Every summer, or throughout the first few months after birth, new mums often notice the same thing: the feeling of being overheated, constantly dehydrated, and sweating excessively. Experiencing a hot flash during breastfeeding is completely normal. During pregnancy and in the post-partum period, your body is already working incredibly hard behind the scenes, and milk production uses a significant amount of fluid every day, disrupting your temperature regulation.
- Post-partum hormonal changes, marked by falling oestrogen levels and rising prolactin, temporarily throw the body’s internal thermostat off balance.
- A smart hydration and nutrition routine, combined with the use of breathable fabrics such as cotton gauze at night, can naturally help ease discomfort.
- Choosing suitable equipment such as the Emy Pump wearable breast pump helps you express milk without adding extra heat or discomfort.
Why does breastfeeding trigger hot flashes?
After birth, the body goes through an intense biological transition. Blood volume, which had increased by nearly 50 % during pregnancy to nourish the foetus, needs to readjust. This process of elimination is accompanied by an acceleration of the basal metabolic rate, which naturally produces internal heat.
On the hormonal side, the sudden drop in oestrogen combined with the high production of prolactin (the hormone responsible for lactation) and oxytocin directly disrupts the hypothalamus. This area of the brain acts as the thermostat for your body.
In response to this temporary hormonal pattern, the hypothalamus triggers false overheating alerts, causing blood vessels to dilate. This is the exact mechanism behind the sensation of a hot flash while breastfeeding, as well as noticeable night sweats.
In addition, milk production increases local blood flow. The skin temperature in the breast area measurably rises during feeding to support milk synthesis, making the overall sensation of heat even stronger. If you notice other changes in your breasts or localised pain, stay alert to the risk of breastfeeding mastitis or breast engorgement.
Best practices for managing temperature and sweating every day
The top priority during breastfeeding and hot weather is to support hydration and adapt your daily habits to help reduce fatigue.
💧 Stay hydrated... but do it wisely
Drinking plenty of water is essential, but drinking only water is not always enough. When we sweat, we lose water as well as valuable minerals: sodium, potassium, magnesium. To effectively make up for these losses, remember to:
- Space out your water intake throughout the day rather than drinking large amounts at once.
- Eat water-rich fruit and vegetables such as watermelon, melon, peach or cucumber.
- Occasionally add a pinch of unrefined salt to your diet, unless advised otherwise by your healthcare professional. health.
- Choose low-sugar drinks and avoid stimulants (coffee, tea) that trigger sweating.
🥗 Adapt your diet to the season
When temperatures or hormones start to run high, your digestive system appreciates lighter meals. Digesting very heavy, fatty, or very sugary dishes takes extra metabolic effort, which raises your body temperature. Go for seasonal vegetables, hearty mixed salads, and easy-to-digest proteins.
What habits should you adopt to manage night sweats?
Heat is one of the main causes of disrupted sleep in summer and postpartum. Yet quality sleep remains one of your best allies for physical recovery. To help you enjoy more restorative nights:
- Choose cotton or cotton gauze sheets. The light, crinkled weave of cotton gauze makes this fabric very breathable, pleasant against the skin, and highly absorbent.
- Place a soft cotton towel underneath you. If you sweat during the night, you can simply remove it instead of having to change all your sheets.
- Keep a spare pyjama and spare underwear near your bed.
- Keep a large bottle of fresh water by your bedside.
- Air out early in the morning and late in the evening, and use a fan as long as the airflow is not directed towards the baby’s bed if you share the room.
Emy Pump: the solution for pumping milk with ease, without discomfort or overheating
Using a traditional electric breast pump, often heavy, bulky, and connected to cables, can quickly become uncomfortable when you’re already dealing with temperature fluctuations. Prolonged contact with rigid plastics and the need to stay still make thermal discomfort worse.
The portable breast pump Emy Pump has been specially designed to make everyday life easier for breastfeeding mums. Cordless and ultra-light, it slips directly into your nursing bra. Its soft, medical-grade silicone design respects your skin’s sensitivity, helping prevent irritation linked to sweating.
By giving you complete freedom of movement, it enables you to express milk in the coolest room in the house, or even outdoors, without being tied to a power outlet. It’s the ideal tool to maintain your milk supply without added fatigue.
FAQ: Common questions about hot flashes and lactation
How long do hot flashes last postpartum?
Night sweats and hot flashes are generally most intense during the first 2 to 4 weeks after birth, when the body gets rid of excess pregnancy fluids. For breastfeeding women, they can continue intermittently for a few months, in line with prolactin peaks.
Is a drop in milk supply linked to dehydration?
Yes, A severe dehydration can affect your milk supply, since lactation draws directly on your body’s fluid reserves. If you feel your supply dropping, don’t hesitate to consult a lactation professional or explore the advice in our guide to natural ways to boost your breast milk production.
When should you see a doctor about excessive sweating?
If your hot flashes are accompanied by a fever above 38°C, chills, foul-smelling lochia, or a red, painful area on the breast, it’s essential to see your doctor or midwife promptly to rule out any postpartum infection.
Key takeaways about hot flashes during breastfeeding
- A normal physiological phenomenon: Temperature fluctuations are caused by the drop in oestrogen levels and the metabolic work needed to produce breast milk.
- The importance of mineral-rich hydration: Drinking in small amounts throughout the day and eating water-rich fruit helps make up for the loss of valuable minerals through sweating.
- More peaceful breastfeeding with Emy Pump: Using a portable, cordless breast pump lets you express milk freely, without the thermal discomfort of traditional devices.
Sources:
- Prospective evaluation of nighttime hot flashes during pregnancy and postpartum, Thurston RC, Luther JF, Wisniewski SR, July 2013, Fertil Steril 100(6):1667–1672. - link
- Changes in breast skin temperature during the course of breastfeeding, Kimura C, Matsuoka M, February 2007, J Hum Lact 23(1):60–69. - link
- Everything we don’t know before having a child, La Leche League France, October 2023, Allaiter Aujourd'hui (103) - link
