Sweating after childbirth

Since women’s bodies are severely damaged during the childbirth process, they must take time to recover during the confinement period after childbirth so that they can reach their pre-pregnancy health level. After giving birth, mothers often experience some physical discomfort. Some women find that they sweat more after giving birth than before. What's going on?

Causes of postpartum sweating

One to three days after giving birth, new mothers sweat a lot. If it is summer, their clothes may get soaked with just a little exercise. This is because the body undergoes many physiological changes after giving birth, resulting in abundant sweat in the body.

1. Increased skin blood volume during pregnancy

During pregnancy, a lot of fluid between tissues will seep into blood vessels, so the blood volume will increase by 10-20%. Moreover, during pregnancy, estrogen levels increase, adrenal gland function is vigorous, the expectant mother's basal metabolism speeds up, and blood vessels dilate, all of which lead to an increase in skin blood volume. In addition, after the baby is born, the blood circulation of the placenta will stop and the uterus will begin to contract, causing a large amount of blood to return to the human circulation.

2. Excrete excess water after childbirth

After giving birth, the expectant mother's body metabolism and endocrine levels will gradually return to normal levels. In order to reduce the burden on the heart and promote postpartum recovery, the body will excrete retained water, the main methods are urination and sweating. After the water is excreted, your weight will drop rapidly and your figure will be restored to a certain extent. So mothers don’t need to worry too much, this is a normal phenomenon after giving birth.

Treatment for postpartum sweating

Mainly treated through traditional Chinese medicine.

1. Qi deficiency and spontaneous sweating

Treatment method: Replenish Qi to strengthen the body's defenses, harmonize the circulation and stop sweating.

Representative prescription: Astragalus Decoction.

Prescription: licorice, atractylodes, rehmannia root, white tuckahoe, saposhnikovia divaricata, jujube, calcined oyster shell, ophiopogon japonicus, and astragalus.

2. Yin deficiency and night sweats

Treatment method: Replenish Qi and nourish Yin, promote body fluid and restrain sweat.

Representative prescription: Shengmai San plus calcined oyster, glutinous rice root, floating wheat, and cornus fruit.

Prescription: Schisandra chinensis, ginseng, and Ophiopogon japonicus.

How to care for postpartum sweating

1. Daily care methods for postpartum sweating

(1) The indoor temperature should be appropriate, and doors and windows should be opened for ventilation. In hot weather, it can cool down the room while ensuring air circulation.

(2) The thickness of clothes and quilts should be moderate. When sweating, wipe off the sweat in time to prevent catching a cold. If conditions permit, take a bath every day or wash with warm water.

2. Postpartum sweating diet therapy care methods

(1) Astragalus and Longan Mutton Soup

Take an appropriate amount of mutton, blanch it in boiling water, then remove it and rinse it with cold water to remove the mutton smell. Then use a casserole to boil the water, add the mutton and appropriate amounts of radix polygoni aviculare, astragalus, and longan meat to cook the soup. You can season it appropriately when eating, and the broth can be eaten.

(2) Ginseng pigeon soup

Prepare the baby pigeon (the blood in the belly does not need to be cleaned), then add appropriate amount of water and Korean ginseng slices and steam them for 60 minutes. Finally, add appropriate amount of salt before eating. It is recommended to take it once a day for three consecutive days.

(3) Loach Soup

Fry the processed loaches until golden brown and set aside. Use two bowls of water to stew the glutinous rice roots. When the water is reduced to one bowl, add the loaches and stew. Add appropriate seasoning when eating, and it can be eaten with fish or soup.

(4) Lamb tripe porridge

After the glutinous rice is soaked, stuff it into the sheep's stomach together with red dates. Then sew the sheep's stomach, put it in a pot and stew it in water before eating it as a side dish. When eating, cut open the belly and season appropriately.

(5) Pork belly porridge

Rub the pig's stomach with salt, wash it and stew it with wheat until it is half cooked, then cut into shreds and set aside. Chop the astragalus, ginseng, lotus seeds, etc. into pieces, wrap them with gauze, and cook them together with the chopped stomach. When the stomach is cooked, remove the medicine bag and stomach, add rice to cook porridge, and finally add chopped green onions and appropriate seasonings. Both porridge and pork trip should be eaten.