In plain words
Sleep-disordered breathing covers breathing that is disrupted during sleep. It includes loud or frequent snoring, gasping, and brief , which can break up sleep. is the most common form. Pregnancy can make it more likely, because weight gain, swelling of the airway, and hormonal changes all play a part. A mother might notice that her partner hears breathing pauses, or that she wakes with a dry mouth or a headache. Daytime sleepiness can follow. It is different from ordinary snoring, which is not always a concern. A provider can ask about symptoms and decide whether a is needed.
The deeper version
Sleep-disordered breathing is the umbrella term used in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, third edition (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2014). It covers obstructive sleep apnea, central apnea, and sleep-related hypoventilation, with snoring as the mildest form. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common. Pregnancy raises prevalence through weight gain, upper airway edema, and reduced functional residual capacity, and observational studies report associations with gestational hypertension and . Diagnosis uses polysomnography or validated home testing, with the apnea-hypopnea index as the standard severity measure. Pregnancy sleep changes overlap with some of these symptoms, so measurement is needed before a diagnosis is made.
Where it comes up
- Night weaningFeeding Your Baby
- Vivid dreams, mood swings, and crying at commercialsPregnancy: Mind and Life
What mothers here say about sleep-disordered breathing
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Sources
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine — International Classification of Sleep Disorders, third edition (ICSD-3), 2014