Hair On Stomach During Pregnancy – Is It A Concern?
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If you are well into your pregnancy, you might already be prepared for certain changes to your body. A very obvious change being a protruding belly. Expectant mothers usually read up and update themselves about things they might experience throughout their pregnancy. But despite all the knowledge they might gather, certain pregnancy-related changes will still catch them by surprise. Some of them are pleasant – like glowing skin, lustrous hair, etc. Yet, some might be unpleasant like pigmentation, swelling of feet, excessive sweating, etc. One such change that might become a cause of concern to them is excessive hair growth on the belly.
During pregnancy, the excessive hair growth on your body is normal due to the hormonal fluctuations. And one of the hormones that rapidly increases is the estrogen due to which the hair on the body tends to grow more or becomes thicker (1). While this thickness and growth might seem desirable when it affects the hair on the scalp, it isn’t so when it happens to other body parts like the belly. Some of the other parts of the body that might see a drastic hair growth apart from your stomach are:
- Arms
- Chest
- Face
- Shoulders
- Upper back (2)
In This Article
The Myth About Hair On The Belly
Like everything else about pregnancy, hair growth on the belly also comes with its own myth. It is commonly believed that when a woman has more hair on her belly, it means that she’ll deliver a baby boy. But there is no scientific evidence to back the claim. An ultrasound done halfway through your pregnancy is the only way to learn about the gender of your baby. However, this practice too is illegal in countries like China and India, where gender reveal is banned to curb female feticide.
How Long Does It Take To Go Away?
All the extra hair that grows on your belly during pregnancy will eventually go away. Usually, after around 3 months of childbirth, women experience hair loss from the scalp. This signals that the increased hormone levels are gradually going back to normal levels. Around this time, the hair on your belly will also gradually decrease. In all, it should roughly take 6 months for the belly hair to go away completely (3).
However, if the belly hair does not go away even after 6 months, or instead seems to thicken or grow further, then do check with your doctor.
Can Belly Hair Be Removed?
Since the excess belly hair which occurs during pregnancy usually goes away after childbirth, most women do not bother removing it. Those who do wish to remove them do so through home waxing methods, shaving, and even plucking, which are relatively safe. However, since the skin on the stomach is delicate and sensitive, care should be taken to moisturize the area soon after hair removal. Also, while waxing, ensure that the wax is not too hot (4).
There are professional methods of hair removal available such as bleaching, electrolysis, laser hair removal or hair removal creams. But make sure you discuss this with your doctor before going ahead.
Pregnancy is not an easy journey. And an expectant woman goes through a lot in terms of physical, hormonal, and emotional changes. Excessive hair growth followed by hair loss after childbirth is a part and parcel of pregnancy. However, remember that these changes are temporary. You’ll soon bounce back to your usual self in a couple of months if you dedicate time for your self-care too. So, don’t let a few temporary changes deter you from having a child when you want to. For, despite the hurdles, the end result is giving birth to a living, breathing human being – which is a miracle in itself!
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