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Isabel KaplanAn American girl born with a full head of hair.
Country:
 USA |
Content:
An American Girl Born with a Full Head of Hair
A newborn baby girl from the United States has become an internet sensation after being born with a remarkably full head of hair. Most newborns are born with a soft fuzz or are completely bald, but Isabel Kaplan surprised her parents with her unusually thick hair. At just two and a half months old, she has already garnered fame.
Meme-able Hair
Internet users have seized upon the girl's photo and have been creating hilarious memes, transforming Kaplan into iconic characters. "My cousin saw a picture of her on Facebook and thought it was funny how her hair looked like a news anchor or something," said David, the girl's 34-year-old web developer father. David's cousin posted a side-by-side photo of Isabel on the social news website Reddit, comparing her to fictional television newsman Ron Burgundy, played by Will Ferrell in the comedy "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy." The photo has been viewed over three million times. Internet users have further morphed Isabel into legendary Elvis Presley, superhero Wolverine, and wizard Harry Potter.
Proud Parents
The baby's parents from Redwood City, California, are proud of the attention their daughter has received. "We expected her to be bald or maybe have a little bit of peach fuzz," said David. "But when she came out with a full head of hair, we couldn't believe it." He says that people comment on Isabel's hair everywhere she goes.
"It's the first thing people notice," he said. Isabel's mother, 28-year-old McKenzie, washes her daughter's hair with baby Aveeno shampoo and steers clear of blow dryers or styling baby hair.
The Heartburn Connection
If you are currently suffering from heartburn during your pregnancy, your baby may be born with a full head of hair. According to a study from Johns Hopkins University, there may be a bizarre reason for this phenomenon. Rather than being a symptom, heartburn may actually cause hair growth in a fetus. Heartburn commonly occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy when the hormone estrogen relaxes the esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid to enter the esophagus—causing you to reach for the antacid. Estrogen has also been shown to trigger hair growth on a baby's head.
Interestingly, McKenzie did not experience heartburn during her pregnancy.
"It will be funny to show her all of these pictures when she gets older," said David. "Right now, she gets a kick out of her first laugh. We'll see if she has the same sense of humor about it when she's a teenager and sees all these photos."
