Why You Get Hot Flashes During Pregnancy

Hot flashes are one of those stereotypical symptoms of menopause — or, more accurately, perimenopause.

But ... you’re pregnant. So, you can be pretty sure you’re not entering that phase of your life.

So, what’s going on here? Are pregnancy hot flashes normal? Are they telling you something important?

Not to worry, says Ob/Gyn Alison Stalzer, DO.

Hot flashes are a common pregnancy symptom, especially in the early stages. In fact, she says that up to a third of pregnant women experience hot flashes.

Dr. Stalzer shares why pregnancy can come with a side of sweat.

What causes you to be so hot during pregnancy?

Like so many pregnancy symptoms, hot flashes boil down to one thing: hormones.

The hot flashes that are associated with menopause are the result of sudden drops in estrogen. But during pregnancy, your hormone levels ramp up. Causing a similar feeling.

“Hot flashes can certainly be uncomfortable. But they’re not necessarily something to be concerned about,” Dr. Stalzer states. “Hot flashes happen during pregnancy because of all the hormonal changes that are happening at that time. Surges of estrogen and progesterone very often can be felt as hot flashes.”

You may be more prone to hot flashes during pregnancy if you:

• Have a BMI greater than 25
• Are younger than 30
• Are living with depression

Are hot flashes a sign of early pregnancy?

Hot flashes don’t tend to be among the first signs of pregnancy that you’ll notice. Things like breast tenderness, mood changes and fatigue are often some of the earliest signs.

But hot flashes are common during the first trimester and beyond.

“During the first trimester, your hormones are really ramping up to support a healthy pregnancy,” Dr. Stalzer shares. “So, that can be a time when you experience a lot of changes and symptoms.”

Hot flashes can continue well into the second trimester, too.

As you progress into pregnancy, you may still notice hot flashes. Or experience them for the first time. That may be less about hormonal fluctuations and more related to the strain of carrying a growing fetus.

But wait, there’s more.

After you deliver the baby, those hormones that helped to sustain your pregnancy take a sudden downward turn. And as they leave, you may experience ... you guessed it: hot flashes. (And with them, a hint of postpartum sweat and body odor.)

Can hot flashes predict the sex of the baby?

Some people will tell you that hot flashes are a surefire way of telling what the baby’s sex will be. (Though, whether they’re a supposed sign you’re having a boy or girl is up for debate. It just depends on who you talk to.)

It’s up there with things like having acne means your baby will a girl. Or that a low bump is a sign of a boy. Or that a baby’s heart rate is a clue to their sex.

In truth, those baby-sex-prediction legends don’t stand up to scientific scrutiny. And whether you have pregnancy hot flashes doesn’t tell you anything about the sex of the baby.

“It seems like people are often trying to tie pregnancy symptoms to a baby’s sex based on these stories that are passed down through the generations. But no research has shown a connection between hot flashes and baby’s sex,” Dr. Stalzer clarifies.

Are hot flashes more common with twins?

You may also hear that hot flashes can be a sign that you’re carrying twins. Or that having a lot of hot flashes could mean triples — or even higher-order multiples.

It makes some intuitive sense. Carrying more babies means more hormones. More hormones mean more hot flashes.

But that theory hasn’t been shown to be true in research, Dr. Stalzer reassures.

More likely, symptoms of carrying twins include things like:

• More severe morning sickness
• Rapid weight gain
• Very tender or sore breasts

But like hot flashes, these are very common symptoms of any pregnancy. And not proof that you’re carrying twins. That takes an ultrasound to know for sure.

Turning down the heat

Again, hot flashes are a normal sign of pregnancy and not a symptom that anything is wrong.

But that doesn’t mean that those sweaty nights and your clammy hands don’t make your blood boil. Hot flashes may be your body’s natural reaction to hormonal changes. But that also doesn’t mean they’re easy to deal with.

What can help?

For starters, avoid taking any herbal or “natural” remedies that claim to limit hot flashes. Those supplements aren’t well regulated. And some ingredients can be risky during pregnancy.

Instead, try to keep your cool with strategies like:

• Taking cool showers
• Using old compresses
• Staying well-hydrated
• Using fans (in your home and handheld ones for when you’re on the go)
• Dressing in lightweight clothing
• Sleeping with light bedsheets and blankets
• Trying relaxation techniques like meditation and prenatal yoga

If you’re dealing with sweating, chills or flushing that lasts, give your temperature a quick check. Just to be sure it’s not a fever that’s got you running hot.

And rest easy knowing that, like other pregnancy discomforts, hot flashes won't last forever.