Sometimes, a baby can have full hair when he or she is born. You can see a baby born bald as well. Both scenarios are normal.
However, what we shall try and answer the question, “when do babies start to grow hair in the womb?”
We know you are reading this article now to know if babies grow hair in the womb and the time it happens. We will give you all the information you need.
Fetal Hair Growth and Development
Around the period 14 or 15 weeks into your pregnancy, your baby tiny hair begin to poke through their skin slightly.
When the baby gets to this period, the baby is about to get their hairline soonest.
Baby hair growth on the womb happens in two steps — the shedding stage and the regrowth stage.
All hair follicles are formed before the birth of the baby. Around the time your pregnancy is in week 22, the baby eyelashes and eyebrows would start to emerge.
The baby’s hair growth not restricted to their head alone. By week 14, the baby is covered entirely by a soft material called lanugo.
The purpose of the lanugo is to keep the baby warm. However, as the baby grows more body fat, the lanugo begins to shed because the body fat will take over the job of keeping the baby warm.
Hair Color and Volume
Hair generally is pigment(color) free during pregnancy. All babies irrespective of their ethnicity have the same thin and slick hair at birth.
As the baby grows, he or she would shed more hair before they get their final hair color. Usually, it takes about two years for the process to be complete.
Often, mothers wonder the type of hair and complexions of the hair they would have.
But it is a bit predictable. Baby’s with darker complexions have slower hair growth and shedding cycles. With these slower-growth, these babies have a thicker head of hair.
Factors That Can Affect a Baby During Pregnancy
Nine months may seem like a short time, but it is a long time in the life of a pregnant woman.
There are lots of changes she has to make do the safety of her baby. Things that can affect the baby’s health, growth, and overall well-being.
We shall consider a few of them. What we shall find is not limited to the baby’s hair growth during pregnancy, but the total baby’s well- being.
i). Losing a few pounds of extra fats
You must lose a few pounds before you get pregnant. However, we know pregnancy can come as a surprise.
Try to lose weight before trying for a baby would have lots of health benefits for both you and your baby. Research shows that maternal obesity can increase the risk of preterm labor.
It can cause obesity and raises the risk of diabetes in the child. Some studies have shown the relationship between maternal obesity and childhood asthma.
Regular exercise during pregnancy is also essential to your baby’s general well-being.
ii). Watch your level of Vitamin D intake
As an expectant mom, it’s essential that you check your level of vitamin D. Research has shown that low levels of vitamin in the body can have serious health consequences for both the mother and the child.
Low intake of the “sunshine vitamin” can lead to Precambrian, weak hair growth during pregnancy, and low baby weight.
iii). Talk to your doctor about antidepressants
Lots of women take antidepressants during pregnancy; these drugs can cause serious health problems for your tiny bundle in the womb.
Problems associated with these drugs are preterm-labor, congenital disabilities, miscarriages, and behavioral issues like autism and other mental issues.
We suggest you discuss with your doctor before you take these antidepressants medics during pregnancy.
iv). Watch out for second hand smoking
Living in a smoky environment during pregnancy is linked with asthma and breathing difficulties in children.
Recent study by The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, however, have linked secondhand smoke in the womb to the same problems.
v). Coffee moderation
As an expectant mom, drinking coffee in moderation would help the fetus avoid the risk of having a baby that is smaller than usual during birth.
vi). Eat foods that would aid baby hair growth
To support your baby’s hair growth in the womb, you need a healthy diet. The nutrients contained in the food you eat are essential for baby hair growth.
The reason is that these foods contain essential vitamins and minerals for overall baby healthy in the womb of their mother.
Here is our list of healthy foods that facilitate hair growth in the womb
- Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes have lots of health benefits for you as well as the baby.
Nutrients like Beta-carotene and vital nutrients like vitamin A obtained from the sweet potatoes.
As an expectant mom, sweet potatoes should be included in your diet for the overall well-being of the child.
- Fish
Dishes container omega-3 acid. Omega-3 acid is essential for your baby’s growth.
Fish also contain lots of protein.
Protein is very similar to the development of the fetus.
- Spinach
Spinach is a vegetable that comes with lots of nutrients. Nutrients like iron, vitamin A, and C are in the spinach.
These vitamins are hair promoters. Iron is essential for the formation of red blood cells. As an expectant mom, adding spinach to your diet would go a long way to ensure your baby catered to during pregnancy.
- Shrimp
Shrimp is an excellent source of protein and inexpensive source too.
Shrimp contains vitamins B and D alongside iron and zinc.
These nutrients are essential to a baby’s hair growth and general health.
Additional shrimps to your diet would be a cheap source to get sufficient protein for you and your baby.
- Sweet Pepper
Sweet pepper is a good source of vitamin C. Recent studies suggest that one sweet pepper contain five times the quantity of vitamin C found in an orange.
One of the most crucial functions of vitamin C is collagen production. Collagen production speeds up the growth of hair.
Additionally, sweet pepper also contains vitamin A. Vitamin A is known to promote hair growth by boosting the creation of a hormone called sebum. Sebum also makes the hair healthy by strengthening the follicles.
- The seeds
Seed are fantastic sources of a large number of nutrients. Nutrients such as zinc, vitamin E, and B. These nutrients are known to aid hair growth during pregnancy.
The bottom line is that eating these foods listed here should be done in moderation.
We suggest you speak with your doctors first before planning your diet. The doctors would be the one to determine the right amount of each nutrient you need.
The reason you need to plan your menu is explicit that each mother has a unique body. Therefore it would be unwise for you to follow any diet plan you see without talking to a professional about it.
Unique Facts About Baby Hair
During your nine months journey to motherhood, you will hear lots of facts and myth about pregnancy.
You might have a personal question also. You might wonder why some babies have so much hair when they are born and so don’t. All these facts and myths are what will consider here and more.
You might have a personal question also. You might wonder why some babies have so much hair when they are born and so don’t. All these facts and myths are what will consider here and more.
a). Babies have hair growth in the womb in two stages
The shedding of the hair is the first part, and the regrow of the hair shed after.
b). Heartburn during pregnancy is a sign of hair growth
The hormone responsible for hair growth during pregnancy is estrogen.
This same estrogen relaxes the muscles between the stomach and the throat or esophagus. The process of relaxation causes heartburn the mother feel.
c). The mom’s hormone determines how much hair the baby has.
Estrogen from the mother can go through the placenta and get to the baby inside.
Estrogen is widely known for boosting hair growth. If there is enough estrogen from the mom getting to the baby, the hair growth of the baby will increase.
d). Baby hair can show up in an ultrasound.
Though it may come as a surprise, you can know how much hair your baby has by checking the ultrasound.
e). Baby sometimes eat their hair during pregnancy.
It does not happen often, but babies do swallow their hair during pregnancy.
There is no need to worry about this incident. The hair usually comes out with the baby first poop.
These facts and myths associated with baby hair are not the same as everyone. Some believe them others don’t. There are lots of them out there that we have not covered here.
How to boost your baby’s brain during pregnancy
Pregnancy comes with lots of changes. You are told to do everything possible to make the process safe for both you and your baby.
There are lots of things you have to think about.
We can’t talk about everything here but, we will try to cover the critical basis. One of the said bases is how to boost your baby’s brain during pregnancy.
We have come up with a few suggestions for you during your 9-month journey with your baby.
i). Exercise
Keeping yourself fit is crucial to your overall health and that of your baby. We started earlier how vital keeping your weight in check is to your baby’s overall health during and after pregnancy.
Devote about 30 minutes or less, three to five times a week to exercise. The benefits are much more than you can imagine.
If you have not done any exercise in the past, don’t stress about it. Start from somewhere that is what is vital.
Talk to a professional about pregnancy approved activities and start from there.
If you exercise but not regularly or you feel you don’t have the passion, find a partner.
A partner would serve as a motivation to maintain your workout plan. Remember to rest in between sessions. The rest is crucial to your health and that of the baby.
ii). Work to nourish the body.
The bottom line here is, the healthier you are, the healthier your baby will be. Nourish your body by eating healthy foods. Get lots of required vitamins.
We talked earlier in this article about the importance of vitamins in the growth of the child during pregnancy.
Vitamins such as A, B, C, D, and E should be taken often. Nutrients like zinc and iron shouldn’t be left out.
Furthermore, try to avoid medication as much as possible. The reason to prevent medication is that some medicines cause congenital disabilities, autism, and a host of other issues.
Also, remember to be as hydrated as possible. Water is essential for all body activities, so try to stay hydrated as much as possible.
iii). Play music
Although I don’t know how true the news that playing music of Mozart to babies turn them into geniuses, listening to music often as a pregnant woman does raise the level of IQ of babies and produce a calming effect.
iv). Communicate with your baby.
Though it may sound or look funny, talking to your baby can help boost their development.
Talking to your baby during pregnancy help in their emotional and social development.
Hair loss
Your baby’s habit can cause hair loss. When babies rub their hair regularly against their bedding or bang their hair, it can lead to hair loss.
However, they would outgrow these habits in no time.
Conclusion
Babies grow their hair in the womb around the 15th week of pregnancy. The hair growth is in two parts.
The hair that covers the baby initially is called lanugo. The lanugo is a soft material that covers the baby’s entire body or keeps them warm.
Your baby hair can be influenced by a particular decision you take.
To boost your baby hair, you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and eat healthy as well. You can know how much hair your baby has in the women through ultrasound.
We wish you all the best, as you expect your baby to be with you soon.
