Are you pregnant and have you snored lately? You may already be suffering from sleep apnea.

Pregnancy leads women to a lot of emotional and physical changes, which are mainly caused by hormonal changes, with estrogen being the dominant hormone during pregnancy. The increase in estrogen reportedly causes the neck muscles to relax and, along with the accumulated fats around the neck area, leads to snoring. Snoring during pregnancy usually occurs in the last four weeks of gestation (this represents 30% of pregnant women). This is normal and a preferred sleeping position, such as sleeping on your side, usually upsets it. Most pregnant women feel more relaxed when sleeping on their side to avoid belly weight, especially during the third trimester.

For excessive or chronic snoring, it can be a sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is characterized by a pause in breathing of about 10 seconds that causes oxygen deprivation and further complicates preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a condition that only occurs during pregnancy and is associated with high blood pressure, proteinuria (protein in the urine), and swelling. Preeclampsia patients may have some or all of the following symptoms: daytime sleepiness, headaches, blurred vision, abnormal liver function, and vomiting. If only one of these symptoms occurs, it is not a sign of pre-eclampsia.

Consequently, one study found that snoring during pregnancy is more common in women who have gained more than their ideal weight. 14% of women who snored had pregnancy-induced hypertension. 52% of pregnant women who snored regularly experienced edema (swelling) of the face, hands, legs and feet compared to 30% who did not snore.

Meanwhile, oxygen deprivation in sleep apnea patients has been correlated with fetal growth retardation and sometimes death. If excessive snoring occurs during pregnancy, a doctor’s advice should be sought because the condition could be devastating to both mother and fetus. Babies born to mothers who snored during pregnancy frequently had lower birth weight and Apgar scores (a test taken immediately after the birth of a baby regarding heart rate, breathing, reflexes, tone muscle and skin color). From this study, although the causes of pre-eclampsia are unknown, there appears to be a correlation between snoring, pre-eclampsia, and babies with lower birth weights.

The condition of a pregnant woman is crucial for the development of the fetus in the same way that a pregnant woman also needs to take care of her well-being. Snoring during pregnancy is a sign or can lead to poor physical health that could be harmful to mother and baby. It is important for a pregnant woman to have regular prenatal checkups and to report any physical problems to a doctor.