What's
the Link Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Pregnancy?
It's
no secret that sleeping is more difficult while you're pregnant. Early
pregnancy insomnia, difficulty getting comfortable, and numerous late-night
potty stops can all make getting adequate sleep challenging, even when you need
it.
You
may notice that you start snoring as your pregnancy continues.
But
it turns out that there's another factor that makes obtaining enough good sleep
difficult: sleep apnea, a disorder that studies estimate affects up to 26% of
all pregnancies.
What
is obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive
sleep apnea is a disorder in which your breathing periodically stops while you
sleep, causing you to wake up.
During
the night, your upper airway, which includes the base of your tongue and soft
palate, becomes partially or completely obstructed or collapses, halting your
breathing for 10 seconds or longer.
Hundreds
of times during the night, this happens. When your breathing returns to normal,
you may snore loudly or even gasp or choke.
During
pregnancy, what causes obstructive sleep apnea?
Sleep
apnea can be caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Hormones,
for example, can cause the mucus membranes in your nose to swell, making you
feel more clogged than usual – leading to snoring and sleep apnea.
Another
hormone, progesterone, activates muscles, which might cause your airway to
relax and lead to sleep apnea.
Furthermore,
as you gain weight during your pregnancy, your airways may become more
obstructed, making it more difficult to breathe at night.
Your
uterus and baby are also putting pressure on your lungs, lowering air volume
and speeding up your breathing.
As
your pregnancy advances, you'll be less likely to sleep on your back, which
raises your risk of sleep apnea.
What
are the dangers of having obstructive sleep apnea when pregnant?
Obstructive
sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which the quality of your sleep is
disrupted. As a result, if you have sleep apnea, you will most likely wake up
feeling tired and groggy. This is because each time your breathing pauses, you
will partially awaken to force yourself to breathe again, resulting in a
shallower sleep.
For
you
Sleep
apnea, when left untreated, has a negative impact on your overall health
because when you stop breathing, your blood oxygen level drops and your heart
rate rises.
That's
why, even if you're not pregnant, the illness can put you at risk for or
contribute to a variety of other health problems, including:
· illness
of the heart
· depression
· stroke
· Diabetes
· memory
loss.
· blood
pressure that is too high
· Asthma
· high
cholesterol
· acid
reflux
· immune
system dysfunction
Sleep
apnea, on the other hand, can increase the risk of gestational hypertension
(high blood pressure) and gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
It
has also been linked to:
· protracted
labour
· unscheduled
cesarian sections.
· preeclampsia,
which can result in organ damage, stillbirth, and death.
· Obesity
Hypoventilation syndrome is a breathing problem in which your blood contains
too much carbon dioxide but not enough oxygen.
For
baby
Sleep
apnea can create alterations in your blood vessels, lowering the volume of
blood pushed by your heart, because interruptions in breathing can trigger
surges in blood pressure. This can impair blood flow to the baby through the
placenta, resulting in a decline in oxygen levels in the newborn.
This
can result in a dip in your baby's heart rate or acidosis. It can also cause
foetal growth restriction, a disease in which your baby does not grow as
predicted while in the womb, resulting in their being smaller than their
gestational age.
When
sleep is disrupted during pregnancy, the quantity of growth hormone released is
reduced, which can lead to not only growth but also developmental disorders. It
can also increase your baby's risk of premature birth, as well as health
problems and even death.
During
pregnancy, who is more prone to develop obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive
sleep apnea can affect any pregnant woman.
If
you have obesity, gain weight too quickly during pregnancy, or have gestational
diabetes, your risk is increased. If you have a deviated septum or a broader
neck, you're more prone to get it.
How
to know if you're pregnant and have obstructive sleep apnea
In
general, sleep apnea makes you feel weary, foggy, and irritated in the morning.
Other
signs and symptoms to look out for include:
· teeth
grinding
· throat
irritation
· At
night, my heart is racing.
· irritability
· morning
headaches
· Having
difficulty sleeping
Your
partner or anybody else who watches you sleep might notice that you're snoring
louder, that you're gagging or choking, or that you stop breathing for 10
seconds or more at a time.
How
is obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed during pregnancy?
It's
critical to tell your OB-GYN or healthcare professional if you or a loved one
suspects you have sleep apnea throughout your pregnancy.
Your
doctor will most likely ask you about your symptoms before examining your
mouth, nose, and throat.
They
may also refer you to a sleep specialist, who will do a sleep study (also known
as polysomnography) to assess your airflow, breathing patterns, and blood
oxygen levels while you sleep.
This
will aid them in determining the severity of your sleep apnea and developing an
effective treatment strategy for you.
What
are the options for treating obstructive sleep apnea while pregnant?
Treatment
will be determined by the degree of your sleep apnea and the symptoms you're
experiencing.
Your
doctor will most likely advise you to start with adhesive breathing strips,
which assist open up your nostrils and allow you to breathe more easily while
sleeping.
They
may also suggest saline sprays, saline rinses, and humidifiers in your sleeping
area to aid with any nasal congestion you're experiencing.
They
may also provide an over-the-counter decongestant that is safe to take during
pregnancy in some cases; however, always see your doctor before taking any
medication on your own.
They
may also suggest some dietary changes to assist you in gaining weight at a
healthy rate throughout your pregnancy.
They
may prescribe the following in more serious cases of sleep apnea:
· Patches
for sleep apnea
· continuous
positive airway pressure machine with a customised mouthpiece (CPAP)
· fitting
by your dentist to maintain your jaw forward and tongue in a different posture
CPAP
devices, which require you to wear a mask over your nose and mouth while
sleeping, are frequently covered by insurance. This mask provides a mild,
constant flow of air to keep your airways open and allow you to breathe
normally.
What
you can do at home to help prevent obstructive sleep apnea while you're
pregnant?
If
your sleep apnea isn't severe, your doctor will likely give you some home
remedies to try before ordering a CPAP machine.
These
can include:
Sleep
positions
Sleeping
on your back may aggravate sleep apnea. As a result, your doctor will advise
you to sleep on your left side while pregnant.
Consider
obtaining a body pillow or cushion wedge to help you feel more comfortable on
your side if this isn't your regular sleeping position — or if you keep waking
up to find that you've rolled over in your sleep.
You
can also use anything behind your back to warn yourself not to roll into the
wrong posture, such as a tennis ball strapped to your back or a hard book next
to you in bed.
Healthy
eating choices
Gaining
weight at a doctor-recommended rate will help minimise your risk of sleep
apnea, which is why, when you're pregnant, it's vital to focus on nutritious
foods that keep you full — rather than snacking.
Consult
your doctor if you're gaining weight too quickly or are unclear about what you
can and can't consume during pregnancy. They'll be able to give some
suggestions for you.
Wear
nasal strips
As
previously indicated, over-the-counter nasal strips can help keep your airways
free and clear as you sleep, reducing snoring and sleep apnea.
What
are the chances of having obstructive sleep apnea while pregnant?
In
general, sleep apnea can be addressed with treatment, lowering your chance of
long-term health issues.
Does
it go away when the baby is born?
It
is debatable.
According
to research, sleep apnea improves or disappears completely during pregnancy,
especially if you didn't have it previously.
In
general, sleep apnea improves with weight reduction, so as your uterus returns
to its normal size and you shed some of the additional weight from pregnancy,
you may notice an improvement.
If
you don't, tell your doctor so they can talk to you about long-term therapy
alternatives.
Does
it have an impact on the baby?
Although
it's unknown what the long-term effects of sleep apnea on babies are after
they're born, several smaller studies have suggested that there may be some.
One
older study identified a link between children born to mothers who have sleep
apnea and lower social development scores, while another discovered shorter
telomere lengths in their DNA, which can contribute to age-related disease.
However,
further research is needed before we can be certain about the long-term impacts
on the baby.
In
conclusion
Sleep
apnea can develop during pregnancy, particularly as your baby grows in your
uterus and puts pressure on your lungs, as well as as you gain weight. Hormones
might also raise your chances of developing sleep apnea.
You
may develop gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth, extended labour,
or an unplanned c-section as a result of this. It can also put your baby at
risk of not reaching gestational milestones and not growing.
The
good news is that there are therapies available, including as nasal strips and
CPAP machines, that you can try. It's possible that your condition will improve
once your kid arrives.