Hair Loss During Pregnancy: Is It Normal?

Pregnancy is often thought of as a period of gains: in belly circumference, entitlement to that extra helping of ice cream, and, of course, a brand-new baby. But pregnancy can also be a time of recession, like when it comes to your daily sleep quota—and sometimes, even your hair.

Generally speaking, hair growth is more commonly associated with pregnancy than hair loss. But if you’re noticing some extra shedding, it’s not necessarily an indication that something is wrong. Usually, hair loss is the result of higher stress levels, or it could be a sign of an unrelated medical condition that affects hair growth.

If you’re pregnant and experiencing hair loss, rest assured that higher shedding rates usually don’t pose a hazard to your baby. Additionally, it might be useful to explore what color urine is in early pregnancy as part of your broader understanding of bodily changes during this special time. Below, we discuss how pregnancy can influence the hair growth cycle and helpful interventions for restoring the health of your tresses.

How does pregnancy affect the hair?

Pregnant or not, the growth cycles of human hair are primarily governed by hormones. When hormonal changes occur—whether due to aging, endocrinal conditions, or normal phases of life, like a healthy pregnancy—it can often show up as changes in patterns of new hair growth and shedding.

Several of the reproductive hormones involved in a healthy pregnancy are thought to contribute to changes many women notice in their hair when they’re expecting:

• Estrogen – By the third pregnancy trimesters, women have six times more estrogen than they do when they’re not pregnant. Estrogen levels have a protective effect on hair fall, locking the hair follicles into their anagen phase—the part of their life cycle when they grow.
• Progesterone – Progesterone plays a similar role to estrogen by inhibiting hair loss. It does this by blocking the androgen hormone DHT, which can contribute to shedding by shrinking the hair follicles.

Estrogen and progesterone aren’t the only hormones involved in pregnancy and hair growth, but they do tend to pack the biggest punch when it comes to altering the hair’s growth cycles. However, their effects tend to be the opposite of pregnancy hair loss—the majority of pregnant women report seeing thicker, more lustrous hair, particularly as they approach their due date.

Hair loss is more commonly associated with the postpartum stage of pregnancy. During this period, some women develop telogen effluvium, a condition—often caused by stress—that can cause active hair follicles to go dormant (known as the telogen part of their growth cycle).

Fortunately, postpartum hair loss is usually temporary. Most women see their mane return to its pre-pregnancy state as levels of estrogen and progesterone begin to normalize post-delivery.

Is hair loss a sign of pregnancy?

While hair loss during pregnancy is by no means unheard of, generally speaking, no: hair loss or hair fall isn’t considered a sign of pregnancy. That said, noticing extra shedding when you’re pregnant isn’t likely to be a sign that something is wrong, either!

Telogen effluvium may be triggered by a number of stressors, including:

• Trauma or environmental pressures
• New medications
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Hormonal changes, like those that help the body transition during and after pregnancy

In the first trimester, some women’s bodies face an unprecedented amount of stress, which can sometimes result in hair loss. Like postpartum telogen effluvium, this shedding is usually temporary. Making some simple adjustments may even help to “wake up” sleepy hair follicles and get your hair glossy and growing again (we’ll touch on those adjustments in a later section).

Other Causes of Hair Loss During Pregnancy

The American Academy of Dermatologists reports that losing 50 to 100 strands of hair each day falls within the normal range. If you have longer or darker hair, it’s common to overestimate how much you’re losing simply because your hair may be more visible when it’s detached from your scalp.

That said, if you’re pregnant and noticing more hair loss than usual, your shedding may be caused by several other factors that could be occurring alongside—rather than as a result of—your pregnancy.

Tight Hairstyles

Traction alopecia occurs when the hair follicles are repeatedly put under stress and tension, discouraging hair growth. It most commonly results from regularly wearing tight hairstyles, like a ballerina-style updo or intricate braiding.

If you have traction alopecia, you might also notice:

• A sore or burning sensation
• Scalp redness and itchiness
• Inflammation around the hair follicles (folliculitis)

In many cases, hair loss caused by traction alopecia may be reversible by switching up the style you wear regularly to something that reduces tension on your hair follicles. Avoiding hot styling tools and harsh chemical procedures might also help mitigate hair loss.

Lack of Iron

Experiencing headaches during pregnancy? Many pregnant women deal with iron deficiency anemia, a medical condition that results from a lack of red blood cells. Pregnancy causes the blood volume to increase by 30 to 50%, requiring more iron to replenish and oxygenate the blood.

Iron deficiencies may be accompanied by several other symptoms, including:

• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Hair loss

Usually, iron deficiencies are relatively easy to reconcile—a solid prenatal vitamin should contain adequate quantities to meet both your and your baby’s needs. Including lean red meats or fish in your diet can also boost your iron levels.

If you’re a vegetarian, be sure to pair plant-based sources of iron with a food that contains vitamin C, which can help your body optimize the amount of iron it absorbs.

Alopecia

Alopecia is similar to traction alopecia, but it originates when the immune system stymies hair follicles from growing hair. Alopecia most commonly arises in reproductive-aged women—typically between the ages of adolescence and your 30s. For this reason, it’s certainly possible to notice its onset during pregnancy.

The most common type of alopecia is patchy alopecia areata, which causes large patches of hair loss on the scalp. Certain medications may help minimize hair loss caused by alopecia, but it’s important to check in with your doctor before managing the condition with medication. They can help diagnose you and explain which medications should be avoided during pregnancy and nursing.

Thyroid Conditions

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can arise during pregnancy. Where hypothyroidism refers to a deficit of thyroid hormone, hyperthyroidism refers to an excess.

Hypothyroidism, which affects 2 to 3 of every 100 pregnancies and 1 in 20 mothers in the postpartum stage, can sometimes result in hair loss. More noticeable symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to cold
• Digestive disturbances
• Muscle cramping
• Brain fog or difficulty focusing

If you’re concerned about hypothyroidism, it’s important to check in with your doctor. They can run some blood tests to screen you for Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition that can cause an underactive thyroid.

Hypothyroidism is treatable in pregnancy, but it’s important to catch it early—sufficient thyroid hormones are integral to supporting your developing baby’s brain and nervous system.

Coping with Hair Loss During (and After) Pregnancy

When it comes to hair growth and loss, both nature (i.e., your genes) and nurture play a significant role. However, there are some tweaks you can make during pregnancy that can help support healthy hair growth cycle at every phase of life:

• Level up your prenatal nutrition – A balanced diet with plenty of protein may help to boost hair growth and overall health. Additionally, you’ll want to be sure your diet is rich in vitamins D, C, and iron. Fortunately, pregnant women who take a solid prenatal vitamin may already be ahead of the curve when it comes to hair health. Consider reviewing your vitamin of choice with your healthcare provider to ensure it’s well-equipped.
• Incorporate soothing activities to reduce stress – Since telogen effluvium tends to be triggered by anxiety, lowering your stress levels may help control its impact. A variety of practices ranging from stress-relieving activities to mindfulness or CBT exercises and other exercise programs for pregnancy can assist with quelling the effects of stress not only on your body but also on your baby.
• Let your hair relax – If you’re a long-time top bun wearer or habitually style your curls into braids, it may be worth taking some more relaxed hairstyles for a spin. That said, some hair researchers suggest proper hair care is more decisive than chosen style when it comes to lessening hair loss. To kill two birds with one stone, you might try weekly deep conditioning as a hair loss treatment to support hair health while treating yourself to some well-deserved prenatal pampering.

Start Parenthood Stronger with SneakPeek

Pregnancy has a tendency to leave no stone unturned, yielding some of life’s most major (and sometimes seemingly minor!) transformations. Whatever changes you’re navigating—hair loss included—it can help to remember that many of them will normalize once your baby has been born.

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Sources:

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11. Healthline. What Are the Four Stages of Hair Growth? https://www.healthline.com/health/stages-of-hair-growth#maintaining-hair-health
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13. Healthline. Why Hair Loss Can Occur During or After Pregnancy and What You Can Do. https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-loss-in-pregnancy