Re:
I heard some of my hair might fall out during or after pregnancy. Is that true?
Don’t freak out, but yes, you might lose some hair in the pregnancy process. And you’re right: It’s usually within the first few months after baby’s born, not during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, your hormone levels are high -- lots of moms-to-be enjoy thicker, shinier hair because of them -- and after delivery, they drop. One side effect of that drastic plummet is hair loss. We’re not talking going bald. More realistically, you might notice some extra hair near your shower drain or in your hairbrush. As it grows back, you may spot some shorter pieces of hair, but believe us, it will grow back. There’s not much you can do about this hair loss, but you can try to prevent some breakage by avoiding tight ponytails and braids and not going too crazy with the hairdryer and other heat-styling appliances.
Okay, that said, there are some very rare cases in which you might lose hair during pregnancy, and while it’s probably no big deal, if it’s severe (like causing bald spots), or it’s not growing back, you’ll definitely want to tell your health care provider. It could be a sign of a vitamin or mineral deficiency.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Hair issues during pregnancy?
Fingernail problems during pregnancy?
8 Surprising Things That Happen After Labor
Lara Simondi, certified nurse-midwife at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston | September 29 , 2011 7:21 PM