Postpartum Night Sweats: Causes, Treatments, And Timescale

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How to relieve postpartum night sweats

Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH — Written by Adrienne Stinson on July 26, 2018

Causes
How long do they last?
Managing night sweats
When to see a doctor
Outlook

Many women experience night sweats or hot flashes after pregnancy. These are known as postpartum night sweats. Certain home remedies can help relieve the symptoms.

Night sweats happen when a woman experiences a hot flash during the night. Many people associate hot flashes and night sweats with menopause, but pregnancy, which is also a time of significant hormonal change, can cause them too.

According to a 2013 study, pregnancy-related hot flashes are common, affecting 35 percent of women during pregnancy and 29 percent of women after pregnancy.

In this article, we discuss what causes postpartum night sweats and how to find relief.

Causes of postpartum night sweats

Postpartum night sweats happen because of low levels of estrogen. The levels of hormones, including estrogen, change as the woman’s body adjusts to not being pregnant anymore.

The body releases two key hormones, called progesterone and estrogen, in large amounts during pregnancy. Changes in these hormone levels can prompt an increase or decrease in body temperature.

Women may also sweat more after pregnancy to get rid of excess fluid. According to the American Pregnancy Association, a woman’s body takes on 50 percent more blood and bodily fluid during pregnancy to support the baby’s growth.

This fluid is no longer useful after birth, and the body gets rid of it through sweat and urine, so both of these may increase after childbirth.

In some cases, night sweats can disturb a woman’s sleep, cause irritability, and affect her quality of life.

Women should talk to their doctor about postpartum night sweats. It is important to rule out other causes of low estrogen after delivery, as it can be related to a thyroid condition called hyperthyroidism.

How long do postpartum night sweats last?

According to a 2013 study, postpartum night sweats are at their worst 2 weeks after delivery. They should gradually decline after this time.

Medical professionals agree that the postpartum period, or the time after childbirth, typically lasts 6 weeks, although some symptoms may continue longer. During this time, women’s bodies go through many changes, and side effects such as night sweats, constipation, and fatigue, are common.

In many cases, women can relieve their symptoms by using home remedies until they go away. If the night sweats do not improve, they may wish to see their doctor to find out the cause and discuss treatment options.

Managing postpartum night sweats

Here, we suggest nine home remedies that may help to relieve the symptoms of postpartum night sweats:

1. Stay cool

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Placing a bedside fan by the bed at night may help to reduce sweating.

Keeping the body cool will help reduce sweating.

During the night women can try:

opening windows to boost airflow
placing a fan beside the bed
using air conditioning in the bedroom
using light-weight sheets and layered bed covers

2. Drink cold water

After delivery, and particularly when experiencing postpartum night sweats, women’s bodies may need more water than usual, as fluids or “water weight” leaves the body as sweat or urine.

Drinking water whenever thirsty will prevent dehydration, and it also helps with normal body functions and recovery after pregnancy.

3. Eat more soy

Studies into hot flashes in pregnancy and postpartum are limited, though a 2017 study that looked at 50 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women concluded that taking soy supplements had the potential to improve flashes for menopausal women.

The researchers found that the participants taking soy isoflavone supplements for 12 weeks had significant improvements in their hot flash symptoms.

People can increase their soy intake using supplements or by eating the following high-soy foods:

tofu
tempeh
miso
natto

Always talk to a doctor before making dietary changes or introducing supplements, especially while breastfeeding.

4. Wear loose, natural fabrics

Natural fabrics, including cotton, linen, or silk, help the body’s heat to escape. If possible, use cotton or linen sheets when sleeping.

Try to avoid synthetic fabrics, such as polyester or Lycra, or tight clothes, which can make people sweat more by preventing the body from losing heat.

5. Limit trigger foods

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Caffeine may trigger postpartum night sweats.

For some people, certain foods or drinks can trigger or worsen symptoms of hot flashes and night sweats.

People can track their symptoms to see if they appear after eating specific foods so that they know which ones to avoid.

Common triggers for hot flashes include:

spicy foods
caffeine
alcohol
hot foods or liquids

6. Try relaxation, breathing techniques, or hypnosis

Stress is related to many health conditions. Learning how to manage stress effectively has many positive results, not just for postpartum sweats.

According to a 2014 review study, relaxation training, paced breathing, and hypnosis may help with hot flashes, though the authors say that more research is needed to confirm the link.

When trying to get to sleep at night, or when experiencing night sweats, women can try the following relaxation techniques:

progressive muscle relaxation, or focusing on relaxing the muscles of each body part in turn, from the toes to the head
mindfulness or meditation
visualization or positive thinking
deep breathing, such as box breathing

7. Eat well and exercise

Keeping up a healthful lifestyle with good nutrition and frequent exercise can be a powerful tool for improving the body’s ability to recover after pregnancy, and improving both physical and mental health.

Dietitians recommend that people eat a healthful diet of mainly vegetables, with some fruit, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats to promote health.

8. Try Pilates or massage

Because of night sweats and other causes of discomfort during the night, it can be difficult for women to get enough sleep after delivery.

According to a 2013 study, there is some evidence that the following methods can help people to sleep during the postpartum period:

Pilates exercises
back massage
foot reflexology
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia

9. Ask your doctor about valerian root

Valerian root is an herbal remedy. People often use valerian root to encourage sleep or to treat sleep conditions. Based on this popularity, people may also want to try it to assist them to sleep through night sweats.

Despite valerian’s widespread use, however, the existing scientific evidence is not clear whether valerian root helps people to sleep or not. More high-quality research is needed. People may want to ask their doctor for more information about this herbal remedy.

When to see a doctor

People should see a doctor if experiencing any of the following symptoms:

chest pain
continuing headache
shortness of breath
fever when the temperature is above 100.4°F or 38°C
loss of appetite

Outlook

Postpartum sweats are common and not usually a sign of anything to cause serious alarm.

Using breathable natural fabrics, drinking cold water, and keeping the bedroom cool will bring some relief from sweating.

If postpartum night sweats are not improving over time, or if people are experiencing other symptoms, they should contact a doctor.

Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Women's Health / Gynecology
Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
Parenthood

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Ahsan, M., & Mallick, A. K. (2017, September 1). The effect of soy isoflavones on the menopause rating scale scoring in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: A pilot study. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research, 11(9), FC13–FC16https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5713750/
Ashrafinia, F., Mirmohammadali, M., Rajabi, H., Kazemnejad, A., Haghighi, K. S., & Amelvalizadeh, M. (2015, March). Effect of pilates exercises on postpartum maternal fatigue. Singapore Medical Journal, 56(3), 169–173https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4371197/
Barton, D. L., Fee Schroeder, K. C., Banerjee, T., Wolf, S., Keith, T., & Elkins, G. (2018, July 1). Efficacy of a biobehavioral intervention for hot flashes: A randomized controlled pilot study. Menopause, 24(7), 774–782https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5747247/
Hot flashes and night sweats (PDQ®): Health professional version (2018, March 14)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0032590/
Ko, Y.-L., & Lee, H.-J. (2014, January). Randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of using back massage to improve sleep quality among Taiwanese insomnia postpartum women. Midwifery, 30(1), 60–64https://www.midwiferyjournal.com/article/S0266-6138(12)00211-2/fulltext
Martin, A., Horowitz, C., Balbierz, A., & Howell, E. A. (2015, January 23). Views of women and clinicians on postpartum preparation and recovery. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 18(3), 707–713https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4304667/
Mirabi, P., & Mojab, F. (2013, Winter). The effects of valerian root on hot flashes in menopausal women. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research : IJPR, 12(1), 217–222https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3813196/
Nonhormonal management of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms: 2015 position statement of The North American Menopause Society. (2015). Menopause, 22(11), 1155–1174https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/pap-pdf-meno-d-15-00241-minus-trim-cme.pdf
Nowakowski, S., Meers, J., & Heimbach, E. (2015, February 13). Sleep and women’s health. Sleep Medicine Research, 4(1), 1–22https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4327930/
Sideras, K., & Loprinzi, C. L. (2014, February 12). Nonhormonal management of hot flashes for women on risk reduction therapy. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 8(10), 1171–1179https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3922061
Swelling during pregnancy. (2015, July)http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/swelling-during-pregnancy/
Thurston, R. C., Luther, J. F., Wisniewski, S. R., Eng, H., & Wisner, K. L. (2013, December). Prospective evaluation of hot flashes during pregnancy and postpartum. Fertility and Sterility, 100(6), 1667–1672https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4167790/
Valerian [Fact sheet]. (2013, March 15)https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Valerian-HealthProfessional

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Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH — Written by Adrienne Stinson on July 26, 2018

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Tag » How Long Do Postpartum Night Sweats Last

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Causes of postpartum night sweats

How long do postpartum night sweats last?

Managing postpartum night sweats

1. Stay cool

2. Drink cold water

3. Eat more soy

4. Wear loose, natural fabrics

5. Limit trigger foods

6. Try relaxation, breathing techniques, or hypnosis

7. Eat well and exercise

8. Try Pilates or massage

9. Ask your doctor about valerian root

When to see a doctor

Outlook

How we reviewed this article:

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