Hi - I've just joined this forum and I'm looking for others who may have experienced sleep apnea in pregnancy. Here's my story.

In my last pregnancy I started snoring really badly at about 16 weeks - my husband and I just laughed about it really and he ended up sleeping downstairs as he couldn't put up with it. We joked that I would often 'wake myself up' through my snoring as I would wake frequently at night. This got progressively worse through the pregnancy, and I just put it down to pregnancy ailments. There were a few nights, where I would wake up about every 15 mins. I had no problem getting back to sleep but I would keep waking up with a jolt. I was exhausted during the day - and light-headed although my BP was normal. I thought as I was older than in my first 2 pregnancies I was just finding it harder.

When I went for my 20 week scan it was noted that my son although perfectly formed was small. I was due to go back 3 weeks later for another scan. The night before the scan my boy kicked for the last time, and the scan the next day confirmed he had died. As soon as my son was born, my normal sleeping habits resumed and my snoring returned to a normal level.

We had a post-mortem and there was nothing at all wrong with him other than being on the small side. After the PM I was looking back on my pregnancy to see if there was anything not right. In conversation someone suggested I may have had sleep apnea so I started to research sleep apnea and stillbirth. I did find some research by an obstetrician in Nottingham who found a link to stillbirth and poor fetal growth, but I can't find much more info on it.

I'm now pregnant again (7 weeks) and I am so scared this time. I am going to bring up sleep apnea with my consultant but I am worried that I may not be taken seriously.

Has anyone any experience of this?

Many thanks
Lorraine

I have no advice or information to share with you but I just wanted to say how sorry I am you lost your son. My heart is with you and I am sending all the vibes I can that this pregnancy will be just fine. xx

mention it, no need for embarasment to get this checked is simple & quick also mention your concerns to your GP .good luck & health

Pregnancy induces secretion of hormones that make ligaments lax, understandable because of the effect it has on the pelvis. The hormones however work systemically so they can really affect any ligaments in the body.

Also you should think about the weight gain and fluid retention that occurs during pregnancy. All these things could contribute to swelling and loss of tone in the throat are resulting in snoring

Could you have had sleep apnoea? It possible. But you NEED to see a sleep specialist especially inview of your current status and past history

No need to panic. If you have sleep apnoea, there are things that can be done to help

But again it's important that you see an expert

I've sent you a pm. Kind regards