Sleeping While Pregnant
Women experience an abundance of physical and emotional feelings throughout their nine-month journey of pregnancy. Their hormones are constantly surging, their body goes through all sorts of changes, and their sleep pattern may even be affected.
It’s very common for women to experience sleep troubles in their third trimester of pregnancy. During this final stretch before the newborn arrives, frequent urination occurs, getting in a comfortable position is challenging, and insomnia are all factors that are likely to affect a pregnant woman.
However, if you’ve been noticing sleep problems in your first trimester, it may not be your pregnancy causing these complications and instead, it may be a sign of a severe sleep disorder like sleep apnea.
Signs & Risks of Sleep Apnea During Pregnancy
Many pregnant women begin snoring more because of increased swelling in their nasal passages which results in a blocked breathing airway. You may be unaware of your snoring at night, but your significant other is often the first to notice an increase in the loud noises you’re making as you struggle to breathe at night.
Snoring can also cause high blood pressure which is harmful to both you and your fetus. These warning signs can be the first indication of sleep apnea and you should seek out a sleep study right away.
A sleep study can be given by a board-certified sleep physician at a lab where they identify if your snoring is just a small symptom of your pregnancy or determine if it’s a sign of sleep apnea. Receiving a proper diagnosis will benefit you and your unborn baby and can be the start of attaining quality sleep.
If your snoring is accompanied by severe daytime fatigue, extreme mood changes, headaches, and swollen legs, it’s likely to be sleep apnea. If left untreated, the sleep disorder can greatly affect you and your fetus.
Many studies have found that habitual snoring during pregnancy can lead to risks such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, pulmonary edema, and intrauterine growth restriction for your baby.
Women may also experience maternal obesity, lower blood-oxygen levels, and an increased need for a cesarean section. These potential risks are far too dangerous for you and your baby, and luckily can be easily avoided by seeking proper care.
Find Relief with Dr. Greenman
Here in Westlake Village, we can help women find the most suitable treatment for their sleep apnea that will greatly benefit them and their expected baby. After receiving a sleep study and official diagnosis of sleep apnea, your doctor is likely to first prescribe you with a CPAP mask.
A CPAP mask is strapped onto your face and regularly blows gentle air through your lungs and nasal passages to clear out any obstruction in the airway that’s interfering with your breathing pattern. Although highly effective, some women don’t stick to CPAP because of its discomfort and claustrophobic feel.
We know about the difficulties pregnant women experience while sleeping, so we want to make apnea treatment even easier and more comfortable than ever with an oral appliance. You can see if this method is right for you by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Greenman. He can assist you by creating a personalized treatment plan as well as suggesting other ways to help relieve your snoring at home.
