Herbie Murray
Sleep studies can be done while pregnant. Sleep apnea is a common condition in which your breathing stops and starts several times while you sleep, preventing your body from getting enough oxygen. Sleep apnea is more common during pregnancy, with weight gain, anatomical factors, and hormonal changes being the main reasons for the connection between sleep apnea and pregnancy.
The most common sleep disorders that occur during pregnancy are obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea is when your upper airway becomes blocked several times while you sleep, reducing or completely stopping airflow. This can impede oxygen flow to the fetus and increase the risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and cesarean sections.
Sleep studies are being done to understand the use of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) in pregnancy and whether it can help women have healthier pregnancies. CPAP provides continuous air pressure throughout the airways while sleeping to keep them open and help the person breathe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can sleep studies be done while pregnant? | Yes |
| What is sleep apnea? | A sleep disorder that affects the quality of your sleep and your daytime functioning. |
| What are the symptoms of sleep apnea in women? | Frequent or loud snoring, gasping, or snorting sounds, difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, restless sleep, changes in dreaming, frequent bathroom visits at night, feeling tired, drained, or lacking energy, feeling sleepy or falling asleep at the wrong time or place, feeling depressed, anxious, or irritable, forgetfulness, lack of focus |
| What is the most commonly prescribed treatment for sleep apnea? | Continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP |
| What else can help treat sleep apnea? | Weight loss, adjusting sleep positions, and avoiding alcohol and other sedatives |
| What is the SLEEP study? | A study of the use of CPAP in pregnancy to understand if it can help women have healthier pregnancies |
| What is the risk of sleep apnea in pregnancy? | About one out of five women who are overweight or report snoring will test positive for sleep apnea in pregnancy |
| What are the risk factors for sleep apnea in pregnancy? | A history of sleep apnea or snoring before pregnancy, obesity before pregnancy, a family history of obstructive sleep apnea, having heart or kidney failure, having large tonsils and a thick neck |
| What are the common sleep disorders that occur during pregnancy? | Obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder |
| What is the best sleeping position in pregnancy? | Sleeping on the left side with the legs slightly curled |
What You'll Learn
Sleep apnea in pregnancy: causes and risk factors
Sleep apnea is a common condition where your breathing stops and starts several times while you sleep, interrupting your sleep. It occurs when your upper airway gets partially or completely blocked during sleep, pausing your breathing for 10 seconds or longer. This can happen hundreds of times a night and can have serious health implications.
Causes and Risk Factors
Sleep apnea can develop during pregnancy due to a combination of hormonal changes, weight gain, and physical changes. Here are the key causes and risk factors:
- Hormonal Changes: Higher levels of certain hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, can contribute to sleep apnea. Estrogen can cause nasal congestion, making it harder to breathe, while progesterone can relax the airway muscles, increasing the risk of apnea.
- Weight Gain: As weight gain is a known risk factor for sleep apnea, gaining weight during pregnancy can increase the likelihood of developing the condition. Weight gain can put extra pressure on the airways, making breathing more difficult.
- Physical Changes: The growing uterus and baby can put pressure on the lungs, reducing air volume and increasing the breathing rate. Additionally, as the baby grows, sleeping on the back becomes less comfortable, and sleeping on the back is a risk factor for sleep apnea.
- Pre-existing Conditions: Pregnant individuals with obesity, gestational diabetes, or a history of sleep apnea are at a higher risk of developing sleep apnea during pregnancy.
- Other Risk Factors: A large neck size, exposure to smoking, and a family history of sleep apnea can also increase the risk.
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Sleep apnea in pregnancy: symptoms and diagnosis
Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing stops and starts multiple times while you sleep, interrupting your sleep. It occurs when your upper airway gets blocked, partially or completely, during sleep. This pause in breathing can last for 10 seconds or longer.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy
Sleep apnea in pregnancy can make you feel more tired, groggy, or irritable in the morning. Other symptoms include:
- Racing heart at night
- Morning headaches
- Trouble staying asleep
- Snoring loudly
- Gasping or choking in sleep
Diagnosis of Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy
If you think you have sleep apnea, it is important to consult your doctor. They will evaluate your symptoms and examine your mouth, nose, and throat. They may also refer you to a sleep specialist, who will run a sleep study, or polysomnography, to measure your airflow, breathing patterns, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy
The treatment for sleep apnea depends on its severity and your symptoms. Doctors usually treat milder cases by recommending that you sleep on your side and use a wedge pillow to help keep your airway open. In more severe cases, doctors may prescribe a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which provides a continuous flow of air to a mask that you wear over your nose and mouth while you sleep.
Outlook for Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy
Research suggests that sleep apnea improves or resolves completely after pregnancy, especially if you didn't have it before you got pregnant. Weight loss can also help improve sleep apnea.
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Sleep apnea in pregnancy: treatment
Sleep apnea is a common condition in which your breathing stops and starts several times while you sleep, preventing your body from getting enough oxygen. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep apnea, and it occurs when the upper airways collapse during sleep, temporarily blocking airflow and causing interruptions in ventilation. Central sleep apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain has trouble controlling the muscles necessary for taking in air, leading to slower and more shallow breathing. Mixed or complex sleep apnea is a combination of both OSA and CSA.
Pregnancy can increase the risk of developing sleep apnea due to weight gain, hormonal changes, and anatomical factors. Estrogen increases during pregnancy can cause nasal congestion, making it harder to breathe. As the pregnancy progresses, the pressure of the uterus on the diaphragm leads to a decrease in lung function residual capacity, which contributes to an increased collapsibility of the airways.
The risk factors for sleep apnea in pregnancy include a history of sleep apnea or snoring before pregnancy, obesity, a family history of OSA, heart or kidney failure, large tonsils, and a thick neck. Symptoms of sleep apnea in pregnancy include snoring, feeling tired during the day, waking up with a headache, atypical weight gain, choking during sleep, and elevated blood pressure.
Treatment for sleep apnea in pregnancy usually starts with lifestyle changes, such as sleeping on the side and using a wedge pillow to support the back. If apnea is severe or persists, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine may be recommended to provide a gentle flow of air to a mask worn over the nose, keeping the airway open. Oral appliances, such as a mouthpiece fitted by a dentist, can also help keep the throat open.
There is some evidence that OSA in pregnancy will improve after delivery, especially with weight loss. However, weight loss alone may not always resolve sleep apnea, and other approaches may be necessary.
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Sleep position in pregnancy
Sleep is an essential part of prenatal care, and it's common for pregnant women to experience insomnia. The best sleep position during pregnancy is sleeping on your side, as this provides the best circulation for you and your baby. Sleeping on your left side will increase the amount of blood and nutrients that reach the placenta and your baby. It also places the least pressure on your veins and internal organs, and can help reduce potential swelling, varicose veins in your legs, and haemorrhoids.
Sleeping on your back can cause problems with backaches, breathing, the digestive system, haemorrhoids, low blood pressure, and decrease circulation to your heart and your baby. This is due to your growing abdomen resting on your intestines and major blood vessels. Sleeping on your stomach is uncomfortable in the later stages of pregnancy, as your breasts become more tender and your abdomen continues to grow.
To get comfortable sleeping on your side, try keeping your legs and knees bent, and putting a pillow between your legs to relieve the stress on your back. You can also place a pillow under your abdomen for support.
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Sleep disorders in pregnancy
Sleep disorders during pregnancy are common, affecting more than half of pregnant women. The most prevalent sleep disorders are insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), and restless legs syndrome (RLS).
Insomnia
Pregnancy-related insomnia is often caused by physical discomfort, hormonal changes, and anxiety about motherhood. It is more common in the third trimester and affects sleep quality rather than duration. Insomnia during pregnancy is a risk factor for postpartum depression.
Sleep-disordered breathing
SDB, which includes snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), affects 3-27% of pregnant women, depending on the stage of pregnancy and diagnostic method. Risk factors include weight gain, nasal congestion, and hormonal changes. SDB is associated with adverse outcomes such as gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth.
Restless legs syndrome
RLS affects 25-30% of pregnant women, typically in the third trimester. It is characterised by an irresistible urge to move the legs due to uncomfortable sensations. RLS is associated with adverse outcomes such as gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth.
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Frequently asked questions
Research has shown that sleeping on your back in the third trimester (after 28 weeks of pregnancy) increases your risk of stillbirth. The advice is to sleep on your side as it is safer for your baby.
Symptoms of sleep apnea in pregnancy include frequent or loud snoring, gasping, or snorting sounds, difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, restless sleep, changes in dreaming, frequent bathroom visits at night, feeling tired, drained, or lacking energy, feeling sleepy or falling asleep at the wrong time or place, feeling depressed, anxious, or irritable, and forgetfulness or lack of focus.
The most commonly prescribed treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP. Weight loss, adjusting sleep positions, and avoiding alcohol and other sedatives can also help.
The SLEEP study is a research study to identify pregnant women with sleep apnea and to find out if using a CPAP machine can lower the risk of developing preeclampsia and gestational diabetes in pregnant women with sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects the quality of your sleep and your daytime functioning. In a person with sleep apnea, air movement is periodically diminished or stopped. In obstructive sleep apnea, breathing is abnormal because of narrowing or closure of the throat.
