Snoring, sleep apnea and pregnancy.
Now as you know loud snoring may be a symptom of sleep apnea. When a person is suffering from this problem, they will stop breathing countless times during the night while they are sleeping. They will eventually start breathing with in a gap of few seconds with a feeling of breathlessness. Now this obstruction of breathing may be stressful for the body especially the heart and the brain as the amount of oxygen in the blood goes down when you don’t breathe.
- growth retardation of the fetus (low birth weight)
- pre-eclampsia (pregnancy-induced hypertension)
- placenta abruptia (tearing of the placenta from the uterine wall)
- premature delivery.
Obesity is a major risk factor for sleep apnea, and some experts believe that pregnancy may also make you more susceptible, particularly in the third trimester. The heavier you are to begin with and the more weight you gain during pregnancy, the more likely you are to have trouble breathing at night because of the extra tissue in your neck and throat.
Other factors that make you more likely to snore during pregnancy, such as swollen nasal passages, may also put you at a higher risk for sleep apnea. Higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy contribute to swelling in the mucous membranes lining the nose and can even cause you to make more mucus. Also, the amount of blood in your body increases and your blood vessels expand during pregnancy, which can lead to swollen nasal membranes as well.
What you can do about it?
If your partner notices that you’re snoring a lot and making periodic snorting or gasping sounds in your sleep, be sure to mention it to your doctor or midwife so you can be evaluated for sleep apnea.
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