Extreme Hair Loss After Pregnancy: What Should You Do?

New moms often experience hair loss just a few months after the delivery of the baby. It can range from a slight loss of hair to extreme hair shedding where one really gets worried about balding.

Whatever is the case with you, it will give you immense relief to know that it is only a temporary effect. So there is no reason to panic.

But even so, how should you deal with it?

Here we are to discuss the various aspects of postpartum hair loss and what are the various ways to deal with it.

The Reason Behind Postpartum Hair Loss

You must have experienced during your pre-natal days a sudden change in the quality of your hair. This happens due to a change in the hormonal metabolism of the body.

The body experiences peak levels of hormones estrogen and progesterone during the prenatal months. This causes the hair to become fluffy, smooth, and extra healthy than earlier.

But then why do you go through a totally different scenario after the baby is born?

Well, after the delivery, these hormones tend to come back to their natural levels. And sometimes it may fall well beyond its natural level. This condition triggers the shedding of hair. And the hormone responsible for this is estrogen.

When Does It Start?

The hair loss tends to start somewhere around the third or fourth month after childbirth.

This is the ideal time for the body to regain its previously working mechanism and thus it brings a shift in the hormonal balance.

How Long Does It Last?

The temporary shedding of hair can last for a period of 6 months in some mothers whereas for others it may continue for a year.

There’s no need to panic, since it’s only a temporary phase and will eventually pass. However, you might not be able to retain those prenatal fluffy bangs but you will grow your natural hair back.

But whatever the scenario is, postpartum hair loss rarely lasts longer than a year. By the time your child turns a year old, you will most probably be your old self.

You can also trigger faster hair growth and combat hair loss during that time to avoid losing too much hair. Check out Nisim's FAST hair growth shampoo for that

If it happens to stay beyond your child's first birthday, it's probably time for you to see a doctor. You can even seek your old gynecologist to clarify this issue.

How To Cope With It?

Though it is not a thing to worry about, you might be wondering about ways to hide hair loss. After all, who likes to see their hairline fade away or clumps of hair coming off just by a gentle comb stroke.

Here are a few ways you can cope with postpartum hair shedding:

Get A Haircut

If you always wanted short hair but somehow always gave up the idea, this is the perfect time to try it. Having short hair would also save you time and make it easier to manage.

Change Hair Parting

If your part is broadening, you may part your hair on the other side. This will hide hair loss and make you feel more confident.

Avoid Heavy Conditioning Shampoos

The heavy conditioners tend to weigh down your hair and make them appear less dense. Avoiding such shampoos, for the time being, would be beneficial.

Go For A Voluminous Shampoo

Some shampoos help add a significant amount of volume to the hair. They will serve extremely well and help you keep your hair dense and moist.

Adding Texture To The Hair

If you have straight hair, try going for curls now. Curly hair makes the head appear full.

Massaging The Head With Warm Oil

Lukewarm coconut or almond oil can be used to massage hair gently. This must be kept on for up to 30 minutes. Lastly, wash it off with a volumizing shampoo.

Use Fenugreek

Fenugreek water when applied to the scalp can cause wonders to the hair growth pattern. For this to work, you need to soak a handful of fenugreek seeds overnight. Then strain the seeds and apply fenugreek water all over the scalp and ends. Gently shampoo hair after 30 mins of application.

Using HairBands Or Scarves

If none of the above works for you and you are going through extreme hair loss, you can always go for a scarf to cover your head.

Ways To Minimize Hair Loss

You may not be able to eradicate this problem altogether, but there are ways to minimize it.

Incorporating vital nutrients into your diet can enhance hair health to some extent. It might help you reduce hair loss and recover faster from it.

Protein in particular is seen to cause wonders to hair health.

Food like berries, soybean, fruits, spinach, sweet potatoes, eggs, and beans can help you enhance your hair growth.

When To Visit A Doctor?

Some amount of hair loss is natural after childbirth. However, if it appears to be slightly unnatural or extreme, you must immediately head towards a doctor.

The doctor will verify if it is a case of thyroid disorder or any other underlying health issue. You must try visiting a gynecologist or even a dermatologist if needed.

If extreme hair shedding is not the case, you should consider choosing the organic or natural way of coping with hair fall.

Caution About Hair Tourniquet

Your fallen hair may litter all around the room but be careful if it finds its way to the newborn. The fallen hair strand might form a knot around the baby's fingers and cause a hindrance in blood passage.

This might cause severe problems if not spotted on time. Always keep your baby's cradle squeaky clean.

Can Hair Loss Increase With Successive Pregnancies?

You may experience extreme hair shedding in one pregnancy whereas only a slight hair loss in the other. However, if you have a genetic pattern of postpartum hair loss in your bloodline, it may get intensified with each pregnancy.

Conclusion

Hair loss after pregnancy is the most natural thing to happen to any mother around the globe. It is a temporary issue, there is absolutely no need to panic.

If you're worried that you'll go bald, trust me, you won't. And if you just want to make sure that you don't lose too much hair to the point that it starts looking noticeable, you can use a hair growth agonist shampoo like our FAST shampoo. So your new hair will start growing faster than you lose hair. Or you can use our hair loss shampoo that reduces the amount of hair you lose. In some cases, it completely stops hair loss but you will have to use it yourself to see if you are one of the hyper-responders.

However, an extreme loss of hair might require some medical supervision. Following the medication will grow your hair back in most cases.

You must remember that a woman's body goes through a lot of ups and downs with matters related to pregnancy and otherwise. You need to keep your courage intact. And always remember, you are not alone in this. All the women out there share the same highs and lows as yours.

Furthermore, you must not neglect any health issues and should always seek medical supervision when required.