Postpartum night sweats: why they happen and how long they last
Waking up soaked in the first weeks after birth is common and usually harmless. Why it happens, what helps, how long it lasts, and the signs that mean a call to your provider.
AI-assisted educational guide based on the public sources below. Not clinically reviewed. Your family's care team should guide medical decisions. How we write and check our guides.
A lot of new parents wake up drenched in the first weeks after birth, sheets and pajamas soaked through. It's startling, especially on top of night feeds, but it's usually a normal part of recovery.
Why it happens
- Pregnancy hormones fall sharply after birth. That shift can bring hot flashes and sweating, a bit like menopause in miniature.
- Your body is also getting rid of the extra fluid it carried in pregnancy, so you'll sweat and pee more than usual for a while.
- Breastfeeding keeps estrogen lower, which can keep the sweats going a little longer.
How long it lasts
Sweats are usually worst in the first week or two and ease over the following weeks, often settling by around six weeks. In one study of more than 400 women, about three in ten reported hot flashes at some point in the year after giving birth. If they're still going strong after a couple of months, mention it to your provider.
What helps
- Sleep in light, breathable layers and keep a dry set by the bed.
- Put a towel over your pillow and sheet so you can swap it instead of changing the bed.
- Keep the room cool, with a fan if you have one.
- Drink water through the night, especially if you're breastfeeding.
- If sweats wake you on top of feeds, ask your partner to take a stretch of the night so you can sleep.
When to call your provider
- A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills: this can be an infection and needs a call right away.
- A red, hot, painful area on a breast, foul-smelling discharge, or an incision that's red or oozing.
- Sweats with a racing heart, shaking, weight loss you can't explain, or feeling unusually hot all the time: thyroid changes after birth are common and easy to check.
- Sweats that come with panic, dread or racing thoughts, which can be a sign of postpartum anxiety.
- Sweats that haven't eased after about two months.
Common questions
Are night sweats normal after giving birth?
Yes. Night sweats are common in the first weeks after birth, caused by the drop in pregnancy hormones and your body getting rid of extra fluid. They're usually harmless.
How long do postpartum night sweats last?
They're usually worst in the first week or two and ease over the following weeks, often settling by around six weeks. Breastfeeding can keep them going a little longer. If they're still strong after about two months, tell your provider.
Can postpartum night sweats be a sign of something serious?
Usually not, but sweats with a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, a red and painful breast, foul-smelling discharge, a racing heart or weight loss you can't explain need a call to your provider.
How do I stop night sweats after pregnancy?
You can't switch them off, but light layers, a towel over your pillow, a cool room and plenty of water help, and they usually fade on their own within weeks.
Sources and further help
Educational only; not medical advice. If something here worries you, talk to your care team.
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