Postpartum Night Sweats: How Long Do They Last?

There were plenty of things I expected after having a baby. The bleeding, soreness, exhaustion, and general feeling that my body had just been through a lot were all on my radar. Waking up completely drenched in sweat was not.

After I had my first baby, I came home from the hospital and almost immediately started waking up soaked. And when I say soaked, I mean my pajamas were wet, my sheets were wet, and even my hair was wet. I would wake up feeling so gross that I wanted to shower immediately.

Then I mentioned it to my sister and friends and got some version of, “Oh yeah, postpartum night sweats are totally a thing.” Thanks for the heads-up!

The good news is that postpartum night sweats are common and usually temporary. Cleveland Clinic says they tend to be worst during the first couple of weeks after giving birth and typically resolve as your hormones adjust. For me, the really intense night sweats lasted about two to three weeks after both of my pregnancies before gradually getting better.

What Do Postpartum Night Sweats Feel Like?

Before experiencing them myself, I would have assumed “night sweats” meant waking up a little warm or sweaty. That was definitely not my experience.

After both of my babies, I would wake up drenched. My pajamas needed to be washed constantly, my sheets were soaked, and even my hair would be wet. Especially after my first baby, there were mornings when I wanted to get directly into the shower.

Cleveland Clinic describes postpartum night sweats as excessive sweating during the weeks after childbirth and notes that they can be intense enough that you need to change your clothes or bedding. So if you’re waking up thinking, “Why am I completely soaked?” you are definitely not the only one.

Why Do Postpartum Night Sweats Happen?

A major reason postpartum night sweats happen is the dramatic hormonal shift that occurs after you give birth. Estrogen and progesterone levels drop after delivery, and these hormonal changes can affect the part of your brain responsible for regulating body temperature, which can trigger excessive sweating.

Your body is also getting rid of extra fluid accumulated during pregnancy. Basically, your body has just gone through an enormous transition, and sweating can be part of the adjustment. Knowing that would have made the experience much less surprising to me the first time.

Night sweats weren’t the only postpartum symptom that surprised me. Postpartum constipation after my C-section was another part of recovery I wasn’t fully prepared for.

How Long Do Postpartum Night Sweats Last?

For me, the worst postpartum night sweats lasted about two to three weeks. They didn’t disappear overnight, but gradually became less intense until eventually I realized I wasn’t waking up soaked anymore.

That timing lines up fairly closely with medical guidance. Cleveland Clinic says postpartum night sweats are typically worst during the first two weeks after delivery and generally resolve within several weeks.

Everyone’s postpartum recovery is different, so your timeline may not look exactly like mine. But if you’re only a week or two postpartum and wondering whether you’ll be waking up drenched forever, thankfully, this is usually a temporary phase.

Can You Get Postpartum Night Sweats If You’re Not Breastfeeding?

Yes, you can get postpartum night sweats even if you aren’t breastfeeding. This is something I can speak to from both sides because my feeding experiences were very different after my two pregnancies.

With my first baby, I was trying to breastfeed and pump during the first week I was home. With my second baby, I wasn’t breastfeeding or pumping at all. I still experienced significant postpartum night sweats after both pregnancies.

Breastfeeding can affect how long postpartum sweating lasts because prolactin, the hormone involved in milk production, can keep estrogen levels lower. But people who formula feed can absolutely experience postpartum night sweats too. In my case, the sweating happened regardless of how I was feeding my baby.

What Helped My Postpartum Night Sweats?

I wish I had a genius hack here, but I don’t. Mostly, I did a lot of laundry.

I washed pajamas constantly, changed my sheets, showered when I woke up feeling particularly gross, and waited for my body to work through it. Cleveland Clinic suggests things like lightweight pajamas, breathable sheets, using a fan, putting a towel down to absorb sweat, protecting your mattress, and staying hydrated.

For me, though, the most helpful thing would simply have been knowing beforehand that postpartum night sweats were normal and that they wouldn’t last forever. There’s something very different about waking up drenched when you know, “Oh, this can happen after having a baby,” versus waking up drenched and wondering what on earth is happening to your body.

When Should You Call Your Doctor About Postpartum Night Sweats?

My night sweats weren’t accompanied by a fever, chills, pain, or feeling sick. They were just extremely annoying and very, very sweaty.

But sweating after delivery shouldn’t automatically be dismissed as normal if you’re experiencing other symptoms. Cleveland Clinic recommends contacting your healthcare provider if night sweats occur with symptoms such as fever, chills, or pain.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) lists a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher as an urgent maternal warning sign after pregnancy. ACOG also advises contacting your OB-GYN right away for symptoms such as a headache that doesn’t improve with medication or a severe headache accompanied by vision changes.

Postpartum preeclampsia and postpartum infections can occur after delivery, so if something feels different from simple night sweating, contact your healthcare provider rather than assuming it’s just hormones. It’s always worth checking in if you’re concerned about how you’re feeling after giving birth.

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me

Of all the postpartum things people warned me about, I don’t remember anyone telling me, “By the way, you might wake up with your pajamas, sheets, and hair completely soaked.” I experienced postpartum night sweats after both of my pregnancies, and they were intense both times.

The first experience probably felt worse simply because I had absolutely no idea it was coming. For me, the night sweats lasted around two to three weeks and gradually improved.

If you’re currently waking up drenched a few days after having your baby, know that postpartum night sweats can be a normal part of your body’s recovery and usually improve within a few weeks. At the very least, now someone warned you.

FAQs About Postpartum Night Sweats

Are postpartum night sweats normal?

Yes, postpartum night sweats are common after giving birth. Hormonal changes and your body’s process of getting rid of excess pregnancy fluid can contribute to increased sweating during postpartum recovery.

When do postpartum night sweats start?

Postpartum night sweats can occur during the first weeks after childbirth. I personally didn’t notice mine while I was still in the hospital, but both times I really noticed them once I got home.

When are postpartum night sweats the worst?

Cleveland Clinic says postpartum night sweats tend to be worst during the first two weeks after giving birth. Mine were particularly intense during those early weeks and then gradually got better.

How long do postpartum night sweats last?

Postpartum night sweats generally improve within several weeks as your hormones adjust. Mine were particularly bad for about two to three weeks and then gradually improved. Those first few weeks also overlapped with the hardest part of my C-section recovery, which I broke down week by week.

Do you get postpartum night sweats if you’re not breastfeeding?

Yes, you can experience postpartum night sweats even if you aren’t breastfeeding. I experienced them after both births even though I wasn’t breastfeeding or pumping after my second baby.

Should I worry about postpartum night sweats?

Night sweats alone can be a normal postpartum symptom, but contact your healthcare provider if you’re also experiencing symptoms such as fever, chills, pain, feeling sick, or other concerning symptoms. ACOG considers a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher an urgent postpartum warning sign.

This article shares my personal postpartum experience and is for informational purposes only. It isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Contact your healthcare provider with questions or concerns about your postpartum recovery.