Pregnancy Snoring Affects Mother’s Blood Pressure And Child Growth!

Why snoring begins suddenly in pregnant women?

There are many physical and emotional factors that contribute to snoring during pregnancy.

The problem increases in the third trimester. Pregnancy snoring is common and almost one quarter of women suffer frequent snoring.

According to one study, snoring is a sign of elevated upper airway resistance and obstructive sleep apnea and is associated with coronary artery disease and arterial hypertension.

Due to snoring, daytime sleepiness has increased among women during pregnancy. Snoring during pregnancy is not a joke. Pregnancy snoring can lead to high blood pressure, putting mother and child at risk.

Causes of Pregnancy Snoring:

• Many changes occur within the respiratory system during pregnancy which can alter the function of sleep increasing the problems of sleep disordered breathing. The changes in the respiratory system include increased ventilator drive and metabolic rate and changes in upper airway patency.
• During pregnancy, circulating estrogen and progesterone levels increase noticeably. An increase in circulating blood volume gives rise to nasal congestion and rhinitis.
• Pregnancy snoring occurs with upper airway narrowing. This narrowing is caused due to over weight and distention of the abdomen during pregnancy. The fat deposited in the soft tissue of the neck and around the upper airways increases neck size and narrows the airway. Therefore the blood pressure rises in pregnant women as the airways become narrower.

Pregnant women should alter the sleeping position to overcome snoring. Pregnant women feel more relaxed when they sleep on sides to avoid the weight of their stomach especially during trimester.

If your snoring is frequent and loud, it may be a sign of sleep apnea. Your airway becomes blocked causing you to stop breathing in your sleep hundreds of times a night.

If oxygen is deprived in pregnant women with sleep apnea, it is related to growth retardation of the fetus and sometimes, death. If pregnancy snoring is excessive, consult the physician because the condition can be devastating to the mother and unborn child.

Children born to mothers who were snoring during pregnancy frequently had low birth weight, retarding heart rate, muscle tone, and skin color. Babies are born with low APGAR weights, usually scoring seven or less.

Pregnancy snoring can be warning sign of pre-eclampsia. This condition causes hypertension, swelling of the limbs and protein in the urine. Snoring can also be a sign of toxemia. Excessive sleeping during the day is another indication of potential problems.

Prevent Pregnancy Snoring:

Pregnancy snoring can be reduced or even eliminated. Avoid caffeine, as caffeine narrows the airways and creates more snoring.

• Avoid alcohol, tobacco and sleeping pills as these three can make airways more narrow.
• Sleeping on side with extra pillow can help to breathe with open airway. Nasal strips can be used to reduce or eliminate snoring.
• Wearing a CPAP mask maintains oxygen intake and can treat people who snore and suffer from sleep apnea during pregnancy months.