SNORING DURING PREGNANCY: IS IT NORMAL?

Everybody snores at some point or another – it’s just a fact of life - and some people snore more than others. But when you are pregnant you may find that you start to snore more often and do so more noisily than you ever did before.

But what exactly is going on? Can pregnancy cause snoring? Why do you snore more in pregnancy? Is snoring in pregnancy anything to worry about? And is there anything you can do yourself about snoring during pregnancy?

Read on for our guide to snoring in pregnancy, where we answer these questions and more...

So, why do people snore?

Snoring is caused by your tongue, mouth, throat or nasal passages vibrating as you breathe in an out. It occurs as these parts of your body relax and narrow when you sleep.

Is snoring normal during pregnancy?

It is perfectly normal to snore during pregnancy and it’s usually nothing to worry about. There can be many reasons for it, such as sleeping on your back more, weight gain, and swollen nasal passages caused by the increased blood supply that comes with pregnancy.

When in pregnancy is snoring likely to begin?

Snoring in pregnancy can begin at any time, but your chances of snoring increase as your baby grows. So, by your third trimester you are more likely to experience snoring in pregnancy than right at the beginning.

What can I do to prevent snoring during pregnancy?

If you snore in pregnancy then there are a few things you can do to try and make it better, such as:

1. Sleep on your side – sleeping on your back is known to make snoring worse as it compresses your airways, so sleeping on your side instead may make things better. Try to go to sleep on your side when you settle down, with some cushions behind you to stop yourself rolling onto your back.
2. Keep to a healthy weight – you are obviously going to put on weight in pregnancy thanks to your growing baby, but you should still try to avoid excess weight as this can contribute to snoring. So, make sure you eat a healthy diet, with lots of fruit and vegetables, and do some light exercise throughout your pregnancy.
3. Get some earplugs – these are for your partner, rather than you! Snoring can cause problems in a relationship if it’s stopping your partner sleeping, which can put stress on you – so some earplugs may help you both to sleep better and feel happier. 
4. Try nasal strips – these are relatively cheap and you can buy them over the counter in a pharmacist. You stick them over your nose before you go to sleep at night. They are designed to widen your nasal airways to allow air to pass through easier, which may help reduce snoring.  

Pregnancy snoring – when does it stop?

The obvious answer to this is when you stop being pregnant! The chances are that if you didn’t snore much before you got pregnant, then the problem should get better after you give birth.

Should I see a doctor about snoring in pregnancy?

Generally, snoring during pregnancy is nothing to worry about and you can ease the problem with a few simple lifestyle changes.

But snoring may be a sign of a condition called sleep apnoea.

Symptoms of sleep apnoea include:

• Making gasping and choking sounds in your sleep
• Your breathing stopping and starting during the night
• Particularly loud snoring
• Headaches when you wake up
• Feeling very tired and finding it difficult to concentrate during the day

If you think you may have sleep apnoea then it is important that you contact your GP, as it has been linked to an increased risk of pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, and may increase the likelihood of you having a caesarean section.

If your GP thinks you have sleep apnoea then you will be referred for tests. If it is diagnosed then you could be given something called a CPAP machine to help with the problem. This is a simple machine that pumps air through a mask you wear while you sleep. This will hopefully improve the quality of your sleep and help reduce any risks associated with sleep apnoea.

Obviously you may not be aware of having sleep apnoea, so speak to your partner and ask them if you are displaying any symptoms that may be a cause for concern.