Sweating During Pregnancy: Why It Happens and How to Stay Comfortable

If you are pregnant and feel like you are sweating more than usual, you are not imagining it. Increased sweating is one of the most common — and least talked about — side effects of pregnancy. Hormonal shifts, increased blood volume, and a higher metabolic rate all work together to make your body run hotter. Here is why it happens, what is normal, and how to manage it safely.

Why Does Pregnancy Make You Sweat More?

Sweating during pregnancy is driven by several overlapping factors:

Hormonal changes

Pregnancy triggers significant shifts in estrogen and progesterone. These hormones affect the hypothalamus, the part of your brain that regulates body temperature. When hormone levels fluctuate — especially during the first and third trimesters — your internal thermostat can misread signals and trigger sweating even when your environment is comfortable.

This is similar to what happens during menopause, when hormonal fluctuations cause hot flashes and night sweats. For a closer look at how hormones affect sweating, read Hot Flashes, Menopause, and Sweating.

Increased blood volume

By the third trimester, your blood volume increases by roughly 50%. More blood flowing closer to the skin surface raises skin temperature, which triggers your sweat glands to cool you down.

Higher metabolic rate

Growing a baby requires extra energy. Your metabolic rate increases throughout pregnancy, generating more internal heat. This is why many pregnant women feel warmer than usual, even in air-conditioned environments.

Extra weight

As pregnancy progresses, the additional body weight itself can contribute to overheating and sweating — especially during physical activity or in warm weather.

When Is Pregnancy Sweating Most Common?

Sweating can occur at any stage, but two periods tend to be the most intense:

First trimester. Hormonal surges are at their highest as your body adjusts to pregnancy. Many women notice increased sweating alongside other early symptoms like nausea and fatigue.

Third trimester. Blood volume peaks, metabolic rate is highest, and the physical demands of carrying extra weight all combine to make sweating more noticeable — particularly at night.

Night sweats during pregnancy are especially common. If you are waking up damp, you are in good company — and it is usually nothing to worry about. For background on what drives nighttime perspiration, see What Causes Night Sweating?.

Is Sweating During Pregnancy Normal?

Yes — for most women, increased sweating during pregnancy is a normal physiological response. Your body is working harder, running warmer, and adjusting to major hormonal changes. Some degree of increased perspiration is expected.

However, you should contact your healthcare provider if you experience:

• Sweating accompanied by fever (which could indicate infection)
• Sudden, intense hot flashes with rapid heartbeat or dizziness
• Sweating that is dramatically one-sided or localized to unusual areas
• Night sweats that disrupt sleep for weeks without improvement

These could point to conditions that need medical evaluation, such as thyroid changes (which can occur during pregnancy) or infections.

How Can You Manage Sweating Safely During Pregnancy?

The good news is that most sweat-management strategies are safe during pregnancy. Here are practical steps:

Wear breathable fabrics

Cotton, bamboo, and moisture-wicking athletic fabrics let air circulate and help sweat evaporate faster. Avoid synthetic materials that trap heat and moisture against your skin.

Stay hydrated

Dehydration raises core body temperature, which increases sweating. Drink water throughout the day — pregnant women generally need about 10 cups of fluid daily, more if you are active or in warm weather.

Sleep cool

If night sweats are an issue, keep your bedroom cool (around 65–68°F / 18–20°C), use lightweight bedding, and consider a fan. Moisture-wicking sleepwear can also help.

Use safe, gentle antiperspirants

Over-the-counter antiperspirants are considered safe during pregnancy by major medical organizations. The aluminum salts in antiperspirants form temporary plugs in sweat ducts and are not meaningfully absorbed into the bloodstream.

The Carpe Underarm Antiperspirant Stick is dermatologist tested, vegan, cruelty-free, and Leaping Bunny certified. It features clinically tested 100-hour sweat and odor control with Triple Action Protection. For safety details, see Is Carpe Safe?.

Address face and body sweating

Pregnancy-related sweating often extends beyond the underarms. Your face, chest, and under-breast area can all be affected.

For facial sweating, the Carpe Face Sweat-Absorbing Lotion helps reduce shine and absorb moisture without heavy ingredients.

For under-breast sweat — which increases as breast size grows during pregnancy — the Carpe Breast Sweat-Absorbing Lotion helps reduce chafing and moisture buildup in skin folds.

Take cool showers

A cool (not cold) shower before bed can lower your core temperature and reduce nighttime sweating. Even a cool washcloth on the back of your neck can provide quick relief during the day.

Does Sweating During Pregnancy Affect Your Baby?

Normal pregnancy sweating does not harm your baby. It is your body doing its job — regulating temperature while supporting a growing pregnancy.

The main risk to watch for is overheating (hyperthermia), particularly during exercise or in very hot environments. Sustained core temperatures above 102°F (39°C) in the first trimester have been associated with certain risks. This is why the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends staying hydrated, avoiding prolonged heat exposure, and stopping exercise if you feel overheated.

Sweating itself is protective — it is your body's way of preventing overheating. The concern is not the sweating, but situations where sweating cannot keep up with heat generation.

Will Sweating Stop After Pregnancy?

For most women, pregnancy-related sweating improves within a few weeks after delivery as hormone levels stabilize. However, some women continue to experience increased sweating postpartum — especially if they are breastfeeding, as hormonal fluctuations continue during lactation.

Night sweats can persist for several weeks to months after birth. This is a normal part of the postpartum transition and usually resolves on its own.

The Bottom Line

Sweating during pregnancy is common, normal, and driven by hormonal changes, increased blood volume, and a higher metabolic rate. It is your body's way of staying cool while supporting your growing baby.

Manage it with breathable clothing, good hydration, a cool sleep environment, and gentle, clinically tested products designed for sweat control. If the sweating is accompanied by fever, dizziness, or other unusual symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider.

You have enough to think about during pregnancy. Sweating does not need to be one of them.