Hair changes

Hair changes during pregnancy and after childbirth

Thick, shiny hair that hardly falls out is one of the most pleasant "bonuses" of pregnancy for many women. However, after delivery the situation can change dramatically, and hair starts shedding with alarming intensity. Let's find out why this happens and when everything will return to normal.

Growth phase: "Pregnant" hair

Under normal conditions hair goes through three phases: growth (anagen), rest (catagen) and shedding (telogen). About 85-95% of your hair is in the growth phase, and the rest are in the rest and shedding phases. We lose up to 100 strands a day, which is normal.

During pregnancy the high level of estrogen prolongs the growth phase (anagen). As a result, far fewer hairs enter the shedding phase. It doesn't so much become thicker as it falls out less, so the overall volume increases. You may notice this effect in the second trimester.

Shedding phase: Post‑partum reality

After delivery estrogen levels drop sharply. All the hair that was "held back" in the growth phase synchronously moves into the shedding phase. 2-4 months after the baby is born you may notice intense hair loss (post‑partum telogen effluvium). This can be frightening, but it is not baldness, just a return to normal. You are losing the hair that you would have lost gradually over the previous nine months.

This process is temporary and usually lasts 3 to 6 months. By the first birthday of your child the density of your hair typically fully recovers. Read about other aspects of post‑partum recovery on our site.