Why am I sweating so much postpartum?

Last reviewed June 19, 2026 by Dr. Sapna Jadhav, General Physician. Sources from ACOG, NHS, Mayo Clinic, CDC, NICE, NIH, Cochrane, and peer-reviewed journals.

Bottom lineHeavy postpartum sweating, especially at night, is mainly your body offloading the extra fluid from pregnancy plus falling hormones, and usually settles within weeks; sweating with fever or feeling unwell can mean infection and should be checked.

Heavy sweating after birth, especially at night, is very common and is mainly your body getting rid of the extra fluid it held onto during pregnancy. Falling pregnancy hormones also play a part. It usually settles within a few weeks.

Why it happens

• Fluid offload: Your blood and fluid volume rose a lot in pregnancy. After birth, your body sheds the excess through sweating and frequent urination.
• Hormones: Estrogen and progesterone drop sharply, affecting the body's temperature regulation (much like menopausal hot flushes).
• Breastfeeding: Hormonal shifts around nursing can add to it.

What's normal

• Drenching night sweats in the first days to weeks
• Needing to change nightclothes or sheets
• Gradual improvement over a few weeks

How to cope

• Wear light, breathable cotton layers
• Keep the room cool and use light bedding
• Stay hydrated to replace lost fluids
• Keep a towel or spare top handy at night

When to see a doctor

Sweating with a fever, chills, or feeling unwell can signal infection, not just normal fluid loss - contact your provider. Also check in if heavy sweating lasts well beyond a few weeks or comes with a racing heart, weight changes, or anxiety, which can suggest a thyroid issue.

Femora helps you track symptoms like night sweats so you can see them ease over time.