When your child is born there is so much to focus on other than sweating while sleeping after pregnancy. There’s nursing and diapering and simply enjoying the time with the new member of your family. As wonderful as it would be to have everything back to normal once the baby arrives, the cycle is only half completed.

Your body has a lot of adjusting to do to return to its pre-pregnancy state. Sweating while sleeping after pregnancy is one of the ways your body begins to re-balance itself.

Postpartum Sweating Symptoms

While every woman is different, most postpartum women who experience sweating while sleeping encounter similar symptoms. These include:

Excessive Sweating at Night

These postpartum night sweats can be so excessive you drench your pillow, pajamas and sheets. It may be more than you have ever perspired.

Daytime Sweating

While your sweat output is likely to be greatest at night, you may notice that you perspire more during the day as well.

Increased Need to Urinate

Many women notice that in addition to perspiring they need to visit the bathroom frequently during the first 2 to 4 weeks postnatal.

What Causes Night Sweats After Pregnancy?

Like menopause night sweats, night sweats after pregnancy are perfectly normal and healthy. No one is certain why some women experience postpartum night sweats and others do not, but it is typically just part of the normal postpartum process. Night sweats during pregnancy are common and in many cases this doesn’t simply stop when the baby is born.

During pregnancy it’s very normal to retain water. Most pregnant women notice extra fluid retention in their face, hands, ankles and other areas of the body. After delivery your hormones adjust and signal the body that it’s time to eliminate the extra fluid.

What to Do About Sweating While Sleeping After Pregnancy

Just because sweating at night after pregnancy is normal, it doesn’t mean that it’s comfortable or easy to deal with. Here are some things you can try to ease your discomfort as your body works to readjust itself.

• First thing to do – don’t worry. Experiencing night sweats after pregnancy is completely normal. It is your body’s way of re-balancing itself after months of carrying extra water to support the baby.
• Drink lots of water! While it may seem counter-intuitive to drink more fluids, the fact is that more fluids will help your body reestablish a normal water balance more quickly. Drink enough water so that your urine is a pale color. If you find that you don’t have to go that often, or that your urine is dark in color try upping the quantity of liquids that you’re consuming. If you’re nursing this is particularly important as adequate fluids are necessary to keep up a good milk supply.
• Get comfortable. Sleep in natural fibers like cotton – or skip the pajamas and sleep in the nude.
• Absorb the sweat. Try putting an absorbent towel or cloth underneath your sheets. A towel over your pillow can also help. You may also want to use a water barrier mattress cover to keep the excess sweat from damaging your mattress.
• Cool down. While cooling off won’t necessarily decrease the amount of sweat you produce it can make you feel more comfortable. Try sleeping with just a lightweight sheet or bring in a fan. Ask your partner to bundle up if they find the accommodations too chilly.
• Take a shower. A cool shower is a refreshing and energizing way to start the day.

For more ideas on how to treat your postpartum night sweats, read my article on night sweats treatment and my other article on natural night sweats relief.

While sweating while sleeping after pregnancy can be a nuisance, it’s a necessary process that does come with a few benefits. Sweat is a great way to clean out your pores and shedding all that water also means you’re losing extra pounds. Take night time sweating in stride and it will soon be over; this phase typically lasts only 2 to 4 weeks. I hope this helps and thank you for visiting Night Sweats.