Snoring During Pregnancy Can Cause Complications
Bernard Loten
All sorts of people snore for all sorts of reasons. Snoring can be caused by weight, muscle tone, airway obstructions and a host of other medical conditions. Men, women and children are all prone to snoring.
While snoring is not pleasant for anyone, during pregnancy, snoring is especially worrisome. It can be caused by hypertension, which is a very serious condition for both mother and fetus, which can lead to death. Hypertension can also lead to developmental delays in the fetus.
Snoring during pregnancy can also be a warning of a pre-eclampsia. This condition causes hypertension, swelling of the limbs and protein in the urine. Snoring can also be a sign of toxemia. Excessive sleeping during the day is another indicator of potential problems.
There is an increase in the production of blood during pregnancy, to help the mother provide nourishment for her growing fetus. A woman's blood vessels will actually increase in size throughout her body. When the vessels in the throat and nose increase in size, the mucus membranes sometimes become bloated. The result can be obstructions that make it harder to breathe, and lead to intense snoring.
Scientists have indicated that pregnant women have greater snoring frequency, and up to a quarter of women will be snoring during the last three months of their pregnancy. Women who snored prior to pregnancy will likely find the volume of their snoring increases a great deal once pregnant.
As stated earlier, obesity is a cause of snoring, and similarly, more than ten percent of women gain excess weight during pregnancy. Researchers say that prior snorers often have greater snoring, and can also have swelling in the feet, legs, hands, and face.
A serious concern with snoring during pregnancy is that the infants borne to pregnant snorers can experience certain difficulties. These babies may be born with low birth weights and lower APGAR scores, usually scoring seven or less. Seven percent of snoring moms gave birth to babies with reduced APGAR scores. It's important to note, however, that many of these women smoked during pregnancy, which can also greatly affect newborn birth weight.
Reducing or even eliminating snoring during pregnancy is a worthwhile goal. Removing caffeine from the diet can help because caffeine creates more snoring by narrowing one's airways. Expectant moms often find relief by sleeping on their side, using an extra pillow to help keep airways open.
Using nasal strips is another effective method to reduce or stop snoring. Nasal strips are non-invasive, prescription-free appliances that are worn on the outside of the nose to open the airways during sleep.
Upper respiratory issues and other breathing problems are enhanced during pregnancy. Weight gain brings increased pressure on the diaphragm, and that can lead to breathing restrictions.
But if you let your snoring act as a warning flag, you can discuss the problem with your healthcare provider. She can give you advice about your current needs, and outline potential problems for your fetus. Snoring is not just a silly habit. Treat is as a medical condition, and you will be less likely to risk complications for your new infant.
Columnist Bernard Loten is a writer for numerous popular Internet sites, on
http://shakeable.com/ healthy body and
http://shakeable.com/ fitness program subjects.
