Night Sweats During Pregnancy

It is often observed that pregnant women suffer from night sweats. Although, sweating profusely is not an alarming situation, it can disturb a good night's sleep. As we all know, sweating is the body's response to a hot and humid environment. However, excessive sweating during pregnancy is not normal and is regarded as a perspiration disorder.

Causes
Hormonal imbalance that is common during pregnancy, can give rise to excessive sweating. In fact, night sweats and early pregnancy go hand in hand. Significant changes in hormone levels is a side effect of being pregnant, which can cause intense sweating and even wet the bed considerably. When hormone levels fluctuate, it can also lead to fatigue and joint pain.

Why Hormonal Fluctuations Lead to Night Sweats?
The body temperature is controlled by a specific part of the brain. It adjusts the body heat, according to the surrounding environment. For instance, in order to maintain the body temperature, during summer season, the brain sends signals to the nerve so that the body releases heat in the form of sweat. Whereas during winter, the brain works to keep the body warmer.

The area of the brain that does the job of regulating the body temperature will work efficiently only when the hormonal balance in the body is normal. However, studies show that during pregnancy, there is a sharp reduction in estrogen level. Estrogen is a hormone present more in women than in men. Its presence in normal amounts is critical to regulate menstrual cycle.

As the estrogen production decreases, this negatively affects the functioning of that part of the brain. In other words, the brain is no longer capable enough to maintain healthy body heat. As a result, there is a rise in body temperature, which often manifests in the form of profuse night sweating during pregnancy.

Managing Night Sweats
As aforementioned, night sweats are annoying and can make anyone uneasy. Although night sweats in pregnant women are unavoidable, certain precautions can be taken to ease the discomfort. For instance, it is recommended not to wear woolen clothes or tight clothes during pregnancy. Pregnant women should go for light clothing, so as to reduce the uneasiness associated with excessive sweating. Also make sure that the room where one sleeps is well ventilated and not congested. Sleeping with closed windows, will only aggravate this night sweat problem. One can also switch on the AC to keep the room temperature cool. This will surely help to substantially reduce episodes of night sweating.

Treatment
Hormonal imbalance treatment that includes certain medicines or herbs, is necessary to stop night sweats in pregnant woman. Taking supplements that contain synthetically prepared hormones can help to normalize hormone levels. However, one needs to consult a doctor, to know whether these supplements can be taken during pregnancy. Intake of herbs such as Macafem (often the first line of treatment), helps to increase the body's ability to produce hormone in sufficient amounts.

On the whole, a healthy diet along with exercise can equally contribute to curb bouts of excessive sweating in pregnant women. Drinking plenty of water and staying away from alcohol and smoking will help to keep night sweats at bay.