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A woman sits on her bed and smiles. She received treatment for pregnancy and sleep apnea.

The Links Between Pregnancy and Sleep Apnea

If you’re pregnant and experiencing sleep apnea, you understand how devastating the symptoms can be. Affecting everything from your mood to your weight, this sleep disorder has the potential to cause severe side effects. Pregnancy and sleep apnea together is an uncomfortable combination, but thankfully, we offer oral appliance treatments that can help you and your baby rest soundly throughout the night. 

During pregnancy, women’s bodies generally gain weight to help nourish the baby. If any of the weight leads to excess tissue gathering on the throat and neck area, it can lead to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is when the airway becomes blocked, preventing breathing and waking the brain out of sleep. Explore our guide to pregnancy and sleep apnea below.

Why Sleep & Airflow Is Crucial To Pregnancy

Sleep is essential for allowing your body to restore its cellular function, especially in your brain. But your unborn baby benefits from sleep apnea treatment as well. Because sleep apnea affects the amount of oxygen in your body, your baby is susceptible to drops in oxygen. 

The effects of sleep apnea on your unborn child can include:

  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Unexpected Cesarean sections
  • Prolonged labor
  • Fetal growth restriction
A well-rested woman who has treated her pregnancy and sleep apnea

Treatment for Sleep Apnea During Pregnancy

Thankfully, treating sleep apnea during pregnancy is no different from regular treatments for sleep apnea. At Summer Hill Dental, Dr. Bayless creates custom sleep apnea solutions that work to clear your airway and give you and your baby the sound sleep you deserve. 

Our oral appliance solutions are subtle and custom-created for your mouth. We use these to keep your airway open while you sleep in any position, which some people find difficult with a CPAP machine, another sleep apnea solution. 

While CPAP machines keep your airway open, some people find them too bulky and noisy to wear comfortably during sleep. Pregnant women especially find oral appliances useful because they’re small and allow you to sleep in any position.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can pregnancy cause sleep apnea?
Is snoring during pregnancy a sign of sleep apnea?
Can pregnancy cause sleep apnea?

Pregnancy causes many changes in your body, some that affect you positively and negatively. Depending on your case, you might become susceptible to sleep apnea after naturally gaining weight during pregnancy. Just know that your weight gain is normal and is vital for your baby’s development. 

While this weight gain is important, it still increases your risk of developing sleep apnea. That’s why we offer effective sleep apnea treatments that allow you to sleep in any position.

Is snoring during pregnancy a sign of sleep apnea?

Many women experience snoring during pregnancy. While this can be a sign of sleep apnea, it also can be more innocuous — sometimes, just sleeping on your side can eliminate snoring. To determine whether or not your symptoms are caused by sleep apnea, our dentist recommends undergoing a sleep study. 

Sleep studies, conducted either at home or in a sleep specialist’s office, observe your vital signs throughout your sleep. We’ll then use this data to determine whether you have sleep apnea, and suggest a treatment that pinpoints your specific symptoms. Find out more by contacting our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bayless.

Find Relief For Pregnancy-Related Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is an uncomfortable condition for anybody. But if you’re caring for yourself and your unborn child, this sleep disorder can have distressing effects on you both. Thankfully, Dr. Bayless and his professional sleep dentistry staff are committed to finding a solution that targets your sleep apnea symptoms. 

Schedule a consultation at our Spring Branch, TX office by contacting us at (830) 632-2112 to learn more about sleep apnea solutions. Our dental professionals can help you find relief for your symptoms.

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