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Breathing for Two: The Importance of Sleep Apnea Treatment During Pregnancy

March 31, 2025

Sleep apnea, a condition characterised by pauses in breathing during sleep, can significantly impact anyone's quality of life. But during pregnancy, it’s even more important to keep it under control! Untreated sleep apnea can affect both you and your baby, making quality sleep a top priority for expectant mothers.



What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder where breathing repeatedly starts and stops during sleep, leading to disrupted rest and poor oxygen flow.1 Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, occurs when the upper airway collapses during sleep, causing breathing to stop for short periods.1 Central sleep apnea is less common and happens when the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.1 These pauses in breathing can happen multiple times throughout the night, leading to fragmented sleep and symptoms like daytime tiredness, headaches, and snoring.2 Sleep apnea is common outside of pregnancy, but its likelihood increases during pregnancy due to several physiological changes.



Why Sleep Apnea Occurs During Pregnancy

Pregnancy increases the risk of developing sleep apnea due to various factors:

  • Weight Gain: As women gain weight during pregnancy, it can put additional pressure on the airways, increasing the risk of sleep apnea.3
  • Increased Oxygen Consumption: To support the demands of the growing foetus, the body requires more oxygen which can exacerbate breathing difficulties.4
  • Hormonal Changes: During pregnancy, elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone lead to difficulty breathing. Estrogen stimulates mucus secretion and contributes to congestion of the airways, while progesterone enhances sensitivity to carbon dioxide, further exacerbating airway inflammation and a sense of breathlessness.5,6



The Importance of Treating Sleep Apnea During Pregnancy

Treating sleep apnea during pregnancy is crucial for several reasons:

  • Improved Maternal Health: Untreated sleep apnea can lead to complications such as gestational hypertension (high blood pressure during pregnancy) and preeclampsia (condition characterised by high blood pressure and signs of organ damage).7 Treating sleep apnea can help reduce these risks, ensuring better maternal health outcomes.
  • Enhanced Foetal Well-being: Sleep apnea can reduce oxygen supply to the foetus, which can directly impact foetal growth.8
  • Reduced Risk of Preterm Birth: Studies suggest that treating sleep apnea with CPAP may reduce the risk of preterm birth.9



The Hidden Link: Sleep Apnea and Preeclampsia

Sleep apnea during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of preeclampsia, a condition characterised by high blood pressure.10 Preeclampsia can lead to premature birth and serious health issues such as liver and kidney failure, making it essential to manage any contributing factors like sleep apnea. 11



Treatment Options

The gold standard treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.12 CPAP involves wearing a mask that delivers continuous airflow into the airways, preventing them from collapsing during sleep. It is safe and effective for pregnant women, improving sleep quality and thereby potentially reducing complication risks. If you suspect you have sleep apnea during pregnancy, speak with your doctor.



How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help

Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 60 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time.



If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek treatment advice for your sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&C’s apply.

Citations

1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. “Sleep Apnea - What Is Sleep Apnea?” 24 Mar. 2022, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea.


2. Slowik, Jennifer M., and Jacob F. Collen. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 21 Mar. 2024, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459252/.


3. “Pregnancy & Sleep Apnea.” Ottawa TMJ & Sleep Apnea Clinic, 6 Nov. 2023, ottawatmjclinic.com. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.


4. Lee, Shih-Yi, et al. “Dyspnea in Pregnancy.” Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 56, no. 4, Aug. 2017, pp. 432–436, www.sciencedirect.com, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjog.2017.04.035.


5. Tarun Madappa, MD, MPH. “Pulmonary Disease and Pregnancy.” Medscape.com, 29 Oct. 2024, emedicine.medscape.com. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.


6. LoMauro, Antonella, and Andrea Aliverti. “Respiratory Physiology of Pregnancy.” Breathe, vol. 11, no. 4, 2015, pp. 297–301, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, https://doi.org/10.1183/20734735.008615.


7. O’Brien, LM, et al. “Hypertension, Snoring, and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea during Pregnancy: A Cohort Study.” BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, vol. 121, no. 13, 30 May 2014, pp. 1685–1693, https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.12885. Accessed 27 Feb. 2023.


8. Kneitel, Anna, et al. “Effects of Maternal Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Fetal Growth: A Case-Control Study.” Journal of Perinatology, vol. 38, no. 8, 22 May 2018, pp. 982–988, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0127-6.


9. Maniaci, Antonino, et al. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Review of Maternal and Fetal Implications.” Neurology International, vol. 16, no. 3, 7 May 2024, pp. 522–532, https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint16030039.


10. “Preeclampsia - Does Sleep Apnea Increase Risk for Preeclampsia?” Preeclampsia Foundation, 2019, www.preeclampsia.org. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.


11. Cleveland Clinic. “Preeclampsia: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments & Prevention.” 28 May 2024, my.clevelandclinic.org.


12. Tayade, Surekha, and Shikha Toshniwal. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy: A Narrative Review.” Cureus, 17 Oct. 2022, https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30387. Accessed 11 Dec. 2022.