Night sweats after pregnancy and even perspiring during the daytime can frustrate and drain you of energy.
We present to you a detailed guide on information and tips. With this you are sure to get over these postpartum symptoms and get back your body and life on track in short time.
What And Why About Postpartum Sweating?
Like many other women, you may face the problem of severe perspiration or sweating after your pregnancy. Some facts about postpartum sweating:
- These mostly occur during the night when you are asleep. Night sweats are very common post pregnancy.
- Excessive sweating after pregnancy is mostly caused by the pregnancy hormones1 that instruct your body to eliminate the extra fluid that was earlier stored for nourishing the fetus.
- After pregnancy, there is a sudden reduction in the levels of estrogen that triggers of the excess water releasing process.
- The excess water is released in the form of sweat during the day and mostly in the night.
How Long Does Postpartum Sweating Last?
You may tend to sweat so much at night that your clothes get soaked in sweat. You might worry whether this type of sweating will be a regular thing for a long time. However, it is just for a short duration.
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- It is a perfectly normal thing and can continue for weeks after the delivery of your baby. Eventually, it will go off when the hormones settle down and the extra fluid is eliminated from your body.
- According to research conducted by University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine2 in most cases, the postpartum night sweat lasts only for two to four weeks after the delivery.
- However, in women who breastfed regularly, the period of night sweat extends.
- In any case, it should not last beyond four weeks.
Getting Relief From Postpartum Sweats:
Here are a few things that you can try to reduce the impact of postpartum sweats:
- Keeping yourself dehydrated is the most important thing, as you tend to lose lots of fluid during the sweating.
- Moreover, for quick elimination of excess fluid, it is important that you increase your intake of water. The more water you drink, the quicker it flushes out of your body. The quicker your body eliminates that excess fluid, the sooner you will get relief from the postpartum sweats.
- Drinking two to three glasses of water immediately after the bout of night sweat works best, especially if you are also breastfeeding.
- One way of telling whether you are drinking enough water or not is by checking the color of your urine. If it is pale yellow and plentiful, you are hydrated. If it is dark and scant then you are not.
What Clothes Should You Wear?
Cotton is the best material that keeps your body cooler whereas the use of man-made fiber such as polyester traps heat.
- Avoid using clothes made from artificial fibers.
- Wear lightweight, loose clothes and pajamas made from cotton.
- Make sure that your clothes do not have any binding like tight straps or back pulling belts.
Other Things to Make Yourself Comfortable:
Ensure that the room has proper ventilation and the windows are open with safety nets.
- You can increase the AC temperature if it is not too much of a trouble to your partner.
- You can keep your body cool internally too by taking a cool shower before going to bed and drinking a glass of cold water.
- Keep a jar of cold water beside your bed so that you can immediately reach for it when you need it.
- Keep a soft towel or napkin at hand or on your pillow so that the excess moisture can be absorbed.
- Using rubber sheet under the bed sheet can help if you want to protect the mattress.
- Use talc-free powder all over your body to absorb the excess sweat and eliminate the chances of heat rash.
Remember, if during night sweat you also have a temperature of 100°F or more, you should consult your doctor.
We hope our list helps you deal with sweating after delivery effectively. Don’t forget to share your experiences with other mommies in the comment section below.
