Soaked pyjamas, damp sheets and a baby due for a feed in ten minutes. If that's your 2am at the moment, you're in very good company.
Plenty of new mums get through pregnancy without a single night sweat, then have their first one a few days after the birth. Others sweat the whole way through and expect it to stop once the baby arrives. Often it doesn't, at least not straight away.
We've written about night sweats during pregnancy before. The postpartum version feels much the same but has different causes, and it turns up when you're already awake half the night. It's one of those changes after delivery that nobody really talks about. Below is what's behind it, roughly how long it hangs around, what makes the nights easier, and the signs that mean you should call someone rather than wait it out.
Your midwife is the best person to ask about your own recovery, and it's a perfectly reasonable thing to bring up at a check-in. If you'd like a midwife's voice in your feed in the meantime, Amber at Body Birth and Baby (@bodybirthandbaby) is one we work with and trust.
What's going on in your body
Two things are happening at once, according to Cleveland Clinic: your hormone levels drop sharply after the birth, and your body starts getting rid of the extra fluid it carried through pregnancy.
Oestrogen and progesterone stay high for nine months, then fall fast. Cleveland Clinic explains that low oestrogen can trick the part of your brain that manages temperature into thinking you're overheating, so it tells your body to cool down. That's the sweat. It's a similar story to menopausal hot flushes, which is why some mums describe it that way.
The fluid part is simpler. Your blood volume goes up a lot during pregnancy, and once you don't need the extra, sweating is one of the ways your body sheds it. If your feet and ankles have puffed up since the birth too, that's related, and we've covered it in why postpartum swelling can peak after delivery.
Healthdirect lists hormonal changes as the most common cause of night sweats in women. So sweating on its own in the weeks after birth is usually just your body recalibrating.
Breastfeeding can keep it going longer
If you're breastfeeding, you might sweat for a bit longer. Cleveland Clinic says prolactin, the hormone that drives milk production, keeps oestrogen low, and low oestrogen is what sets the sweats off. Mums who formula feed get them too, but they tend to settle sooner.
How long it usually lasts
For most women the first two weeks are the worst, and things ease over the following few weeks as hormone levels settle. Breastfeeding can stretch that out.
Cleveland Clinic suggests checking in with your healthcare provider if night sweats are still going after about three weeks. That doesn't mean anything is wrong. It's just a sensible point to rule other causes out, and your six-week check is an easy time to raise it if you haven't already.
Making the nights easier
You can't stop postpartum night sweats, but you can make them a lot less disruptive.
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Wear fabric that breathes. Natural fibres let heat and moisture escape far better than synthetics, which is the same advice Pregnancy, Birth and Baby gives for pregnancy. Our Maternity Pyjamas are a bamboo and cotton blend, and the set comes with shorts as well as pants, so on the hot nights you can drop down to shorts without hunting for a different pair.
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Keep a dry top where you feed. A spare top folded beside the bed or feeding chair means you can change in a minute between feeds instead of lying back down damp.
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Protect the bed. Cleveland Clinic suggests a waterproof mattress protector and a second pillowcase. Both are cheap and save a full strip of the bed at 3am.
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Cool the room before you get in. A fan on low, a window open, or the aircon down a notch. A cool, dark, quiet room is one of the tips in our guide to how sleep affects postpartum recovery, and it matters more when you're already running hot.
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Go lighter on bedding. A sheet and a light blanket are easier to kick off half asleep than a heavy doona, and you're less likely to wake the baby doing it.
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Drink water through the day. Cleveland Clinic notes that heavy sweating can lead to dehydration. A big bottle at your feeding spot is the easiest way to keep on top of it.
When it could be something else
Ordinary postpartum sweating is uncomfortable but it isn't dangerous. The thing worth ruling out is infection, which can show up in the weeks after birth and needs treating quickly.
The difference to watch for is how you feel overall. Hormonal sweats come and go, and apart from being tired you feel more or less yourself. If you can't tell whether you're just hot or actually feverish, take your temperature.
NSW Health lists these among the general signs of infection after birth:
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fever or shivering
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a fast heart rate or pulse
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feeling very tired or generally unwell
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swelling or pain around a cut or wound
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vomiting or diarrhoea
If you notice any of them, NSW Health advises calling your doctor, midwife or maternity service, or healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (24 hours).
Call triple zero (000) or go to your nearest emergency department if you have any of those signs along with worsening tummy pain, worsening pain in your stitches, discharge or urine that's discoloured or smells bad, a breast or wound that's red, swollen and painful, or unexpected bleeding. NSW Health also lists feeling the worst you've ever felt, or getting very sick very quickly, as serious symptoms. If that's you, get help straight away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to sweat this much after giving birth?
Yes, for most women. Your hormone levels are dropping fast and your body is clearing the extra fluid from pregnancy, and both can leave you waking up soaked.
How long do postpartum night sweats last?
They're usually worst in the first two weeks and ease over the following few. They can last longer while you're breastfeeding. If they're still going after about three weeks, mention it to your midwife or GP.
How are they different from night sweats in pregnancy?
Both come back to hormones. During pregnancy your hormone levels and blood volume are rising. After birth the hormones fall quickly and your body starts offloading the extra fluid, which is why the sweats can be at their heaviest in the first fortnight.
Can breastfeeding make night sweats worse?
It can make them last longer. Prolactin, the milk-making hormone, keeps oestrogen low, and low oestrogen is what triggers the sweating.
When should I be worried?
If the sweating comes with a fever, shivers, a racing pulse, a painful or swollen wound or breast, or you just feel very unwell, call your midwife, GP or maternity unit. If you feel very sick very quickly, or those signs come with worsening pain, bad-smelling discharge or unexpected bleeding, call 000.
The information in this article is general in nature and intended as comfort support only. It is not medical advice. Always consult your midwife, GP, or a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.
