Postpartum Hairloss

I will never forget how amazing my hair was during pregnancy. For the first time in my life my hair felt thick and healthy. And then......after the birth of my baby while washing my hair I felt like I was going to go bald! And so many moms over the years have contacted me in panic. It really does feel that way – clumps of hair every single time you wash or brush you hair. So what is this, why does it happen and can you stop it?

Well I can tell you for sure that it is a real thing. It happens to new moms because of changes in hormones. While you are pregnant the increased levels of estrogen and progesterone do wonders to your hair. It makes your hair growth cycle longer creating a thicker head of hair. (I have no idea how more hair benefits a pregnant woman though?!) Once baby is born we have a hormone shift where our hair growth cycles return to normal. We shed hair all the time but it appears much worse when you have so much more hair!

The good news is that it isn’t related to breastfeeding. So please keep those breastfed babes going!

The better news is that you won’t go bald (well I haven’t yet heard of anyone who has and when I googled it I was told – NO you are not going to go bald).

And yes it will go away on it’s own eventually. But surely there is something we can do to slow the process?

Here are some tips I have learned along the way

1. Try reduce heat styling. Using a hair-blow dryer or styling iron can make the hair look thinner. Also avoid the use of colours and chemicals if you can.

2. Avoid brushing too frequently or when your hair is very wet. Both of these lead to increased hair loss.

3. Make sure you continue taking your pregnancy vitamins. Your hair needs nutrients to grow.

4. Taking collagen as a supplement can help hair growth. I like to use brands that are made from free range, antibiotic free beef. Collagen is made from animal based products so not suitable for vegetarians and vegans. However making sure you eat foods high in Vitamin C such as oranges, red peppers, strawberries and broccoli can help your body increase it’s natural collagen production. Taking a zinc supplement will also help.

5. Increased stress can increase hair loss. This is something that we can’t completely avoid as a new mom who is sleep deprived and not eating well. Reducing your stress can reduce your hairloss and there a few on the go things you can do to help your stress levels. Take a minute or two each day to focus on your breath. This could be with baby in your arms cuddling them to sleep or while you are feeding baby. Take a deep breath in for the count of 4 but feel your breath go into your belly not your chest, hold your breath for a count of four then breathe out through your mouth for a count of four. It is important to focus on belly breathing as it can decrease your stress hormones, help release tension from the body and increase nutrients to the different parts of the body – including the scalp for hair growth. Getting dad to watch babe for a shower or taking an afternoon nap with babe can also decrease your stress levels. Listening to your favourite music. It is all about getting creative as a new mom.

6. Using essential oils are beneficial for maintaining healthy hair and scalp. You can apply the essential oil to your hair with your shampoo, leave it in for a few minutes and rinse. There are also recipes for sprays and leave-on conditioners that work well too. I personally find adding it to the shampoo works wonders. I can’t tell you how many moms message me on day two or three and say they cannot believe the difference the oils have made. So firstly that is because they are using PURE oils. Many oils we buy in the stores are packed with fillers to make the oil go further or made from a lower grade quality of plant that then doesn’t contain the correct chemical compounds. This is why I use Young Living. Secondly you have to know which oils to use. I like Lavender and Cedarwood as well as Peppermint. I have these oils in my shower. You need to be cautious with peppermint oil if you are breastfeeding, another lovely alternative is Geranium which has been shown to stimulate hair growth. There are so many other things you can use these oils for as well which gives them an extra benefit. Get your own oils here - Join Young Living

Just know that you are not alone. That this too shall pass. And that essential oils are an amazing, safe and cost effective solution. One bottle of oil can easily last you 3-6 months if you use it with every wash because all you need is one little drop.

If you are interested in getting the essential oils you can sign up via my website at Join Young Living. I will happily guide you on how best to use the oils for your specific needs. Anyone who buys oils through my site will receive some great resources to help you learn more about the oils and how to use them. You can also join our facebook groups to learn more about oils.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. The information given is in no way intended to replace that of your medical professional. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical conditions.