Postpartum night sweats can be intense ? it's like trying to sleep in a sauna without actually being in one. But you're not alone in this steamy situation. A 2013 study published in Fertility and Sterility found that around 29% of women experience this postpartum symptom after giving birth. To better understand postpartum night sweats and learn how to manage it, we consulted with four experts on this topic. They discuss everything from triggers to treatments and everything else in between.
What are postpartum night sweats"
Night sweats after giving birth are quite common during the postpartum period, yet they are not discussed as widely as postpartum depression symptoms. According to Katie McCann, a certified breastfeeding counselor, night sweats happen because of the hormonal changes that come with having a baby and can affect a lot of new moms. "When you're pregnant, your body goes through a surge in hormones like estrogen and progesterone," she tells Today's Parent. "After giving birth, these levels drop suddenly, messing with your body's temperature regulation and often causing a lot of sweating, especially at night."
According to Julia Dickinson, registered nurse, certified nurse midwife, and director of midwifery at Mount Auburn Hospital, and Dr. Brett Young, MD, interim chair of OB-GYN and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, postpartum night sweats are usually not a cause of concern. They explain that experiencing postpartum ni...