Has anyone told you that you are snoring even before you got pregnant? Some women may say they have no experience of anyone complaining that they snore, and it is only when they became pregnant that they started snoring as if they are so tired the whole day! Studies show that pregnant moms-to-be, about one in ten, start to snore even during the early months of their first trimester. As the pregnancy progresses, more and more moms are now experiencing snoring during sleep. Let us discover why pregnancy makes women have the tendency to snore and what impact it would have on their health and babies. Are you also snoring during pregnancy? This dental sleep clinic in Melbourne advises that after giving birth, your snoring should subside if it is not associated with any medical problem.
Snoring during pregnancy: Why does it happen?
Women during pregnancy have elevated levels of the estrogen and progesterone hormones which can cause the mucous membranes in your nasal passages to swell and cause congestion. Weight can also be a contributing factor to snoring during pregnancy. If you are on the heavier side while pregnant and have a higher BMI that would consider you an overweight, the likelihood of you snoring during pregnancy. This may be due to the soft tissue that adds extra weight around your neck. The soft tissue weight causes the narrowing of your airways and affecting how well you breathe during sleep, which may result in snoring.
What can I do to stop snoring while being pregnant?
For most childbearing women, snoring during pregnancy is an annoying scenario than a real problem. If your husband or partner suddenly mentions that you have started snoring, do not hesitate to bring it up to your OB during your next appointment so she can assess your overall condition to see if it is just an irritating sleeping habit. Because some doctors associate snoring with acquired gestational diabetes, and you would want to be informed if you are stricken by this condition early on so the safety of your bay, as well as yourself, are ensured. Your doctor would recommend that you get your glucose screening test at week 24 to 28 or if need be. This will determine if it really is diabetes that causes you to snore or it is just an annoying habit.
Your snoring can also be tied to sleep apnea, a breathing disorder that can deprive you and potentially your baby of oxygen. This happens when you have irregular breathing patterns and your breathing stops abruptly for a few seconds. This is more commonly observed in pregnant women during their third trimester and in women, pregnant or not, who are overweight. Because sleep apnea can put you at greater risk of complications such as preeclampsia or high blood pressure during pregnancy, it’s especially important to let your doctor know if you are snoring way more than usual.
How can I prevent snoring during pregnancy?
- Lie on your side.
- Try using a humidifier during sleep.
- Lie down with your head elevated using several pillows.
- Maintain a healthy weight even while pregnant.
- Ask your doctor for safe nasal dilators or strips to make breathing better while sleeping.
Snoring while pregnant is not something that should upset or alarm you. With that said, if you know your snoring makes you lose sleep, interrupts with your husband or partner’s sleep, and is making you feel tired the rest of the day, then there is nothing wrong if you present this information to your OB. She will be the one who can better assess your condition and see if there is a medical condition that causes your snoring or it is just a loud habit that you acquire while being pregnant.
