For the health of the pregnant mom and unborn, it’s essential that obstructive sleep apnea is ruled out.
By Stacey Whitman
About as glamorous as stretch marks and swollen ankles, pregnancy snoring is surprisingly common and may be far more serious than simply disturbing a bedmate.
That’s because expectant moms who acquire a pregnancy snoring habit are twice as likely to develop high blood pressure or preeclampsia, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Preeclampsia is a very dangerous condition that—if left untreated—could be fatal to mother and baby.
Lead researcher Louise O’Brien says pregnant women (particularly those with high blood pressure) who experience loud snoring three nights a week or more should be screened for obstructive sleep apnea or gestational diabetes, two more serious causes of pregnancy snoring. If pregnancy snoring has become a problem for you, talk to your OB/GYN. In the meantime, there are a few ways that might help you find sweet sleep relief:
Pregnancy snoring remedies
- Apply a nasal strip before bed. It opens your nasal passageways, making pregnancy snoring less likely.
- Run a warm-mist humidifier in your bedroom. It helps keep your throat and mouth from getting dry, which is a common cause of pregnancy snoring.
- Use an extra pillow. It’ll keep your head elevated, which can stop your throat and tongue from sagging.
- Keep pregnancy weight gain in check. Too many extra pounds can increase the likelihood of pregnancy snoring.
