Month 3: Sopping sleep

For some pregnant women, running on a higher temperature grid can make them feel sweaty and uncomfortable – especially at night. Severe night sweats during the first trimester are comparable to menopausal hot flushes.

WHAT CAUSES THEM?

Women generally feel warmer during pregnancy because the baby is like a built-in hot-water bottle. The placenta produces hormones that stimulate other hormone-producing glands – such as the thyroid gland (found where your throat is) and the hypothalamus, which is found in the caverns of your brain – to become more active.

Among the many functions of pregnancy hormones, one is to boost metabolism. This is the rate at which you convert food into energy but also store sugar and fat into reserve supplies. This is achieved by stimulating your intestines to absorb maximum nutrition from your diet. Sugar is stored in the liver, and fat cells are plumped up to be used as energy later on. Extra fat stores also mean better insulation.

By 10 weeks, your body has stored an extra 310g of fat. This increases to 2kg by 20 weeks and 3.5kg by 30 weeks. After this time, your body will have enough reserves to last you through labour, birth and breastfeeding.

Hormones, especially progesterone (supplied by the placenta), also cause a slight rise in body temperature.

The hypothalamus in the brain affects body temperature, sleep and metabolism – all of which are associated with night sweats. The concentration of these hormones in the blood is doubled by hormones produced by the placenta during pregnancy.

MORE COMMON IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER

While your baby is developing into a little being during the first three months of pregnancy, your body is preparing for what’s going to happen over the next six months. During this time, hormones yo-yo from undersupply to overdrive, and this imbalance often results in a disturbance of the body’s thermal centre, making night sweats more common in the first trimester.

HOW TO COPE

While there’s not much you can do about hormones that are doing their “own thing”, there are some things you can do to help alleviate night sweats:

Don’t eat spicy food or drink a hot beverage before going to sleep.

Have a cool bath or shower using lavender soap before you go to bed. Sprinkle your body generously with lavender talcum powder.

Wear loose-fitting, cotton nighties. Invest in natural fibres for your bedding too.

Use a light woollen blanket if the weather is cooler.

Steer your imagination away from stressful thoughts.

Have a glass of ice water next to your bed.

WHEN SHOULD YOU WORRY?

In most instances there’s no need to worry about night sweats. But they don’t only happen when you’re pregnant or anxious. Infections, lung disease such as TB, and HIV are also associated with night sweats. If you’re coughing, feverish or unwell with your night sweats, it’s important to tell your doctor or clinic sister.