Ep 220. Why Is My Hair Falling Out? The Science Behind Postpartum Hair Loss
About this episode
This episode explores the science behind postpartum hair loss and reassures mothers about the natural process of hair shedding after pregnancy.
You survived birth, the sleepless nights and the newborn haze. And then somewhere around three or four months in, you reach up to wash your hair and pull your hand away covered in it. It's alarming, and for most of us, nobody warned us it was coming. This episode is for every mum who has stood over the shower drain wondering if something is seriously wrong. It isn't. But understanding the biology behind what's happening makes it so much easier to move through. This is part of The Science Behind series, where Dr Renee White takes your real questions and unpacks the science in a way that actually makes sense in real life. You'll hear about: Why pregnancy hormones cause your hair to stop shedding normally What telogen effluvium is and why it hits at three to four months Why you're not losing follicles, just catching up on stored hair Which nutrient deficiencies can compound postpartum hair loss When your hair is likely to return to its pre-pregnancy density Your body isn't falling apart. It's recalibrating. The shedding you're experiencing is a sign of how extraordinary your hormonal landscape was during pregnancy, and your body is simply finding its way back. Resources & Links…
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More episodes of The Science of Motherhood
- Ep 224. Why Your Joints Feel Loose and Unstable Postpartum
- Ep 223. How OTs are helping Neurodivergent Mothers Navigate the System
- Ep 222. Being an Autistic Mother: Pregnancy, Birth and the Postpartum Period
- Ep 221. How the Maternity System Is Failing Autistic Women and What Needs to Change
- Ep 219. Why Does Breastfeeding Protect Against Breast Cancer?
- Ep 218. Why Being Nap Trapped is So Beneficial
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