multi-vitamins.

Can hair loss be related to anything else besides the delivery of a baby?

Actually, any type of hormonal change in the body can affect your hair and create hair loss. Some things that can cause hair loss are abortion, a hormonal imbalance, miscarriage or sometimes birth control discontinuation. It’s amazing how hormonal fluctuations can do strange things to the body.

Remember, if you are experiencing postpartum hair loss see a dermatologist or your doctor to assist you in treatment. But in the meantime eat well and continue taking your multi-vitamins.