When you’re pregnant, you might wake up often in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. It can make you feel uncomfortable. Experiencing hot sweats at night early pregnancy is normal so don’t worry too much. Pregnancy can cause body temperature changes which can make rest more challenging. You can use pillows during pregnancy to help you sleep better.
In this article, you will discover why night sweats happen, how hormones and blood flow affect body heat, and how to distinguish normal pregnancy warmth from a fever. You’ll also learn simple ways to cool down before you go to bed, why it’s important to drink water, and when to consult a doctor.
Understanding Why Night Sweats Occur in the First Trimester
Pregnancy can cause a lot of changes in your body and these changes may “recalibrate” your internal thermostat. That is why you experience heat spikes, especially while you sleep. Hot sweats at night early pregnancy often happen because your metabolic rate is increasing to burn more calories to support fetal growth, causing your body to generate more internal heat.
During pregnancy, the shifting levels of estrogen and progesterone can affect your hypothalamus, which is the part of your brain that regulates body temperature. You will feel hotter even if the room is cool. Your blood volume will increase by up to 40% to 50%, bringing more heat and making you feel constantly warm. You might need to adjust your sleep setup and use pillows during pregnancy to help you stay comfortable and rest more easily.
The Role of Shifting Hormones in Regulating Body Temperature
Your hormones may affect your body temperature and make you feel hotter than usual, causing hot sweats at night early pregnancy. Hormonal shifts can confuse the hypothalamus, making your brain think that you are overheating. This is why you wake up drenched in sweat at night. Using comfortable pillows during pregnancy can support better sleep positions and help your body stay cooler.
Night sweats happen because the hormone progesterone raises your core temperature while the estrogen tries to manage it by helping your body release heat. When these two hormones clash, your brain signals your sweat glands to release fluids to cool you down.
Differentiating Between Normal Pregnancy Warmth and a Fever
It is normal to feel hotter than usual in the first trimester. However, you should monitor your temperature with a thermometer if you experience hot sweats at night early pregnancy to see whether you have a fever that requires medical attention. After all, having a fever when you’re pregnant can signal an infection. The table below shows the differences between normal pregnancy warmth and a fever:
| Feature | Normal Pregnancy Warmth | Fever |
| Temperature | Small increase in basal temperature (usually less than 100.4°F). | 100.4°F (38°C) or higher |
| Primary sensation | Feeling flushed or warm, and might cause you to wake up at night sweating | Feeling unwell, followed by chills, shivering, or a flu-like discomfort |
| Associated symptoms | Usually comes with nausea or fatigue. | May include body aches, sore throat, or burning when urinating |
| Duration | Can be intermittent or constant throughout the trimester | Often remains until the underlying infection is treated |
Feeling hot often can make you feel uncomfortable, especially at night. It can also make you worry about why it is happening. Knowing what is normal and what is not can help ease your worries during pregnancy. Being in a proper sleep position supported by pillows during pregnancy can ease the discomfort that you might be experiencing. Reach out to a healthcare provider if the thermometer detects a fever.
How Increased Blood Flow Contributes to Nighttime Overheating
Hot sweats at night early pregnancy may also be caused by increased blood flow. During pregnancy, your body volume can increase by up to 50% to supply your uterus and placenta, and support the development of your growing baby. Your blood vessels will dilate and move closer to the surface of your skin to manage the extra blood. This will help your body release heat, and make you feel constantly flushed as well as warm to touch.
Your heart will also beat 10 to 20 times faster per minute to pump the additional blood, raising your core temperature in the process. When you’re lying down to sleep, your body will naturally try to lower its temperature and trigger sweating. Night sweats can be uncomfortable and interrupt your rest. Using many pillows during pregnancy can help reduce nighttime discomfort.
Choosing the Right Sleepwear and Bedding for Temperature Control
Staying cool can help you reduce hot sweats at night early pregnancy. That’s why it is important to choose the right sleepwear. You should also use the right bedding and pillows during pregnancy. Your clothes and bedding should be made from natural, lightweight, and breathable materials with moisture-wicking properties like bamboo, lyocell, cotton, or linen.
Avoid clothes or bedding that are made from heavy materials and synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and standard microfiber because they can trap heat and repel moisture. Only choose loose-fitting clothes that allow better airflow like nightshirts or two-piece set pajamas. For bedding layers, you can use a flat sheet with a light quilt or throw blanket so you can easily add or remove layers whenever you want.
Simple Lifestyle Adjustments to Cool Down Before Bed
It’s hard to settle down at night when you feel too hot. You can reduce hot sweats at night early pregnancy if you make some small changes to your nighttime routine. Here are some simple lifestyle adjustments you can try to cool down before bedtime:
- Take a lukewarm shower: Don’t use ice-cold water when showering because it can make your body generate heat rather than cool down. Take a warm shower instead to help release trapped heat.
- Drink water in small amounts: Make sure to keep a glass of ice water nearby. If you wake up in the middle of the night and feel too warm, you can sip small amounts of cold water.
- Use cool cloth: Before sleeping, put a cool and damp cloth or a chilled gel pack on your neck, wrists, or forehead for 10 minutes.
- Eat light evening meals: Since heavy proteins and spicy dishes can raise your body temperature during digestion, you should only eat light meals in the evening.
- Set up a cooler sleep space: You should have a fan in your room to keep the air moving. Use bedding and pillows during pregnancy that are made from soft and breathable materials.
The Importance of Hydration When Dealing with Night Sweats
Hydration is crucial when dealing with hot sweats at night early pregnancy. It can help regulate your body temperature, replace fluid loss, and support blood volume. Try to consume most of your fluids before 7:00 PM to prevent frequent nighttime bathroom trips that can disrupt your deep sleep cycles. If you want to sleep deeply, you can use soft pillows during pregnancy.
You can also include water-rich foods like watermelon, cucumbers, and oranges in your evening meals. Keep an insulated tumbler of ice water on your nightstand so you can take small sips of water whenever you wake up sweating at night. Once you wake up in the morning, drink a full glass of water right away.
When to Mention Nighttime Perspiration to Your Healthcare Provider
Sometimes hot sweats at night early pregnancy indicate underlying serious conditions. You should talk to your doctor if you experience excessive sweating with unexplained weight loss, feel “wired” and shaky, can’t get enough rest even with the use of pillows during pregnancy, or notice that sweating does not improve after making lifestyle and bedding adjustments.
You should seek immediate medical attention if you have a fever, feel dizzy or faint after waking up sweaty, experience severe itching especially if you don’t have a rash, wake up repeatedly with a racing heart or heart palpitations, or feel chilly or shivering while sweating. Keep a record of when your sweats happen and any accompanying symptoms and share it to your doctor.