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If you find it snoring to be curious after you are pregnant, know that it is a natural process for most women. Snoring in pregnancy is considered normal and according to experts, it usually occurs in the second trimester of pregnancy, disappearing after the baby arrives .
The physical change that occurs causing snoring in pregnancy is related to progesterone, which can cause swelling in the airways , leading to partial blockage of the air passage.
This slight swelling can cause sleep apnea , whose main characteristic is the manifestation of loud snoring and short periods of interruption of the act of breathing during sleep. It is believed that half of pregnant women have sleep apnea during pregnancy and that after delivery , the problem ceases to exist.
Learn How To Stop Snoring In Pregnancy
Even though it is considered a common problem during pregnancy , many women may feel uncomfortable or have compromised nights of sleep. Some tips could help the pregnant woman to stop snoring during the night, improving the quality of sleep.
Position when sleeping – The position considered ideal is the one on the side, which can facilitate the passage of air, since the position of the belly up would be the least recommended, due to the opposite effect.
Products that can help – The nasal strips or dilators can help to minimize snoring events during pregnancy, because they dilate the nose and facilitate the passage of air, improving the quality of breathing.
Pillows – There are pillows on the market known as anti-snoring that help in better support of the head, leaving the airways free, which facilitates breathing.
Nasal CPAP – This is a device used to clear the airways, it can even be rented at specific stores.
Weight care – Excess weight is also often pointed out as one of the causes of snoring, therefore, taking care of the diet and trying to practice some physical activity during pregnancy is recommended.
Does Snoring Harm the Baby?
In a survey conducted by the University of Michigan, United States, 1600 pregnant women were observed and the conclusion of the study pointed out that in women who snored regularly (three nights or more) per week, there was a higher incidence of cesarean delivery than in women. that didn’t snore.
Already according to the British newspaper Daily Mail, scientists after analyzing 1673 cases of pregnant women came to the conclusion that women who claimed to suffer from chronic snoring, that is, that before pregnancy they had the problem would be two thirds more susceptible to having children 10% below normal weight .
When it comes to a sleep apnea problem, the ideal would be for the pregnant woman to seek a specialist to check the problem, because one of the symptoms of apnea is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) that can interrupt breathing for some periods while the person sleeps.
In severe cases, this interruption of breathing can occur dozens of times in a night, which causes a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood, if it is a severe case of sleep apnea, there is a risk of hypertension or pre- eclampsia.
IMPORTANT: In the case of women who already suffered from the problem of sleep apnea before pregnancy, it is important that the specialist is informed so that preventive and treatment measures can be taken to improve the quality of life.
Measures That Can Reduce the Incidence of Snoring in Pregnancy
In pregnancy, weight care is essential , and being overweight is also a factor in worsening snoring during sleep. The ideal is for the pregnant woman to follow a healthy diet including daily consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Physical exercise can improve the quality of breathing . During pregnancy, the most recommended are aquatic exercises such as swimming and water aerobics and moderate aerobics such as walking, preferably in places with shade and green area.
The change of pillows and bedding should be frequent, the accumulation of dust mites can generate allergic reactions and even trigger episodes of snoring during the night.
Although pregnant women know about the rich in smoking and alcohol , it is worth emphasizing that these practices also act in obstructing the airways, increasing the incidence of snoring during the night, in addition to harming the child’s health.
If snoring episodes do not go away after the baby is born, it is important that the woman seek specialized help for the treatment of the problem. If it is a case of sleep apnea, it is essential to have treatment , as different from what was believed for many years, frequent snoring is not normal and can cause damage to health.
See also: The Best Position for Pregnant Women to Sleep
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
