Maintain A Healthy Diet
We all know that maintaining a healthy diet is an important factor for optimal health and wellbeing. For postpartum women in particular, a healthy diet can help your overall recovery and stop postpartum hair loss from progressing.
Make sure your diet includes the necessary balance of vitamins and nutrients found primarily in vegetables, whole grains and fresh fruit. Remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day in order to stay hydrated.
Being Honest About Hair Loss Can Help
Postpartum shedding is a normal and expected process, Donovon said. Shedding should return to pre-pregnancy rates by the time a woman’s baby turns one, he added. If it doesn’t, a woman should see a dermatologist, he said.
In the meantime, it can help to talk openly about your hair loss with loved ones and close friends, Donovan said.
“With so much focus on the new baby, there is often little attention given to the concerns of the new mom. Talking with others, especially other mothers who experienced hair loss, can be helpful,” he said.
When Should You See A Doctor
Many new moms suffer from excessive postpartum hair loss, which usually peaks four months after giving birth.But by the babys first birthday, most women should regain their natural hair growth.
It is worth seeing a doctor if your hair does not regain normal fullness after one year.Another medical condition may be causing your hair loss, such as thyroid disease or anemia.
Read Also: How Much Postpartum Hair Loss Is Normal
Genetics Could Be To Blame For Excessive Postpartum Hair Loss
While postpartum hair loss tends to resolve itself for most women after six months to a year, as noted by KellyMom, it is possible that you could continue to shed strands well after your little one’s first birthday. In fact, according to Today’s Parent, losing hair after giving birth could signal more long-term genetic hair loss problems. David Salinger of the International Association of Trichologists told the site that postpartum hair loss can be the catalyst for hereditary female pattern baldness, and that, in this case, it can “become more pronounced with each pregnancy.”
If significant shedding stops after the regular postpartum period, it doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t experience more in the near or distant future. When you have a family history of hair loss and experience moderate to major changes after giving birth, it could be a sign of more to come, according to Pregnancy Magazine.
Hair Loss Can Be Caused By What: Reasons For Losing Hair
Hair loss in men begins to occur after puberty. Since male genetics are more suitable for hair loss, baldness problem occurs in later ages. Although hair loss is less common in women, it is caused by individual gene differences. Stressful life, thyroid hormone imbalance, use of birth control pills, the birth process, breastfeeding process, and menopausal women trigger hair loss. Other procedures such as perming, blow-dry, etc. performed under the name of hair care cause the scalp to be exposed to excessive heat and hair loss in the long term.
Hair loss is usually genetic, but it can also be caused by various diseases. In addition, temporary illnesses, sinusitis, infection, intestinal parasites trigger hair loss, while B12, magnesium, zinc, and iron deficiency also cause hair loss. Natural hair loss is a must-have for our hair health. The weakened hair sheds to renew themselves and healthy hair occurs from the hair follicles. However, it must have a certain rate. Scientifically, when the hair shedding rate exceeds ten percent of the total hair strand rate, this means unhealthy shedding and it is useful to consult a dermatologist.
Don’t Miss: Can Jardiance Cause Hair Loss
What Are The Side Effects Of Stopping Breastfeeding
Some of the changes are quite obvious. You train the body to stop producing milk, so there’s a period of engorgement and then your boobs shrink back to their smaller size.
The less commonly discussed change is the hormonal crash that can occur along with mood changes. My friend even mentioned feeling more angry and anxious as she weaned.
As I dove in to understand how hormones are affected during breastfeeding, I discovered that as you stop breastfeeding, your prolactin, which is the hormone that helps you make milk – starts to decrease naturally. Not only does this hormone produce milk though, it also produces a feeling of calm.
What happens next is oxytocin , starts to let down and go back to pre-pregnancy levels. As it decreases many women mention feeling sad or grumpy, and so often it is brushed off as new mom fatigue. However the feeling is very real and its regulated and related to our hormones changing.
The truth is there aren’t many studies on this because so much of what mother’s go through during this time is chalked up to “new mom life” and it simply goes unreported. Additionally OBGYN visits and check ups are usually no longer on a regular basis.
With little shared, the hormone drop and stress that goes along with it is more often than not clumped in with motherhood.
When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Start
“Generally with telogen effluvium, there’s some sort of eventin this situation it’s giving birth, but there can be other causes. Basically, a larger amount of your hair than normal is triggered to enter this resting/shedding phase,” says Dr. Shah. It takes about three months for that hair to shed out, she adds, which is why most people notice postpartum hair loss around three months after delivery.
Hair might fall out all around your head, or clumps may come loose when you brush it or shower. Some women simply lose some strands around their hairline, so their mane looks very fine in the front, as if they’re going bald, says Stephanie Scuoppo, a hairstylist at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon and Spa in New York City.
You May Like: Does Saw Palmetto Help With Hair Loss
Is It Possible To Overdose On Biotin
The US recommended dietary allowance for adults is 30 micrograms daily, while for breast-feeding women its 35 micrograms.
I take one tablet daily with 45 micrograms, so a little more than the RDA.
Biotin is water soluble so its unlikely you could overdose, but like any supplements, read the label and check with your pharmacist.
Causes Of Hair Loss During Breastfeeding
Hair loss after childbirth is a normal thing.Most mothers may experience it, especially during the first three months of childbirth.But there is no scientific evidence that breastfeeding causes or increases hair loss in the postpartum period.
The reason for hair loss during breastfeeding may lie in the following:
Do not use the vitamins that you used to use during pregnancy. you can remember how great your hair looked during pregnancy when you were taking the vitamins.
During pregnancy, your hair enters a firming cycle, which reduces its loss. but after birth, it moves to the next stage known as telogen effluvium.
Recommended Reading: Can Collagen Cause Hair Loss
Use Vitamin Enriched Gentle Shampoo And Conditioner
Washing your hair with chemical-loaded shampoo will further damage your hair. You need toxin-free vitamin-enriched, plant-based shampoo like THIS one that contains Vitamin E, shea butter, aloe vera to protect your hair from breaking from roots to end and stimulating hair growth.
Also, avoid washing your hair daily as it strips hair of the natural oils it produces to keep the scalp and hair follicle lubricated.
You also need to use conditioner primarily on the ends of your hair shaft to keep it hydrated. Also, once a week use of deep conditioning, vitamin-rich hair masks can keep hair soft and smooth.
It Can Become Painful
Sometimes, breastfeeding becomes too painful to prolong. Alongside loving and bonding experience for many women, it can be difficult for others due to physical conditions.
Breastfeeding can bring a variety of difficulties from sore nipples to engorgement, mastitis, blocked ducts and vasospasm which eventually oblige a mother to wean her child.
According to National Center for Biotechnology Information, pain is caused due to poor latching. But even after resolving the latching issue discomfort continues.
Moreover, jaw muscles are the strongest one in the human body. A growing infant develops jaw muscles considerably.
A toddler not only has increased suckling capability but also has more teeth than an infant. Toddlers often bite nipples while feeding, which may cause bleeding.
The combined strength of babys jaw and growing set of teeth is the perfect recipe for pain. So, extended breastfeeding is an ultimate invitation to the inevitable pain.
Recommended Reading: Does Low Thyroid Cause Hair Loss
What Are The Side Effects Of Taking Biotin
Its really important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking anything new, especially if youre breastfeeding. As I learnt the hard way, there are fakes out there, and even the genuine article might not be good for you personally.
Also be careful if youre taking a multi vitamin blend that the other vitamins alongside biotin are OK while breastfeeding too.
Personally, I was really scared to take any supplements while nursing my baby, and held off for the first few months after Annabelle was born because I didnt understand what biotin was.
Biotin is safe to take during breastfeeding. The only side effect I understand is that taking a biotin supplement might change the taste of your milk. And if youre having any lab tests done, the biotin in your system could screw with the results.
Pregnancy Hair Growth Cycle
During pregnancy, the normal hair growth cycle changes. Hair remains in a growing state much longer during pregnancy due in part to higher estrogen and other pregnancy hormone levels. When the pregnancy is over, all that extra hair falls out.
Because so much hair falls out at once, the hair follicles are not prepared to replace the increased amount of shedding hair. This results in a noticeable thinning or loss of your hair.
Typically, you will notice an increase in hair loss right around 3-4 months after delivery. The good news is that at around the 6-month postpartum stage, hair begins to grow back to pre-pregnancy fullness.
Once the hair follicles catch up and can replace the lost hair, hair resumes natural and regular growth, and the situation corrects itself naturally.
Within a year, your hair should be back to normal.
Approximately 40% to 50% of new mothers experience a dramatic loss or thinning of hair within 3-4 months after delivery.
While its a normal experience and nothing to be alarmed about, it can make an already emotionally charged mom upset to notice thinning hair.
Another benefit of breastfeeding is that you may not experience large amounts of hair loss because your body continues to produce
While you may feel great about your decision to breastfeed given all of the benefits for both you and your baby, you might have concerns about your appearance and want to get back to your old self as soon as possible.
Preserve, Restore and Re-Grow
Read Also: Can Too Much Protein Cause Hair Loss
Using Hot Styling Tools Can Cause Postpartum Hair Breakage And Loss
If you are shedding strands or clumps after giving birth, you should probably lay off the electronic styling tools for a while, as heat is another cause of hair loss, according to an interview with hairstylist Melanie Pellegrini in Harper’s Bazaar. She elaborated that this styling ban should include “your hairdryer, curling wand and straighteners” because they all can dry out hair leading to potential breakage. Stylist Neil Moodie explained to the magazine that “when too much strong, dry heat is applied to the hair it will weaken the hair shaft and, at its worst, it can burn the hair off.”
Of course, if you want to treat yourself , there are a few styling tools that are made to reduce heat damage to the hair, including the Hai Sylkstyler with built-in “Damage Control Technology” to prevent breakage, as noted by New York Magazine.
Whether or not you decide to straighten or curl your hair, you should probably skip your next balayage appointment. The What to Expect editors suggest forgoing “chemically based treatments like highlights, perms and straightening sessions until the shedding stops.”
Is It Safe To Take Zinc While Breastfeeding
zinczincbreastfeedingzincside effects
. Beside this, can I take a zinc supplement while breastfeeding?
Most mineral supplements taken by the mother do not affect breastmilk levels. Fat soluble vitamin supplements taken by the mother can concentrate in human milk, and thus excessive amounts may be harmful to a breastfeeding baby.
Additionally, is glucosamine safe for breastfeeding? Glucosamine sulfate is well tolerated with occasional gastrointestinal discomfort reported. Although no studies exist on the use of glucosamine sulfate during breastfeeding, its use by a nursing mother is unlikely to adversely affect the breastfed infant.
Furthermore, how much zinc can I take while breastfeeding?
Avoid taking more than 150 mg/day of zinc . It’s a good idea to avoid taking higher amounts of zinc for more than 7 days.
Can you take biotin when nursing?
Biotin is likely safe if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Nonetheless, you should always let your doctor know about any supplements you are taking if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or may become pregnant.
You May Like: Does Pcos Cause Hair Loss
Is There Anything I Can Do To Prevent Hair Loss Associated With A Hormone Imbalance
While it may be impossible to prevent postpartum hair loss, you can significantly reduce the severity of hair loss reducing stress and eating a balanced diet rich in protein, flavonoids and antioxidants, essential fatty acids , Vitamin A, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12, Biotin, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. You may also consider using a hair-healthy, all-natural program like Hair Essentials that offers an abundant supply of hair-healthy nutrients.
Can The Contraceptive Pill Cause Hair Loss
Tolerating a range of side effects caused by contraceptives can all just feel part and parcel of being a woman. But hair loss might just feel like a step too far. We take a look at the phases of hair growth, the science behind the contraceptive pill and hair loss, and how some contraceptives could actually do the exact opposite hello long, luscious locks!
You May Like: Can Lack Of Calcium Cause Hair Loss
Stress Can Lead To Hair Loss After Giving Birth
What new mom doesn’t feel stress and anxiety? Well, it turns out that this perpetual state of worry and woe can contribute to postpartum hair loss.
“Stress hormones, such as cortisol can have a negative impact on your hair cycle, compounding the hormonal changes after birth,” noted Motherly. The site recommends that new moms take up a relaxing meditation practice or postnatal yoga routine, pending doctor approval, to help relieve anxiety.
Still, even if you are actively managing your day-to-day postpartum stress level, a one-time major event like birth itself can incite major hair loss. “Telogen effluvium is a form of temporary hair loss that usually happens after stress, a shock, or a traumatic event,” according to Medical News Today, with postpartum telogen effluvium being a specific subcategory of this disorder. Again, taking steps to reduce your stress and manage your emotional state can help.