Sleep Apnea & Pregnancy in Reading, PA
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Contact UsWhy Is A Good Night’s Sleep So Important during Pregnancy?
When you’re expecting, it becomes more important than ever to care for your overall health, not just for your sake but for the sake of your developing child. Every pregnancy carries a risk, and a common risk of pregnancy is sleep apnea.
According to a study conducted for The BMJ (The British Medical Journal), by the third trimester of pregnancy, the chances of developing obstructive sleep apnea can increase to over 26 percent. Women who have sleep apnea and become pregnant or develop sleep apnea during pregnancy are at high risk for serious issues such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and obesity.
For these reasons, receiving an accurate diagnosis and the proper treatment for sleep apnea during pregnancy is necessary. Fortunately, at The Sleep Apnea and Craniofacial Pain Center, Dr. Stephen Sulzbach has the tools necessary to diagnose and treat sleep apnea in expecting mothers. Read on to learn more about the pregnancy-related risks of sleep apnea and why treatment is vital to a healthy pregnancy, and contact our Reading, PA sleep center to schedule a consultation.
What Are the Risks Related to Pregnancy and Sleep Apnea?
Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Sleep apnea has the ability to deprive you of a good night’s rest. If you’re an expecting mother with the condition, you can expect to develop the symptoms of sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation can raise your blood pressure, increase your stress levels, and raise your risk of stroke.
Experiencing these symptoms is dangerous, particularly during pregnancy. They also increase your chances of developing a dangerous prenatal blood pressure condition called preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is characterized by symptoms such as:
- High blood pressure
- Proteinuria or high levels of protein in the urine
- Excessive sweating
- Excessive fluid retention
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
Not only can preeclampsia harm the expecting mother, but also it can lead to premature birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth. If left unchecked, preeclampsia can also progress to eclampsia, a complication characterized by seizures and coma where there was previously no cause for those issues.
The Sleep Apnea and Craniofacial Pain Center of Pennsylvania Reviews
Dr. Sulzbach helped me with my sleep apnea and snoring. My wife is so much happier now!
I have had the luck and the pleasure of seeing Dr. Salzbach on several occasions. An extremely knowledgeable and professional, who truly does care about his patients. He takes the time to explain options, procedures to you in a way that you've understand and is very up front. I would highly recommend anytime to anyone.
Dr. Sulzbach and Corrine Lambert were amazing in taking care of my sleep apnea needs. I can’t wait to see how much improvement there is with the new device.
I have sleep apnea and felt awful for years. Just constantly tired. I can't wear the cpap. I tried but I just hate the thing. Dr Steve made a dental appliance and I am sleeping through the night without even snoring for the first time in probably 20 years. He's really laid back but straight to the point.
I have been going to Dr. Steve for years. He is a competent and wonderful dentist. It is a shame what Harrisburg tried to do to him. I guess when they need a scape goat to further their agenda they don't care who they try to hurt in the process. Rest assured he is by far the best dentist I have ever gone to and goes beyond the standard of care!
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Obesity, Pregnancy, and Sleep Apnea
Gaining weight during pregnancy is necessary for your health and the health of your future child. Unfortunately, excess weight gain is a common cause of sleep apnea. When you gain excess weight, your throat muscles are more likely to collapse and obstruct your airways while you sleep.
The effect of sleep apnea on your weight is a double-edged sword since losing sleep decreases your leptin levels. Leptin is the chemical responsible for making you feel full and satisfied after you eat. When sleep apnea deprives you of a good night’s rest, your leptin levels decrease. When this occurs, you’re more likely to overeat and crave foods that are sugary, high calorie, and high in fat. This can lead to more weight gain and exacerbate your sleep apnea symptoms.
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About UsHow Are Gestational and Type-2 Diabetes Related to Sleep Apnea?
Gestational diabetes is the result of hormonal changes during pregnancy. These changes cause your cells to use insulin less effectively, resulting in insulin resistance. Insulin resistance raises your glucose levels and increases your need for insulin. When your body can’t make enough insulin to compensate, gestational diabetes results.
Gestational diabetes increases your risk of serious health issues such as:
- Preeclampsia
- Developing type-2 diabetes later in life
- Miscarriage
It can also have a number of negative effects on your developing child including:
- Being born large and needing to be delivered via C-section
- Developing type-2 diabetes later in life
- Developing obesity
- Being born hypoglycemic
Sleep Apnea Treatment is Necessary for A Healthy Pregnancy
While sleep apnea during pregnancy is common, it shouldn’t be tolerated. The damage sleep apnea can cause to you as an expecting mother and your developing child means that getting an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment is necessary for a healthy pregnancy.
With sleep apnea treatment, you can help protect your health and the health of your developing child by reducing the chances of developing related issues such as excess weight gain, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
To learn more about how sleep apnea treatment can help ensure a healthy pregnancy, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Stephen Sulzbach, contact The Sleep Apnea and Craniofacial Pain Center in Reading, PA, or fill out and submit the form below.
Sleep Apnea & Pregnancy FAQs
How can I prevent sleep apnea during pregnancy?
While there’s no way to guarantee you don’t develop sleep apnea during pregnancy, there are certain steps you can take to reduce your chances of becoming sleep apneic or to control your symptoms if you already have sleep apnea:
- Sleep on your side to keep your airways open
- Ask your doctor how much weight you should gain during pregnancy and stay within that frame
- Talk to your doctor about the possibility of doing light exercise during your pregnancy
- Seek sleep apnea treatment with Dr. Sulzbach
I already have sleep apnea, should I avoid pregnancy?
At the Sleep Apnea and Craniofacial Pain Center, we strongly recommend that you seek treatment for sleep apnea and establish control over your symptoms before attempting to carry out a pregnancy. Doing so may help produce a smoother pregnancy and an easier birth, and protect your health and the health of your future baby.
Am I at a higher risk for sleep apnea while pregnant?
Your body changes a lot during pregnancy. As you gain weight during your pregnancy, it can place you at a higher risk for sleep apnea. You may be at an elevated risk for sleep apnea during pregnancy if you have any of the following factors:
- Gaining weight too quickly
- Obese
- Elevated levels of progesterone
- Gestational diabetes
- Deviated septum
- Wider neck
Will my sleep apnea go away after pregnancy?
Whether your sleep apnea subsides after pregnancy can depend on several factors and often varies for each patient. If you did not have sleep apnea prior to your pregnancy, it will most likely improve or go away entirely after pregnancy. Most patients see an improvement in their sleep apnea as their body adjusts and they lose some of the extra weight they gained during their pregnancy. Long-term treatment options may be necessary if you do not see any improvement.
