1.What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder due to pauses in breathing or due to shallow breathing during sleep. These pauses can happen many times at night. Each pause can last for a few seconds or several minutes.
2.What are the symptoms of sleep apnea during pregnancy?
Loud snoring is one of the sign of sleep apnea.Excessive daytime sleep and impaired alertness are other symptoms of sleep apnea. Some other symptoms are waking up with a dry mouth or with a headache and frequent nighttime urination.
3.What causes sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea happens when something blocks the flow of air through airway.Obesity is commonly linked to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs during pregnancy because of physical changes in the body. Sleep apnea is common in women with high blood pressure or gestational diabetes.
4.How will sleep apnea affect baby?
Sleep apnea is connected with gestational diabetes, preterm delivery and low birth weight. But with proper treatment there are chances of having healthy baby.
5.What are the tests to diagnose sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea can be diagnosed by the symptoms and observations but the best option is formal sleep study. Sleep studies are usually performed at hospitals and sleep centres but nowadays they are performed at homes also.
6.How common is sleep apnea during pregnancy?
The chances of sleep apnea during pregnancy is 1 to 10 per cent. Women are most likely to develop sleep apnea during pregnancy and after menopause. It is common in women with high blood pressure and gestational diabetes.
