One Bald Momma

If you are a mother, I am sure you are extremely familiar with this topic. With so many of my friends and family members recently experiencing childbirth, the topic of post-pregnancy hair has come up quite often. While doing my normal perusing of the internet, I began to realize post-pregnancy hair loss (Telogen effluvium) is a universal issue for mothers. As a matter of fact, according to the American Pregnancy Association (www.americanpregnancy.org), 40-50% of women experience hair loss following childbirth. Apparently, this occurs when pregnancy hormones cause your hair to go into a resting phase, consequently, preventing your strands of hair to shed regularly. Throughout a normal shedding process, you tend to lose approximately 100-125 strands per day. Yet, because pregnancy hormones prevent your hair from shedding as frequently, your hair begins to look super thick and super gorgeous. 


Following childbirth, your hair which was previously unable to shed, begins to come out by the handfuls, often propelling women into a panic. What I found to be even more interesting is that any major fluctuation in hormones can cause hair loss such as, discontinuation of birth control, miscarring or following a terminated pregnancy. Presently, there is no way to prevent post-pregnancy hair loss, however, following the below steps can assist with hair maintenance while coping with the condition: (via www.americanpregnancy.org):

· Consult with your health care provider to ensure a proper balance of hormones
· Avoid any unnecessary stress on the hair, i.e. harsh chemicals, ponytails, hair weaves, and braids
· Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables, which contain flavonoids and antioxidants that may provide    
  protection for the hair follicles and encourage hair growth
· Use shampoos and conditioners that contain biotin and silica
· Hair is fragile when it is wet, so be gentle; avoid fine tooth comb
· Stick closely by your Prenatal vitamins


Good Luck!!!