Hey Busy Mama

There are so many things I did not expect to affect me postpartum. No, not in the sense of “that’ll never happen to me”. It was more so in the sense that it never crossed my mind at the time I was expecting. Postpartum hair loss was one of those unexpected happenings.

Perhaps the hardest pill for me to swallow was my vanity. While not one to gloat or brag, I was relishing in my thick mane of flowing locks during my prenatal stage. My hair was vibrant, full, and rich. With every compliment, my confidence soared. Fast forward to three months postpartum and it’s a dull mixture of straggly and haggard strands. Honestly, I’m thinking of chopping it off.

It took a few weeks before I noticed the hair falling away. I can remember the panic as the first strand fell down my naked back as it felt akin to a spider trailing along my skin. Every day, I would feel a strand or two cascade down my skin and onto the bed or floor. Finally, it would be several weeks before I noticed how much of a dramatic hair loss I had experienced. Granted, I had no signs of balding, (thank heavens) but the change was noticeable to say the least.

Reflecting upon this transformation, I realize all of this was in preparation for my son to arrive in this world. Those thick and flowy locks were for him, not me. As my son wraps his tiny hands around my loose hair and playfully coos, I realize that the status of my hair doesn’t matter so much to him. He’s simply happy that he can admire mommy’s straggly locks. Looking at his perfect patches of hair, I realize that he is my crown that I proudly wear close to my heart.

Mama, if you are experiencing postpartum hair loss, know that you are not alone in this. Whether you have short hair, long hair, no hair, straight hair, curly hair, oily hair, dry hair, virgin hair, dyed hair, or hair in between – You are beautiful. Motherhood demands so much of us that it is vital to honor the sacrifices you’ve made along this journey regardless of whether it is by choice or not.