How Sleep Apnea Affects Pregnancy

Because men are twice as likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea as women, it’s often thought of as being a “male disease.” While most risk factors for the disease apply to men, research is showing that more and more women are also at risk for the sleep disorder. In fact, an exclusively female condition can often cause sleep apnea symptoms—and that condition is pregnancy.

Unfortunately, suffering from sleep apnea during pregnancy can have dangerous effects on both mother and child.

For pregnant women, sleep apnea can be the caused by the many hormonal changes that take place in the female body during pregnancy, as well as the weight gain associated with pregnancy. The resulting periods of no breathing during the night create a lack of oxygen, putting the female mind into “fight or flight” mode.

The body then pumps out massive amounts of adrenaline and cortisol, leading to blood pressure increases (possible preeclampsia) as well as immense glucose production, heightening the risk of diabetes. There is greater risk for women who are already heavy before pregnancy and become obese through weight gain. 

A study by the University of South Florida found that newborns whose mothers diagnosed with sleep apnea are far more likely to wind up in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), most commonly from respiratory distress. This was thought to be because of the increase in C-section births from mothers with sleep apnea.

While sleep apnea symptoms can develop during pregnancy, they can also go away after the birth occurs because the hormones become balanced again and the baby weight comes off.

As a CPAP provider, Advanced Sleep Medicine encourages pregnant mothers and their partners to know the signs of sleep apnea so that the right steps can be taken for treatment. This can help ensure better health for you and your child.

Comments

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  2. Madalin Stunt Cars Reply

    It’s too dangerous. All kinds of diseases. It’s inevitable.

  3. Austin Reply

    This was thought to be because of the increase in C-section births from mothers with sleep apnea.

  4. quordle Reply

    Regardless of whether a woman is fat or not, according to our findings, sleep apnea may also be a factor, Louis claims. In order to reduce the risk and cure sleep apnea in young women of reproductive age before becoming pregnant, it is crucial for obstetricians and primary care doctors to identify it in their patients.

  5. Fargo Reply

    The resulting periods of no breathing during the night create a lack of oxygen, putting the female mind into “fight or flight” mode.

  6. San Marcos Reply

    While most risk factors for the disease apply to men, research is showing that more and more women are also at risk for the sleep disorder.

  7. Mount Vernon Reply

    While sleep apnea symptoms can develop during pregnancy, they can also go away after the birth occurs because the hormones become balanced again and the baby weight comes off.

  8. Happy Wheels Reply

    I was reading some of your stuff on this page and thought it was quite educational. While sleep apnea symptoms may worsen during pregnancy, it is possible that they will disappear once the mother’s hormones have normalized and the baby weight has been lost.Continue to put up.

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