Giving birth and then caring for a new baby is a joyous and rewarding time in a woman's life. However, the hair loss that afflicts many women in the months after their baby's birth is less welcome. If you find yourself losing hair in the months following your pregnancy, this guide will show you how to treat postpartum hair loss.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

• Due to hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, the body retains most of the hair that one normally loses in their daily life. Following childbirth, the body then sheds these hairs and resumes its regular cycle of hair growth and loss. The combination of the thicker hair most women enjoy while they are pregnant and the sudden loss of lots of hairs may make some women feel as though they are losing all their hair in the months after their baby is born.

(Creative Commons photo by Burning Question)

• Postpartum hair loss usually begins three to four months after giving birth and can last for several months to a year. The hair loss is one of many natural stages in becoming a mother and most women find that their hair returns to its natural growth pattern on its own. So, if you can, be patient, and wait for your hair to return to its pre-pregnancy status.

If your hair loss seems extreme or continues for an extended period of time, be sure to consult with your doctor or dermatologist to ensure that the hair loss is not a symptom of a more severe health problem.

• One way to both help prevent and reduce postpartum hair loss is to continue to take your prenatal vitamins after you give birth. This will help ensure that you, and therefore, your hair, remain healthy. If you aren't already, you can also add omega oils to your diet, as they have been shown to promote and, at times, increase healthy hair growth.

• It may sound like an impossible task, with a new baby around, but try to do your best not to get overly stressed out. Increased stress levels may exacerbate the loss of hair. One thing you can do that may both decrease stress levels and promote hair growth is to give yourself, or ask someone else to give you, regular scalp massages.

• The postpartum period can not only result in increased hair loss, but you may find that the hair that does grow back is finer than your hair was before you gave birth. To take care of your existing hair and reduce further hair loss, be sure to use hair products that are gentle, and use them sparingly. Get yourself a gentle shampoo and conditioner and, if you can, avoid harsh and potentially damaging hair treatments such as blow drying and dyeing your hair.

• Losing more hair than usual following pregnancy is natural and common. If you can, try not to let it bother you and take steps to ensure that your hair, mind and body remain healthy. Your hair should return to its pre-pregnancy state in the year following childbirth, but if it does not, be sure to consult your doctor. If you are embarrassed by your hair loss, check out some of the tips on concealing hair loss

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• Introduction
• Step 1: Stay Healthy
• Step 2: Stay Calm
• Step 3: Be Gentle
• Conclusion