At a Glance
Snoring during pregnancy is common, particularly during the second and third trimesters, when hormonal changes and increased blood flow can cause swelling in the airways. While occasional snoring is usually not a cause for concern, frequent or worsening snoring may be associated with sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea.
Many people who've never snored before find themselves snoring for the first time during pregnancy. While pregnancy-related snoring is often temporary, it can sometimes affect sleep quality or signal an underlying breathing problem.
In this article, we'll explain why snoring becomes more common during pregnancy, when it may warrant medical attention, and what steps may help improve sleep.
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What Causes Snoring in Pregnancy?
Snoring during pregnancy can be caused by multiple factors, including hormonal changes, nasal congestion, fluid retention, and added body weight. In some cases, snoring during pregnancy is associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disorder of interrupted breathing during sleep.
Hormonal Changes and Nasal Congestion
During pregnancy, increasing levels of hormones like estrogen and progesterone trigger physical changes that restrict airflow through the nose.
Surging hormone production can provoke added blood flow and swelling around the airway. It also makes pregnant people susceptible to nasal congestion. These factors can make it harder to breathe through the nose, increasing the risk of snoring.
Fluid Retention
After lying down, blood and other fluids shift to other parts of the body, including around the neck. Because pregnant people have higher volumes of blood, fluid retention near the airway may restrict airflow during sleep.
Body Weight
Body weight increases during pregnancy, and enlarged tissues can reduce space in the airway.
Other Contributing Factors
Sometimes multiple causes trigger snoring during pregnancy. Snoring may result from the combination of physical changes caused by pregnancy and other contributing factors, such as:
- Obesity prior to pregnancy or excess weight gain during pregnancy
- Sleeping on your back, which restricts space in the upper airway
- Drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or taking sedative medications at night
- Certain facial features that narrow the airway
Is Snoring During Pregnancy Dangerous?
Research to date is unclear about whether snoring during pregnancy is dangerous. Snoring itself may be harmless. However, there are situations in which snoring during pregnancy can be a sign of an underlying health issue.
- Sleep apnea: Snoring is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, which involves recurrent episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep. While OSA can have health consequences for a pregnant person and a fetus, not all snoring is tied to sleep apnea.
- Hypertension: Snoring during pregnancy is associated with high blood pressure and a type of pregnancy complication called preeclampsia.
- Gestational diabetes: Some research has found a correlation between snoring during pregnancy and an increase in blood sugar levels known as gestational diabetes.
How to Prevent Snoring During Pregnancy
Various methods may be helpful to reduce snoring during pregnancy, including:
- Addressing nasal congestion with salt water rinses, nasal strips, or nasal dilators
- Sleeping on your side instead of on your back
- Using an adjustable bed or wedge pillow to raise your upper body
- Avoiding excess weight gain during pregnancy
- Staying away from alcohol, tobacco, or sedative drugs
- Practicing good sleep habits including avoiding caffeine late in the day and following a consistent sleep schedule
When to Talk to a Doctor
Snoring during pregnancy is common and is often related to normal changes in the body. However, pregnant people should talk to their healthcare provider if snoring becomes frequent, loud, or progressively worsens over time.
Certain symptoms may indicate a sleep-related breathing disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea. These symptoms include gasping or choking during sleep, pauses in breathing, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, or waking up feeling unrefreshed. Pregnant people with high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, obesity, or other pregnancy complications may also have a higher risk of sleep apnea.
A healthcare provider can evaluate symptoms and determine whether additional testing or treatment is needed. Addressing sleep and breathing problems during pregnancy may help improve sleep quality, daytime functioning, and overall health for both the pregnant person and their baby.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, snoring during pregnancy is common. Studies estimate that up to 53% of pregnant people snore at least three nights per week. Many people who have never snored before begin snoring during pregnancy, particularly during the second and third trimesters.
However, snoring that's accompanied by gasping, choking, breathing pauses, excessive daytime sleepiness, or high blood pressure may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea or another sleep-related breathing disorder.
Snoring during pregnancy often starts during the second trimester and becomes more common during the third trimester. However, not every pregnant person snores, and some people habitually snored before becoming pregnant.
Studies estimate that snoring will stop after pregnancy about half the time. Since there can be multiple causes of snoring, there's no way to know for sure whether snoring will continue after pregnancy. However, even when breathing disruptions during sleep continue after giving birth, they usually become less severe.
Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a health care provider prior to starting a new treatment or making changes to your treatment plan.
Written by
Eric Suni, Contributing WriterEric Suni is a health and science writer who covers sleep apnea, CPAP therapy, and sleep health for SleepApnea.org. He has more than a decade of experience translating complex medical research into clear, accessible information that helps readers better understand their health and treatment options.
Reviewed by
Gerard J. Meskill, MD, FAASM, Medical ReviewerDr. Gerard J. Meskill is a neurologist and sleep medicine physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders, including narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and insomnia. He is board-certified in both neurology and sleep medicine and has extensive experience helping patients manage complex sleep conditions and disorders of excessive daytime sleepiness.
