Sleep Apnea Treatment

Question by tammer: Anyone had problems with sleep apnea during pregnancy….?
Im 11 weeks pregnant with twins, my dr sent me for a sleep study because I am so tired and have not been sleeping well. They said that when i get into a deep sleep my oxygen level drops in half. Yjey put a c pap on me for the second half of the test and still didnt see much improvment. Anyone eles had this? Really worried about the babies. I have been so stressed like they need anymore stress.
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Best answer:

Answer by Crackers
Why it happens
Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by loud snoring and brief, involuntary breathing pauses during sleep. (The Greek word apnea means “want of breath.”)

Sleep apnea sufferers may briefly stop breathing and then wake with a gasp, start, or snort as many as a hundred times a night or more. People with sleep apnea rarely remember these episodes in the morning, although they may wonder why they feel so tired all the time.

Obesity is a major risk factor for sleep apnea, and some experts believe that pregnancy may also make you more susceptible, particularly in the third trimester. The heavier you are to begin with and the more weight you gain during pregnancy, the more likely you are to have trouble breathing at night because of the extra tissue in your neck and throat.

Other factors that make you more likely to snore during pregnancy, such as swollen nasal passages, may also put you at a higher risk for sleep apnea. Higher levels of estrogen during pregnancy contribute to swelling in the mucous membranes lining the nose and can even cause you to make more mucus. Also, the amount of blood in your body increases and your blood vessels expand during pregnancy, which can lead to swollen nasal membranes as well.
What you can do about it
If your partner notices that you’re snoring a lot and making periodic snorting or gasping sounds in your sleep, be sure to mention it to your doctor or midwife so you can be evaluated for sleep apnea.

When you periodically stop breathing, the amount of oxygen in your blood drops temporarily. If left untreated, sleep apnea can take a toll on your health, and some research suggests it may affect your baby’s growth as well. Sleep apnea is also linked to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disorders. And feeling tired during the day increases your risk of falling asleep at work, while you’re driving, or while you’re caring for your other children.

If you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may be given a special mouth guard to wear at night to keep your airway open. If the apnea is severe, your doctor may have you wear a mask that’s hooked up to a machine that provides a steady flow of air while you sleep to help keep you breathing normally. Most people are amazed by how much better they feel during the day soon after they begin using this device at night.

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Question by singing_angel_of_the_night: Question : Would Sleep Apnea, during pregnancy – cause a Miscarriage?
Okay, so last year I miscarried at 6 weeks – but I didn’t even find out I was pregnant for sure until I was in the middle of misscarrying (took tests religiously everday for weeks, never registered positive until 1 day into the miscarriage) – if you read back on my questions about a year ago, I had about 10 x-rays to my stomach around implantation, and 3 weeks later began to bleed heavily. I blamed the x-rays all this past year, up until the other day when I got to thinking about SLEEP APNEA and pregnancy…..there is a chance I am pregnant right now, but this had NEVER crossed my mind until recently. It would make sense right?? A woman quits breathing 59 times an hour while she’s sleeping – that’s a part of EVERY minute, every hour….so it’s cutting off oxygen to the placenta…..anyone ever stopped and thought about this before??….Now I’m almost 100 percent sure it caused my miscarriage last year, and am terrified this time around. If I am pregnant I would be 4 1/2 – 5 weeks and I don’t go back for my cpap (breathing maching) fitting until this friday, and then it will take another 10 days after that before I can get my machine from the Medical Supply store…that’s IF sleep apnea caused the miscarriage a year ago….what do you think?

Best answer:

Answer by Face T
Actually, my wife developed sleep apnea during pregnancy (found out in third trimester), so we were naturally concerned. Even got the sleeping mask / cpap machine (quite late). We were concerned about oxygen levels as well, but not miscarriage. We were more worried about fetal growth retardation, birth defects/brain damage and things of that sort. Everything turned out perfectly fine.

There has been no research found linking sleep apnea to miscarriage yet. However, there are studies linking sleep apnea to fetal growth retardation. In your case, miscarriage at 6 weeks is almost definitely not because of sleep apnea. There are a handful of more likely reasons (such as chomosomal issues) for that. This early, the baby / fetus is tiny and doesn’t need much oxygen to begin with and whatever it does need it is the first one to draw it from your body. Your blood does stores oxygen, so even if you are not breathing (temporarily), your body can function. Even with sleep apnea, the oxygen saturation level is usually above 85%.

Also, at six weeks, there is no placenta to begin with. Placenta is still forming and only takes over supplying the baby with oxygen/nutrition by 10-12 weeks.

In second or third trimester (once placenta takes over), then it when you start to need worrying a lot more. Sleep apnea “may” cause slower fetal growth and complication if hypertension develops. So, you should definitely get the CPAP machine (get the auto one) for the pregnancy and use it.

If you want to minimize chance of miscarriage, take progesterone suppositories and baby aspirin for the first trimester. talk to your doctor about it.

Good luck with the pregnancy.

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Question by laura d: What do they do during a pediatric sleep study?
My 3 year old son is doing one in a couple of days because I think he has sleep apnea. They want us there at 2:30 in the afternoon. What do they do between then and bedtime, just lay in the hospital bed? I am trying to determine how necessary this really is, as I reallly dont want him to have to undergo any surgeries later (they didnt work for his father). What was your experience? Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by the_only_solorose
they want you there early so his behaviors prior to bedtime can be monitored, he will be watched constantly for the behaviors that add to the diagnosis. As for surgical procedures in regards to sleep apnea, they only work about 50% of the time in the general population, but there are other things that can be done. If the surgery didn’t work for dad, then dad may want to look into cpap therapy. It is really very effective.

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Question by kitty k: my 20 month old has been coughing alot during her sleep, and im concerned if its sleep apnea or something?
like acid reflux, she also gags herself which i dunno if its an attention thing or cuz something is bothering her , like acid, and she also wakes up alot in her sleep and sits up..maybe someone knows more about these things and can share their experience or any symptoms they are aware of, thanks
she has an apt with her doc but its still aways away. just curious about anyone else experiences

Best answer:

Answer by MK
my advice see a medical practitioner, doc’ on this as it is your child!

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Question by Deepak: If I start using CPAP machine, will I have to survive with the machine during my sleep forever?
Last week I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. As I cannot afford to a CPAP machine, I am still considering about the purchase. If I use one during night time, can I sleep at least 30 mins. during the day time without it?

Best answer:

Answer by Q
I bet if you get a CPAP, you’ll sleep so well in the nighttime that you won’t want to nap in the daytime. But, yes, since it’s harmful to your body to experience sleep apnea, ideally you will use it whenever you sleep. But if you sleep for 30 min in the daytime without it, yet sleep at nighttime with it, you’re still much better off than if you don’t use it at all.

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