Pregnancy brings about many miraculous changes in the body. In addition to the physical discomfort that can disrupt sleep, especially towards the third trimester, sleep apnea during pregnancy can also occur. For expectant mothers who already have sleep apnea, they may experience a worsening of symptoms. Here’s everything you need to know to reduce your risk and treat your symptoms.
What’s the link between sleep apnea and pregnancy?
Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disordered breathing that can affect anyone. There are three types of sleep apnea.
- Obstructive sleep apnea: The most common type of sleep apnea in all of those who suffer, the airway is blocked during sleep when the throat muscles relax
- Central sleep apnea: A rare type of sleep disordered breathing where the brain “forgets” to send the signal to breathe
- Complex sleep apnea: Even rarer still, this results when the throat relaxes, blocking the airway, and the brain does not notice or trigger the impulse to breathe
An estimated 25 million people in the U.S. suffer from sleep apnea, with another estimated 80% of cases going undiagnosed.
In terms of the link between sleep apnea and pregnancy, many factors that increase the risk in non-pregnant people contribute to an increased risk in pregnancy as well. Some of the more common ones are below.
Pregnancy complications may be linked to weight gain
Pregnancy means weight gain, with the specific amount of weight gained being very individual to the expectant mother. While gaining weight is, of course, entirely normal, excessive weight gain may result in an increased risk of sleep apnea.
Obesity is one of the major factors in a sleep apnea diagnosis, no matter why the weight is gained. We recognize the considerable difference between obesity and pregnancy, but the body does not always.
Pregnancy complications include nasal swelling and congestion
Extra estrogen produced during pregnancy can cause nasal swelling and congestion, leading to an increase in snoring for approximately 30% of pregnant women.
As snoring is another common risk factor for sleep apnea, snoring during pregnancy can be an early warning sign of serious breathing complications at night.
Can pregnancy cause sleep apnea?
It’s important to note that pregnancy does not cause sleep apnea. Sleep apnea and pregnancy are likely related, but pregnancy in and of itself does not cause sleep apnea.
Instead, bodily changes that occur during pregnancy are sometimes related to higher incidences of sleep apnea.
What are sleep apnea pregnancy complications and risks?
Sleep apnea pregnancy complications and risks are substantial for both mother and baby. Sleep apnea increases the risk of developing both gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Both conditions can be life-threatening for mother and child.
Mothers with sleep apnea during pregnancy are also three times more likely to deliver via cesarean section.
Sleep apnea effects on fetus include challenges with breathing. Newborns often need more breathing interventions on neonatal intensive care if their mothers had sleep apnea during pregnancy.
These risks are on top of other sleep apnea complications that include increased risk of stroke, depression, heart disease, and high blood pressure – all of which can directly affect both mother and child as the pregnancy progresses.
Does sleep apnea go away after pregnancy?
For mothers diagnosed with sleep apnea during pregnancy, there is a good chance that after your baby is born the sleep apnea will go away. This occurs most often as the mother returns to a healthy pre-pregnancy weight.
As a general rule of thumb, for breastfeeding moms it takes about a year to return to pre-pregnancy weight while adapting to the routine of caring for a new baby. There are many different factors that can influence this, so check with your doctor to develop a sensible diet and exercise plan.
If pregnancy weight gain sticks around, sleep apnea may linger as well. If you have other risk factors for sleep apnea, such as a genetic link or other issues with your upper respiratory system, your sleep apnea may not resolve itself postpartum.
How to treat sleep apnea during pregnancy
While sleep may be in short supply as your pregnancy progresses, obstructive sleep apnea during a healthy pregnancy is rare. But it does occur.
If you or someone you love is an expectant mother, be on the lookout for the following signs of sleep apnea:
- Daytime fatigue and excessive sleepiness
- Snoring
- Fogginess and difficulty concentrating
- Noticeable cessation of breath followed by a choking intake of air during sleep
- Dry mouth or sore throat upon awakening
- Morning headache
- Nighttime sweating unrelated to pregnancy
- High blood pressure
While it can be difficult to separate these symptoms from the other physical challenges of being pregnant, it can be good to check in with your doctor to see if they indicate trouble. You can even check in with your sleep apnea dentist. AZ Dentist now offers an at-home sleep apnea test that makes it easy to get a diagnosis.
Treating sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is highly treatable. Whether you are newly-diagnosed with pregnancy related sleep apnea or if you had a previous diagnosis, there are steps you can take to reduce pauses in breathing to ensure a good night’s sleep for you and your baby.
These include:
- Getting plenty of exercise to maintain healthy weight gain
- Sleeping on your left side for good blow flow and circulation to the fetus (and because this is the best position to reduce the chances of sleep apnea)
- Asking your sleep apnea dentist about a night guard to help keep airways open
- Using plenty of pillows to support yourself and your baby, including a sleep apnea pillow
- For severe obstructive sleep apnea, considering a CPAP machine
Pregnancy is a joyous event that nevertheless brings with it plenty of challenges.
If you experience symptoms of sleep apnea during pregnancy but cannot bear the thought of a sleep study in a clinic, get in touch with AZ Dentist today. We are your sleep apnea dentist with options for at-home testing and treatment that can help you get a good night’s sleep!
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