What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea refers to an unceasing sleeping condition that disrupts the normal airway and frequently collapses it during your sleep. The momentary airflow blockage and uncontrolled moments of shallow breathing typically last for 10-12 seconds each. As it comes to the intensity issue, individuals suffer from mild apnea normally suspend 5-15 breathing an hour, the moderate apnea victims experience 15-30 deferment while the severe sleep apnea sufferer can cross over 30 sessions an hour. Usually, apnea is accompanied by odd and kinds of heavy snoring, which becomes louder before it quits discontinuing the airflow temporarily. Subsequently, your body reacts, few seconds later for the short-term deficiency of air with a noisy gasp, and the process resumes.
Different researches convened in different times, establish the fact that most pregnant women carry an elevated risk of sleep disorder like sleep apnea because increasing level of estrogen secretion in pregnancy may result in the mucus membranes to get enlarged contracting normal airflow.
Risk Factors
The foremost concern is that, those who are obese or suffer from gestational diabetes carry significant high risk to become sleep apnea prone since the excess weight around the neck of obese individuals puts huge stress on their airways. Similarly, if you gain an excess weight in continuation of your pregnancy; say, above 40 lbs (normal is 24 lbs - 40 lbs max) over your normal weight, once again you are in deep risk. A study report informs us that almost 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea and over 18% of obese would-be-moms suffer from mild to severe apnea.
In due course of time, sleep apnea lessens the blood-oxygen levels enhancing your risk to become a victim of blood pressure, obesity, heart attack, depression, stroke and heart failure. Pregnant women experience sleep apnea is expected to develop gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, both of which are dangerous to a growing baby.
A study report also states that potential moms having apnea have three times more risk to have a cesarean delivery. In addition, if such delivery becomes urgent due to any reason the newborns are supposed to be administered in intensive care unit meant for premature babies, because in most cases they are found to have breathing troubles.
Management Process
To attain an effective management of sleep apnea, you should discuss all your noted problems while your partner should also give his opinions to the doctor. This feedback helps him to determine if you have a mind, medium or severe type of sleep apnea. Mostly, the moderate sleep apnea is efficiently administered simply by bringing some changes in lifestyle. Commonly, physicians suggest you to sleep on your side and not on the back, which is normally done by most women during their pregnancy. If you are overweight, despite of choosing a diet control plan, you should talk to your physician as well as a registered dietitian to find out a healthy weight management as well as workout plans for an effectual treatment of sleep apnea. To manage apnea resulted by congestion, if your doctor permits you, try a saline spray, humidifier or decongest during your pregnancy. In addition, to make sleeping effortless and comfortable, go for a pregnancy pillow of good quality helping you come out of sleep apnea.
Conclusion
If your apnea problem persists or you experience it severe, you may require special management by means of CPAP machine, a specific device used as mask. For this, you should contact an expert physician at the earliest.