Have you recently embraced motherhood and are appalled by the huge chunks of hair left entangled in your hairbrush? If the answer to both your questions is yes, then fret not and do read on.

Doctors say that it is normal for a new mom to experience noticeable hair fall in the first few months after giving birth. Post-partum hair loss (also called “excessive hair shedding” by dermatologists) is more prominent in mothers having long hair.

In our day-to-day life, we regularly lose 70-100 strands of hair. During pregnancy, the elevated estrogen levels halt this regular hair loss as hair go into the resting phase (“telogen”; the growing phase) of the hair cycle. This resting phase, which usually begins after five or six weeks of pregnancy and ends by six to eight months, results in reduced hair fall resulting in a dense hair volume. Post-pregnancy, however, estrogen levels fall rapidly and this leads to more hair entering the shedding phase of the hair cycle. Thus, it results in the alarming hair fall after delivery.

Foods to eat for post pregnancy excess hair fall:

1. Healthy seeds: Seeds such as Flax Seeds, Fenugreek Seeds and Sesame Seeds are full of Omega 3 Fatty acids which are required for a new mother to heal her body after childbirth, to add nutrition to her breast milk and also for healthy hair and skin.
2. Legumes, Pulses & Peas
3. Leafy Green Vegetables
4. Sprouts
5. Milk products such as curd, Buttermilk
6. Whole Grains and Nuts
7. Salmon, Eggs

Tips to combat post-partum hair loss:

1. Calm down: The post-delivery phase is a stressed out time for a new mom. With the responsibility of the baby, coming to terms with the body changes during pregnancy, and the excessive hair loss can surely cause you to stress out. Whenever you feel stressed out, just take a deep breath, with the understanding that this is just a phase and this will pass away.
2. Treat deficiencies: If you are deficient in iron, zinc, Vitamin C or any other nutrient, consult your nutritionist and add the required nutrients in your diet. Eat nutrient-rich food items such as legumes, sprouts, green leafy vegetables, oranges, gooseberries, yeast, soya, curd, buttermilk, nuts and whole grains.
3. Stay away from hair styling procedures: Avoid using cosmetic procedures on hair such as using hair irons and blow-drying as they weaken the hair root. Allow hair to dry naturally after drying. Steer clear from gels or hair sprays as well as artificial hair colors.
4. Hair applications: Mix one egg white and two tablespoons of olive oil. Apply it to hair and leave it for 30 mins. Rinse off with cold or lukewarm water using a mild shampoo. You can also soak two tablespoons of fenugreek oil in water for a day and apply the strained solution on the scalp. Leave it on for 1-2 hours. This is a time-tested way to combat hair fall. Curd is a great hair tonic. Apply curd to your hair for 10 minutes and wash off. You may also eat curd to receive its hair growth benefits.
5. Hair Massage: Hair massage with or without lukewarm oil is a great promoter of hair growth. Gentle massaging of the scalp with your fingertips, increases blood circulation in the scalp. It also helps the release of serotonin and other happy hormones, thereby having a calming and relaxing effect.

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