Pregnancy & Hair Growth

Since hair growth and loss are controlled by hormones, many women experience changes in their hair during and after pregnancy. Hair tends to be thicker than normal during pregnancy; a few months after delivery, many women lose a fairly large amount of hair. Some women also experience excessive hair growth on their face or body during pregnancy.

  1. Normal Hair Growth

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, each strand of hair on your head goes through a growth phase followed by a resting phase. After spending two or three years in the growth phase, during which hair grows about half an inch per month, the strand enters the resting phase. The resting phase usually lasts three or four months; after this period, the strand falls out and a new strand takes its place, entering its own growth phase.

    Hair During Pregnancy

    • Women tend to experience a thicker head of hair during pregnancy. According to the March of Dimes, higher than normal hormonal levels during pregnancy cause a lengthening of the resting cycle. Instead of falling out when they normally would, most strands in the resting phase remain on your head. This, of course, results in your hair feeling thicker than usual.

    Hair After Pregnancy

    • After delivery, your hair resumes its normal growth cycle: the resting phase shortens to its normal length and new hair starts to grow in again. As the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states, women tend to notice a fairly large amount of hair loss about three months after delivery. This hair loss represents the shedding of most of the hair that pregnancy hormonal levels prevented your body from shedding earlier. Hair may feel thinner for a time, but should regain its pre-pregnancy thickness within 3 to 6 months.

    Hirsutism

    • According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, some pregnant women experience hirsutism, in which excessive hair grows on the face, arms, legs, or chest. Such growth is usually normal, a result of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. Feel free to tweeze, wax, or shave unwanted hair. You should not, according to the March of Dimes, use bleaches or depilatories to remove hair, but permanent hair removal is assumed to be a safe option during pregnancy.

    Abnormal Hair Loss or Growth

    • Excessive hair loss during pregnancy can be a sign of a problem such as a mineral deficiency, the March of Dimes states. Sudden and severe hirsutism may also be a cause for concern, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Tell your doctor about any unusual or extreme hair loss or growth during your pregnancy.

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