Postpartum Sweating: Can it Be Cured?

Postpartum sweating is something that most women are going to experience after they give birth. Typically the new mom will experience excessive sweating for several weeks after delivering her baby due to the changes that her body is undergoing. While it can be uncomfortable and a little embarrassing at time, there is not much you can do about it accept for try to stay cool and dry until this condition cures itself.

Causes of Postpartum Sweating

The exact reasons behind postpartum sweating are not known for certain, but there are a couple of suspect causes. The first is that the body is trying to eliminate all the extra water that the woman retained during pregnancy. This excess water is released through urination and through excessive sweating. The second probable cause of postpartum sweating and particularly postpartum night sweats is hormonal changes. After giving birth a mother's estrogen levels drop quickly, which can lead to hot flashes and excessive sweating. Hormonal changes and metabolic changes are also thought to be behind the prolonged experience of excessive sweating in nursing mothers.

Dealing With Postpartum Sweating

The first thing that you can do to deal with postpartum sweating is to take steps to stay cool and dry. This can be done by using talc powder under your arms, under your breasts, in your underwear and in your shoes. You can also lay a towel on your pillow and on your chairs. To help stay cool you can make sure your home is well ventilated, you can turn up your air conditioning or turn down your furnace and you can wear lightweight cotton clothing.

If you suspect that a drop in estrogen is the cause of your excessive sweating, then add more soy to your diet. Soy has compounds in it is similar to those found in estrogen. This can help to alleviate your symptoms. Today there are a lot of soy products that taste great including soy snack bars, soy milk and soy cereals.

Regardless of why you are sweating up a storm you need to make sure you replace the water that is lost. To prevent dehydration you need to make sure you drink eight to ten glasses of water a day. This will help to keep you hydrated and it will also help cool you down. Having a big jug of ice water near you at all times is a great way to remember to drink water.

References

http://www.babycenter.com/0_postpartum-sweating_11720.bc

http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/symptoms-and-solutions/postpartum-sweating.aspx