Very Early Signs Of Pregnancy
Think you might be pregnant? Check out these early symptoms of pregnancy that can show up one week before your missed period. If you’ve already experienced a few, it may be time to head to the drugstore to pick up a pregnancy test or schedule an appointment with your OB-GYN.
Your breasts may be extra tender as early as one or two weeks after conception. Youre making so much estrogen and progesterone in early pregnancy that the glands in the breasts start growing, explains Jasbir Singh, M.D., an OB-GYN at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie in Texas. This hormone surge causes breasts to retain more fluids and feel heavy, sore, or more sensitive than normal PMS tenderness.
Many women mistake these early signs of pregnancy for PMS symptoms, but theyre actually caused by hormonal changes and the growth of the uterus. About 30 percent of women experience cramping after conception, which is triggered by implantationwhen the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. Your uterus may be stretching a little now to prep for its massive expansion over the next nine months
When a fertilized egg implants into the plush lining of the uterus about six to 12 days after conception, light vaginal spotting may occur. You might mistake this “implantation bleeding” for your period, but it’s generally lighter than menstruation and brown or pink in color.
Hairstyles That Are Taxing On Hair
Certain hairstyles pull at hair more than others, which can cause weak hair to fall out quickly. Avoid hairstyles such as tight ponytails or pigtails, cornrows, weaves, braids, or curlers. Also avoid any unnecessary heat from tools like straighteners and curlers, as this can further damage hair.
Of course, if you are concerned by the rate at which your hair is thinning or falling out during pregnancy, or such side effects have lasted long past the postpartum period, consult your doctor. You may be recommended to speak to a dermatologist or certified trichologist, Todays Parentexplains, professionals who may recommend medication or other treatments options to reduce inflammations to reduce inflammation of the hair follicles and encourage hair growth.
Causes Of Hair Loss During Pregnancy
Hair loss during pregnancy can also be the result of underlying chronic or unaddressed health issues. Two of the most common causes of hair loss related to chronic health issues are thyroid disorders and low iron.
If your thyroid is overactive, you may experience hyperthyroidism, a condition characterized by a large range of symptoms including possible hair loss. The same is true of hypothyroidism, when your thyroid produces too little hormones. These conditions can affect women while theyre pregnant or afterwards. Hypothyroidism, which is the more common condition, affects up to 3 percent of women during pregnancy. Symptoms can include sensitivity to cold, weight gain, constipation, and intense fatigue. After delivery, around 5 percent of women develop postpartum thyroiditis. If you suspect you have an underlying thyroid condition, see your doctor, who will order the proper blood tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.
Low iron is another common cause of hair loss, particularly during pregnancy. Although your body always needs iron, this is especially true during pregnancy, when your blood supply surges to deliver blood and oxygen to the baby.
Hair loss during pregnancy can also be caused by an underlying autoimmune condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, polycystic ovary syndrome, or an inherited hair loss pattern.
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How Long Does Postpartum Hair Loss Last
Postpartum hair loss is a temporary phase, and it’s unlikely that your hair will go from extra-thick to barely there. That said, everyone’s hormonal shift will manifest differently. “It’s a very natural process,” Dr. Shah says.
Don’t fret if your hair starts feeling extra thin. While there are exceptions, Dr. Shah reassures that most of the time, hair loss will spontaneously normalize. “The time to recovery varies. In some people it’s three months, in some people it’s six months. Occasionally it can last a year,” she says.
Restoring Edges For Black Women
If you are concerned the amount of hair loss youre experiencing is not related to your pregnancy, talking to a hair loss specialist. I encourage you not to wait to find out more about the treatment options currently available for restoring edges for black women as well as other African-American hair loss treatments specifically designed for Afro-textured hair.
To find out more about restoring African-American hair or for a free consultation or call Dr. Frank Toll-Free for more information at 751-4246.
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What About Hair Loss Postpartum
Postpartum hair loss is generally more common than hair loss in pregnancy. Remember the hair cycle we mentioned earlier how your hair gets nice and full during pregnancy because the cycle of hair follicles is sort of paused?
Well, once you have your baby and the hair comes out of this resting phase, youll likely experience more shedding than normal.
This is completely normal and affects roughly half of women, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
This increased hair shedding among new moms is known as telogen effluvium and it generally subsides by the time your child turns one.
Do You Lose Hair During Pregnancy
Women notice a number of changes to their hair during pregnancy. Some lose hair, and some notice their hair becomes shinier and stronger. This is caused by higher levels of estrogen, which can stimulate hair follicles. Others may find that their normally curly hair becomes straight or vice versa.
Some women do experience hair loss during pregnancy, noticing that their hair is thinning or falling out more. This can begin during pregnancy and continue postpartum. Hair loss can be concerning, and while it is usually a temporary result of shifting hormones or the normal stresses of pregnancy, hair loss in pregnancy can also be a sign of a more serious medical condition.
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Hair Loss And Pregnancy
Hair loss may occur during or after pregnancy, giving soon-to-be moms another item to add to a seemingly endless list of worries. Fortunately, this type of hair loss is common and usually only temporary.
There is an important distinction to be made, however. Hair loss can be caused by very different factors, depending on when it occurs. During pregnancy, hair loss could be a sign of hormonal imbalance or nutritional deficiency, which is reason enough to consult a physician and make adequate dietary changes. Hair loss is much more common after pregnancy, and new moms who experience this stress-related hair loss may have to take a very different course of action to restore their natural hair.
What Causes Postpartum Hair Loss
Everyone sheds on a daily basis, says dermatologist Sejal Shah, M.D., but pregnancy changes things up. “There are lots of hormonal shifts happening, and one thing that those hormonal shifts do is promote hair growth,” Dr. Shah explains. In other words, pregnancy hormones actually prevent you from shedding.
Once your hormones return to normal after pregnancy, there’s a drop in estrogen, which causes hair shedding to resume. But keep in mind: You’ve stopped shedding for several months, so the hair that’s been sticking to your head needs to come out, explains Dr. Shah. This phenomenon is called telogen effluvium.
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Treatment For Hair Loss In Pregnancy And Beyond
If you notice your hair thinning or changing during pregnancy, take stock of the potential causes hair loss can be caused by serious health problems, but it could also be due to stress and resolve itself with time.
Make it a point to discuss your hair loss with your healthcare provider the next time youre in for a check-up, and if youre experiencing any severe symptoms that could indicate a bigger problem, dont hesitate to call them right away.
Its better to be safe than sorry if you think your own or your babys health is at risk.
For conditions like telogen effluvium, that typically resolve themselves with time, you can take steps to lessen the appearance of your thinning hair.
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests using volumizing hair products, avoiding heavy conditioners and trying a new hairstyle. But steer clear of tight buns and ponytails as they can pull and make hair thinning worse.
Eating a balanced diet of healthy foods can prevent nutritional deficiencies that could lead to hair loss.
Managing your stress with good self-care, regular physical activity, and talking with a professional, if needed, can help correct hair loss due to stress.
These healthy habits are more important than ever, now that youre carrying a child. But theyre also general pieces of good advice for any woman.
Hair Thats More Prone To Frizz During Pregnancy
Frizz is your hairs way of reminding you that a few strands are lacking moisture. So when theres a bit of extra precipitation in the air, those thirsty pieces fly out of line in effort to quench its thirst. Try switching to moisture retention formulas for shampoos, conditioners and serums, and focus on the hair shaft and ends, which tend to be drier, suggests Koni Bennett, hair stylist and owner of Vanity Boutique Salon.
If you prefer a straight style, when blow-drying, keep going until your hair is completely dry and finish with the cool button to seal the hair cuticle so it lays flat. Rub a bit of gloss through your hair, avoiding roots and concentrating on those flyaway ends.
Keep in mind that chemical straightening treatments may be potentially unsafe for your baby during pregnancy, so check with your practitioner before using.
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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.
Is Hair Loss Normal During Pregnancy
Small patches of hair loss are quite normal during pregnancy . Research states that nearly 40 to 50% of pregnant women suffer from hair loss, but the good thing is that this is just a temporary phenomenon.
Hair may become drier because of the progesterone hormone that is released in high amounts during pregnancy. This can make the hair break and crack near the roots, mostly in the later stages of pregnancy.
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Reasons Women And Men Lose Hair Sudden Weight Loss To Pregnancy
It can sometimes feel like your hair is everywhere in your shower drain, in your hairbrush, on your sheets, on your clothes but just because youre seeing it shed doesnt necessarily mean youre experiencing hair loss. Youre supposed to lose about 100 strands every single day, no matter how you wash or style your hair, Dr Amitabh Kumar, skin specialist, Max Hospital, Delhi says. But when you notice your hairs not growing back after it sheds, or if youre losing clumps that seem outside the norm, its usually a sign of or reaction to something else happening in your body, he says.
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In a lot of cases, dermatologists can trace your intense shedding back to telogen effluvium, a hair loss condition caused by a big change in your body, which can be anything from stress to starting a new medication. Itll be pretty tough for you to self-diagnose, so seeing a doctor and telling him/her everything thats going on with you will be crucial, Dr Kumar says.
The trauma of seeing your hair fall can bring out a range of emotions, from helplessness to just plain confusion. Look out for these probable reasons for your hair loss and hair shedding.
Having a baby
Thyroid conditions
Emotional stress
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Tight or damaging hairstyles
Hereditary baldness
Sudden weight loss or diet change
What Is Postpartum Hair Loss
Many women experience some hair loss a few months after giving birth. You might notice that you’re losing a little from all over your head, or you might spot a little more falling out around the hairline across your forehead.
Although you may feel worried about it, this kind of hair loss is typical during the postpartum period. As your hormones settle down, the effects of pregnancy-related hormonal changes on your body will slowly subside and your hair will return to normal.
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Try A New Cut And Color
First and foremost, visit a stylist for professional advice, says Scuoppo. They may recommend a different hairstyle that incorporates those fine hairs in the front. If you previously had long hair, or a layered cut with pieces that came down to the chin in the front, you may need to shorten it into long bangs that frame the face.
Celebrity stylist Oribe agrees that it’s a good idea to go shorter in the front. Sexy, short-in-the-middle, longer-at-the-sides bangs would look amazing, says Oribe. Layering your hair all over will also give you more fullness.
Coloring your hair can also give it body, says Scuoppo. If you feel that your hairline is receding and you have dark hair, highlighting the front acts as a camouflage. Or try glossing, a treatment that gives hair all-over shine.
Hair Loss During Pregnancy: How To Take Care Of Hair Loss In Pregnancy
If youre pregnant and experiencing hair loss, you may be wondering whether there is a connection. Though being pregnant does not necessarily mean you will lose hair , hair loss early in pregnancy can be related to hormones, stress, or underlying health issues. Read on to learn about hair loss and how to both treat and prevent it during pregnancy.
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