Sleep Apnea During Pregnancy May Leave You Feeling Very Tired

Pregnancy brings a host of ailments with it, from nausea to hip pain to poor sleep. What some pregnant women don’t realize is that some of the bad sleep cam be from sleep apnea.

Most women who are pregnant and suffering from sleep apnea don’t even realize it, but sleep apnea is a common condition that affects 50-70 million adults in the US. Sleep apnea causes the throat pathway to narrow due to muscles relaxing so much during sleep that oxygen cannot pass through.

Diagnosing sleep apnea in pregnant women

Most women and their partners don’t realize they developed sleep apnea during pregnancy, or if they do notice a change in exhaustion levels, they attribute it to the stress pregnancy puts on a body.

However, there are a few ways to determine if you have sleep apnea. Check for risk factors including:

• Neck circumference of 16 inches or more
• Being overweight
• High blood pressure
• Low blood oxygen level

If these signs point to sleep apnea your doctor may order a sleep study which would diagnose the condition by monitoring your breathing, heart rate, and depth of sleep.

CPAP therapy for pregnant women

Pregnant women are at higher risk for sleep apnea, fortunately there is a safe and effective treatment – CPAP therapy.

CPAP therapy means wearing a mask or nasal caula that delivers airflow during sleep, keeping your airways open.

By getting good rest, you will start to have more energy and a decreased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

After delivery

For some pregnant women, after they give birth, they may feel better and no longer need the CPAP therapy while others may still benefit from using their CPAP machine.

To find out if your insurance covers a CPAP machine and supplies, fill out our Qualify Through Insurance form.