Being pregnant is a great and special moment of happiness. But alongside all the highlights, pregnancy sometimes also brings a few complaints. One example is hair loss during pregnancy. But some women even experience more hair growth. This happens because the increasing hormones can affect your natural hair growth. Normally you lose about 50 to 100 hairs per day but if this number is substantially exceeded, you can speak of hair loss.
Hair loss during pregnancy: how does it work?
In the natural cycle of our hair, there is a growth phase, a transitional phase and a resting phase, after which the hair falls out. When you are pregnant, these phases can change. Many women's hair becomes fuller under the influence of the female hormone estrogen. Other women have to face a lot of hair loss. This seems to be due to the male hormone, androgen.
Another reason for the hair loss can be stress, tension and overtiredness resulting from pregnancy. Our tip: Relax! This is of course easier said than done. May be you are worried about giving birth? Try a pregnancy course. This course prepares you well and can reduce some of the stress you have.
Hair loss during pregnancy does not usually last the full nine months. It usually stops in the last trimester.
Watch your diet
Do you suffer from hair loss during pregnancy? Then it is important to pay close attention to your diet. Make sure you eat a healthy and varied diet since this will help to prevent hair loss from getting worse. Fruit in particular (berries, oranges, melons and apples), green leafy vegetables (spinach, lettuce, endive), dairy products, chicken, nuts and fish have a positive effect on healthy hair growth. Vitamins such as A, C, B6, B8 and B12 are also good for your hair.
Use a soft brush
And brush your hair gently.
Be careful with hot styling tools
You probably already know it but the heat from a hair dryer, straightener or curling iron is not good for your hair.
Pregnancy hair loss recovers by itself
Don't panic: Normal hair growth returns to most women as soon as the baby is born and the breastfeeding period is over. From this moment on, hair growth picks up again and you will once again have the same beautiful hair you had before you were pregnant! Is this not the case for you and does the hair loss continue long after the delivery? Then it's best to contact your doctor who may be able to suggest a treatment for your hair loss.
Hair loss after pregnancy
Hair loss can sometimes continue even after pregnancy. For some women it only begins after they have given birth. The hair loss after pregnancy usually starts three to six months after giving birth. As with hair loss during pregnancy, luckily this is only temporary. Hair growth usually recovers by itself. If this does not happen, we advise you to make an appointment with your doctor.
Sources
https://www.gezondheidsnet.nl/haarverzorging/haarverlies-tijdens-de-zwangerschap
https://www.haarstichting.nl/actueel/nieuws/haaruitval-zwangerschap
