Snoring In Pregnancy

Your husband has told you repeatedly that your snoring is keeping him awake. What? It's always been the other way around. He must be kidding. You're snoring? Is he serious? If he is, then is this a serious problem?

It's Not An Uncommon to Snore When Pregnant

Snoring during pregnancy is not uncommon, although, nobody ever tells you that you'll begin to snore when you're pregnant. According to some studies, nearly 30 percent of women snore by the end of their pregnancy while only about 4 percent of women snore before they become pregnant. As a rule, snoring progressively increases and becomes full blown in the third trimester of pregnancy.

A Study From Sweden Shows Some Interesting Results About Pregnancy Snoring

Researchers in Sweden, at the Umea University Hospital did a study on the snoring-related occurrence of preeclampsia during pregnancy. Preeclampsia is only manifest during pregnancy, usually occurring after 20 weeks, and it affects nearly 7 percent of all pregnant women. While it is not easily diagnosed, there are telltale signs which characterize preeclampsia - increased blood pressure, protein in the urine and swelling. Feeling sleepy during the day, headaches, vision problems abnormalities with liver function and vomiting are also signs of preeclampsia. There is no single sign that indicates the onset of preeclampsia.

The Swedish study of more than 500 pregnant women garnered the following findings:

· Snoring became habitual in 23 percent of the women during the last week of pregnancy.

· 11 percent of habitual snorers suffered with sleep apnea while only 2 percent of non-frequent snorers experienced the same thing.

· Pronounced weight increases were noted by habitual snorers.

· 14 percent had pregnancy-induced hypertension.

· 10 percent met the requirements for preeclampsia with hypertension and proteinuria compared to 4 percent of non-frequent snorers.

· Daytime sleepiness started earlier in women who were snorers.

· Edema (swelling) was greater in women who snored habitually,

· 52 percent of women who snored had edema of the face, hands, legs or feet.

· Lower birth weight and lower Apgar scores were noted in babies born to women who snored.

· More than 7 percent of infants born to women who snored suffered with growth retardation as compared to 2.6 percent for non-habitual snorers.

· Snoring remained a significant factor in growth retardation after allowances for weight, age and smoking habits.

· Habitual snorers who had preeclampsia began snoring before any sign of hypertension or proteinuria was present.

Some Additional Information on Pregnancy Snoring

It was also discovered that the airways narrow when women are in their third trimester of pregnancy. Women with preeclampsia showed even narrower nasal passages than non-preeclampsia women.

Pregnancy Snoring - A Precursor to Preeclampsia

There does appear to be a strong link between snoring, preeclampsia and lower birth weights, and snoring is proving to be a predictor of preeclampsia, even more than the signs of increased blood pressure and protein in the urine.

The medical way of dealing with this is to monitor the mother very closely and deliver the baby as soon as possible. Breathing has a direct affect on body function and it has been proven that poor breathing is closely related to high blood pressure, increased liver workload and fluid retention - all symptoms of preeclampsia.

Learn Some Breathing Exercises for Snoring

Controlling breathing may be as simple as learning some breathing techniques and checking your diet and lifestyle habits. In the end, it may help prevent preeclampsia and the related problems associated with it.