Sweating during pregnancy: why it happens and what you can do
The duvet feels too much at night, there is not enough air on the bus, and your blouse is damp by lunchtime: many women notice they sweat more during pregnancy than before. Usually this is a normal adjustment of the body. But there are situations when heat and sweating are a reason to call a doctor, and it is worth knowing them in advance.
Short answer
During pregnancy hormones change and blood flow to the skin increases, so many women feel warmer than usual and sweat more, as the NHS explains. Loose clothing in natural fabrics, a cool bedroom, water throughout the day and avoiding overheating all help. Any products, including antiperspirants, are best agreed with the doctor who is looking after your pregnancy. Contact a doctor urgently if you have a temperature, chills, severe weakness, palpitations or any other new symptoms.
Why you feel hot during pregnancy
The NHS explains that during pregnancy you are likely to feel warmer than usual because of hormonal changes and an increased blood supply to the skin, and you are also likely to sweat more.
A review by an expert group on heat and pregnancy, published in the International Journal of Biometeorology, describes this as a protective adaptation: plasma volume and skin blood flow increase, and sweating starts at a lower level of heating. The body learns in advance to shed heat faster. So sweating more is not, in itself, usually a sign of illness.
How to cope with the heat by day and by night
Simple measures do not change your physiology, but they make a noticeable difference to how you feel.
- Loose cotton and linen clothes in layers, so you can easily take something off. For which fabrics work best, read “Which fabrics to choose if you sweat a lot: cotton, linen, wool and synthetics”.
- A cool, aired bedroom, a light duvet, a fan and a spare nightshirt by the bed.
- Water throughout the day: sweating means losing fluid, and ACOG advises drinking enough water and avoiding overheating, including during exercise.
- A cool shower rather than a hot one. Discuss saunas, steam baths and hot baths with your doctor in advance.
- In hot weather, plan walks and errands for the morning and evening. Summer tips are in “Sweating in the heat: what works in summer in Almaty and Shymkent”.
- If night sweats are heavy and do not feel like ordinary heat, read “Night sweats: when they are normal and when to see a doctor” and mention them to your doctor.
If your sense of smell has changed
During pregnancy many women react more strongly to smells, and a familiar perfume or scented deodorant can suddenly become irritating. Fresh sweat has almost no smell: odour appears when bacteria on the skin break it down.
For body odour, the NHS advises washing the armpits regularly and drying them thoroughly, wearing natural fabrics and changing clothes often. More in “Why does sweat smell, and how can you get rid of the odour?”. If a strong smell appears suddenly and does not go away after washing, mention it at your appointment.
Can you use an antiperspirant during pregnancy?
We cannot claim that any antiperspirant, OKEY included, is safe during pregnancy. The decision belongs to the doctor looking after your pregnancy: show them the product’s ingredients and instructions.
Your skin may become more sensitive during this time. If a product causes burning, itching or redness, wash it off and stop using it; see “Irritation, itching or burning from antiperspirant: causes and what to do”. Do not apply antiperspirant to damaged skin or straight after shaving.
When to contact a doctor urgently
Ordinary sweating in pregnancy does not need treatment. But call your doctor without waiting for a routine appointment if:
- your temperature is 38 °C or higher, or you have chills or feel unwell;
- the heat comes with palpitations, trembling, anxiety or unexplained weight loss: this can be a sign of an overactive thyroid, which is important to treat during pregnancy;
- night sweats come with a cough, weight loss or swollen lymph nodes;
- you have any new symptoms that worry you.
The bottom line: where an antiperspirant fits in
Heat and sweating in pregnancy are usually a temporary feature, not a problem to be “treated” with cosmetics. What matters most is staying cool, drinking water, wearing comfortable clothes and talking calmly with your doctor about anything that worries you.
If damp underarms bother you most, ask your doctor about an antiperspirant and show them the OKEY instructions. OKEY is a fragrance-free underarm antiperspirant for women and men, which matters when smells are irritating, in a 35 ml roll-on bottle. It is applied in a thin layer to completely dry skin in the evening before bed, and the residue is washed off in the morning. If your doctor has no objection, you can buy OKEY on Kaspi for 7990 ₸, with the option to return the bottle within 14 days. For regular customers it is 6990 ₸ on our site okeystaydry.com, with free delivery to a Flip pickup point and no returns. The buy button is below.
