Giving birth to a baby is an amazing and miraculous event in a woman's life, but after the baby is born, most women experience several physical changes to their appearance. Many of these things will resolve themselves over time, but a lot of women want to know what they can do to feel better about themselves in the weeks and months after having a baby.
Hair Loss
During pregnancy, high hormone levels change your natural hair growth cycle and drastically slow down the rate at which you lose strands of hair. This is why many women feel like their hair is thicker and fuller while they are pregnant. In the weeks after giving birth, hormone levels plummet, and you may notice that you are losing many strands of hair when you brush it -- some woman may feel like clumps of hair are falling out. This can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months postpartum. Using volumizing hair products and keeping your hair moisturized with good conditioner can help with its appearance. You may also want to consider getting your hair cut into a new style and adding texture or waves to help disguise any areas that look thin.
Stretch Marks
While some women are able to make it through pregnancy without getting any stretch marks, most women experience stretch marks on their stomach, hips and breasts during pregnancy. Unfortunately, stretch marks do not go away after giving birth, but the earlier you begin treating them the more likely that you can get them to fade as much as possible until they are no longer readily noticeable. One of the easiest ways to start treating stretch marks is by using a high-quality stretch mark cream that contains onion extract and hyaluronic acid on a daily basis. If you have very deep or pronounced stretch marks, you can talk to a dermatologist about laser treatments to help fade them.
Extremely Dry Facial Skin
It is not uncommon for women to have extremely dry facial skin after giving birth, to the point where the skin may feel tight and even begin to peel. This can be blamed on a drop in estrogen, and it should be temporary. During this time, you can use a gentle facial exfoliating mask to help remove dry and dead skin cells, and apply a very strong moisturizer both in the morning and at night. If your skin does not seem to be back to normal within several months of giving birth, you may want to see a dermatologist.
