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Why do I get night sweats and chills while breastfeeding?

Understanding Night Sweats and Chills While Breastfeeding
Experiencing night sweats and chills during breastfeeding can be a perplexing and uncomfortable issue for many new parents. This phenomenon is not uncommon and is often linked to the significant hormonal changes that occur postpartum.
Hormonal Changes Postpartum
After childbirth, a woman’s body undergoesCauses of Night Sweats and Chills During Breastfeeding
Hormonal Changes: The primary reason breastfeeding mothers experience night sweats and chills is due to the dramatic hormonal changes that occur after childbirth. Immediately after delivery, a woman’s estrogen levels plummet, which can lead to excessive sweating, hot flashes, and feelings of being cold.
Dehydration: Breastfeeding can also cause dehydration, which can exacerbate night sweats and chills. The body is working hard to produce milk, and this increased fluid demand can lead to fluid imbalances if the mother is not drinking enough water.
Milk Production: Some women experience night sweats and chills as their milk supply is being established in the early postpartum period. This is the body’s way of regulating temperature and fluid levels as it ramps up milk production.
Underlying Conditions: In rare cases, persistent night sweats and chills during breastfeeding could be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as an infection. If the sweating is accompanied by a fever, unexplained weight loss, or other concerning symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor.
Managing Night Sweats and Chills
Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, can help minimize night sweats and chills. Keeping a water bottle by the bed and sipping throughout the night can make a big difference.
Dress in Layers: Wearing lightweight, breathable clothing to bed can help regulate body temperature and prevent feeling too hot or too cold. Layering blankets that can be easily added or removed is also helpful.
Use Cooling Bedding: Investing in bedding designed to wick away moisture and regulate temperature, such as moisture-wicking sheets, can provide relief from night sweats.
Consider Supplements: Some women find that taking supplements like sage or evening primrose oil can help reduce night sweats and hot flashes associated with breastfeeding. However, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplements.
In most cases, the night sweats and chills experienced by breastfeeding mothers are a normal, temporary part of the postpartum hormonal transition and will resolve on their own within a few weeks or months. By staying hydrated, dressing comfortably, and using cooling bedding, women can find relief and manage this common breastfeeding side effect.

Why am I sweating one minute and freezing the next?

They’re called diaphoresis and they have many causes, such as a fight-or-flight response, low blood sugar, or life-threatening events like a heart attack or shock. Mechanisms that cause diaphoresis include loss of blood, low blood pressure, and adrenaline directly stimulating the sweat glands.

Are night sweats common when breastfeeding?

Yes, it’s very common to get night sweats while breastfeeding. When you’re pregnant, the levels of the hormone prolactin will start to rise. This hormone serves various purposes, but its main function is to aid the development of breast tissue during pregnancy and to make milk for breastfeeding after birth.

Why are night sweats a red flag?

Changes in hormones due to other conditions, like pregnancy or a thyroid disorder, may also cause night sweats. Medical issues: A variety of disorders can have night sweats as a symptom, including types of cancer, spinal cord injury, chronic fatigue syndrome, and mercury poisoning.

What are the symptoms of low estrogen while breastfeeding?

Estrogen: All women have low levels of estrogen for the first couple of months after giving birth. Continued breastfeeding extends this period for at least six months. For a few women, lower levels may last as long as they are nursing. Lower estrogen levels may cause vaginal dryness, tightness and tenderness.

Do you get chills while breastfeeding?

If your breasts are sore; have red streaks; or have a hard, red area, you may have mastitis. Some women also get a fever and chills. If you think you have mastitis, call your doctor. In the meantime, continue to breastfeed or pump to drain the milk from your breasts.

Can mastitis give you night sweats?

Occasionally, mastitis shows up with no warning, like a party-crasher. You may feel as if you’re getting a bad case of the flu- shivery, sweaty, with a terrific headache.

What do night sweats and chills mean?

Night sweats are a common symptom of certain underlying medical conditions, particularly if accompanied by weight loss, fever, or pain. Common causes include cancer, hormonal changes or endocrine disorders, infections, autoimmune diseases, psychiatric disturbances, and side effects from medications.

What is the 3 month breastfeeding crisis?

These increases occur around the same time for all babies, hence the term “3-months breastfeeding crisis”. This crisis is the most well-known because it is the most challenging for mothers. One reason is that this crisis, unlike others you may experience before, can last up to a month.

Why do I get hot flashes at night while breastfeeding?

Those who breastfeed also have lower levels of estrogen. 2 These lowered levels could make you more susceptible to postpartum night sweats. Dr. Matseoane-Peterssen says that while breastfeeding, you experience rising levels of prolactin, a hormone necessary for breastfeeding that also acts to keep estrogen levels low.

When should I worry about postpartum chills?

Most of the time, a case of the shakes is nothing to worry about. (There are a few symptoms your medical team will keep on their radar, mainly if your chills are accompanied by a fever, which could be one of the first signs of a potential postpartum infection.)

Natasha Lunn

Tash is an IBCLC and Business Coach helping fellow IBCLCs create fun, profitable businesses that are more than just an expensive hobby. Before becoming an IBCLC and starting her private practice - The Boobala, Tash graduated as an Osteopath in 2008 and has been in Private Practice in South West Sydney. She was also a volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor and Community Educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association for 6 years. Through her business, Your Lactation Biz, Tash coaches and creates products to help new and seasoned IBCLCs build businesses that suit their personality and lifestyle.

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