Jacqueline Jossa opens up about post-pregnancy hair loss
22- year old Eastenders actress Jacqueline Jossa gave birth to her beautiful daughter Ella in February 2015. post-pregnancy hair loss
Now she is reaching out to new mothers by talking about her post-pregnancy hair loss, hoping to offer reassurance to others.
She took to her Instagram page with a picture of her hairline, saying: ‘For all the new baby mummy’s that might be losing some hair after birth, I’m right here with you, I think it’s starting to slowly grow back, so it’s all good guys! Embrace it, and let’s enjoy being with our beautiful little cuties!!’
The post has so far generated more than 21,000 ‘likes’ and over 250 people have commented. One fellow mummy wrote “Had my little girl nearly 15 months ago, when I brush my hair half of it comes out!! #hateit” with another adding “Nice post .. Mine has finally grown out x”
Many new moms notice hair loss – sometimes quite dramatic – around three months postpartum. This is a normal – and temporary – postpartum change that is unrelated to breastfeeding.
Normally, around 85-95% of your hair is in the growth phase at any point in time, but the hormonal changes during pregnancy stimulate an increase in the percentage of hairs in the growth phase. As a result, many women enjoy thicker hair during pregnancy, as more hairs than normal are growing and fewer than normal are resting/shedding.
With the birth of your baby (and the hormonal changes that accompany birth), a larger number of hairs than normal enter the resting phase. Since the resting phase is followed by hair shedding (and regrowth), new mothers will experience greater than normal hair loss once the resting phase ends.
Postpartum hair loss commonly starts at around three months after birth. The amount of time between childbirth and the onset of shedding corresponds to the length of the resting phase of hair growth (between 1 and 6 months, with an average of three months). The hair loss can seem more extreme if your hair grew much more than normal during pregnancy, or if you have long hair. Most women will return to their usual hair growth cycle within six months, or between 6 and 12 months after birth.
If you feel that your hair loss is greater than the norm, or if things are not back to normal by the time your baby is 12 months old, then see your doctor. Excessive hair loss can be caused by common and easy-to-remedy postpartum conditions such as hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) or iron-deficiency anemia.
What can you do while you wait for your hair to return to its normal growth cycle?
- Get a good haircut. Some mums choose this time to get a shorter haircut or one that requires less care.
- Experiment with different hairstyles.
- A good quality shampoo and conditioner may help.
- Try different styling products, such as or texturizers that “bulk up” the appearance of your hair.
- Avoid using a brush or comb that pulls or stresses the hair.