Managing postpartum night sweats
Night sweats in the early postpartum period are very common due to the excess fluid retained during pregnancy and hormonal changes, and is even more likely if you were given an IV drip during labour. Increased sweating may be noticeable during the day but it is often worse at night time.
I was so not prepared for how much fluid would come out of me postpartum, I felt like I was swimming in sweat for the first two weeks of my postpartum experience. My husband kept saying to me a few days after birth that he thought our daughter smelled funny but we couldn’t work out what it was. A few days later we realised that I was sweating so much that it was causing her to smell like BO as she soaked up my sweat in her clothes!!! Yuck!
My top tips for preparing for and managing night sweats are
Sleep on a towel. This saves on having to change the sheets and/or mattress protector each day.
If you wear pyjamas make sure they are light and breathable and have a few pairs handy.
Or don’t wear any pyjamas and just sleep in underwear. This will help you stay cool at night. This is what I did, I was so hot and uncomfortable I couldn’t stand to sleep in anything else but a bra and undies.
Keep the room cool by turning on a fan. If you haven't had your baby yet and you are due in the warmer months I strongly recommend getting one now so you are prepared.
Hydrate, this may sound odd but hydrating actually helps flush out water retention and helps to restore balance to the body. It is also essential if you are breastfeeding that you stay hydrated to support milk production. Try herbal tea (not black tea as it is a diuretic), water with fruit added to boost flavour or bone broth.
Consume electrolytes. When we sweat we lose electrolytes so it is important that we replace what is lost. Electrolytes also help to speed up recovery after labour and birth. Coconut water, celery juice and lemon water are great natural sources, try to stay away from drinks such as gatorade due to the sugars, preservatives and food colourings.
Try to reduce your intake of caffeine and alcohol as this can increase how much you sweat, and will contribute to dehydration.
Take a shower each morning mama! I remember waking up each morning with rock hard breasts, sweaty, a pad full of blood and smelling of BO! My top tip is not just to help manage the night sweats but also for your own self care and mental health. If you have someone to help you at home, take 5 minutes each morning to get up, have a shower and put on some fresh clothes. You will start the day feeling so much better than just rolling out of bed smelly and wet.
