Night sweats during pregnancy

Introduction

No matter whether starting a family had been planned for a long time or whether the offspring announce themselves unexpectedly and unplanned – especially at the beginning of such a far-reaching personal change, many women are unsure whether they are really pregnant and become a mother or not. Some physical signs – such as a strong feeling of warmth or increased sweating – can occur alongside other physical changes during pregnancy. These often become noticeable even earlier than a doctor’s confirmation.

Many women report a pleasant feeling of warmth at the beginning of their pregnancy, which is particularly noticeable in parts of the body that otherwise tend to freeze (e.g. hands, feet). In the further course of the pregnancy, however, there are more hot flushes and night sweats. As a pregnant woman, sweating at night is not unusual at first. The increased sweating at night is an expression of the hormonal changes during pregnancy. For this reason, no therapy is usually necessary, as this condition is usually caused by the new hormonal fluctuations.

Cause

The cause of night sweats is the enormous hormonal changes that women experience when they are pregnant. The placenta ensures, via the hormones it produces, a permanently slightly elevated body temperature and increased blood circulation throughout the mother’s body, so that the unborn child can also be well cared for. With an increased blood circulation of the entire body and thus of course also of the skin, a subjectively felt feeling of warmth occurs, to which the body of the pregnant woman reacts with sweat production. These changes are particularly noticeable in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, which is why sweating may become more intense at this time. You can read more about the causes of excessive sweating in the following article:

  • Hot flashes during pregnancy
  • Causes of hot flushes and
  • Causes for increased sweating