Snoring more than three nights a week in pregnant women is associated with a greater risk of having a low birth weight baby, or giving birth by cesarean section.
Snoring more than three nights a week in a pregnant woman is not trivial. It would be the harbinger of a little baby, and a cesarean delivery. Thus, according to researchers at the University of Michigan in the United States, women who snore before and during pregnancy are associated with a 65% increase in the risk of having a low birth weight baby compared to those who did not. snorers. These women are also twice as likely to deliver by caesarean section.
These results come from a study of 1,673 pregnant American women. The researchers interviewed them during their last trimester of pregnancy (beyond 28 weeks). 35% of them replied that they snore at least three nights a week. The researchers analyzed the medical records of the newborns. They therefore demonstrated a link between snoring and low birth weight independently of other risk factors such as the mother’s age.
However, this study cannot show that snoring is the cause of a low birth weight or cesarean section. The authors of this study believe that snoring leads to increased levels of inflammation which could affect the placenta leading to low birth weight. But this hypothesis must be deepened and confirmed. Dr. Louise O’Brien of the University of Michigan, who led the study, believes their findings prompt attention to breathing problems during sleep in pregnant women. “If we can identify the risks during pregnancy that can be treated, such as obstructive sleep apnea, we will be able to reduce the incidence of small babies, cesarean sections and admission to the neonatal unit. “
Following this publication, specialists indicated that pregnant women should not panic about the possible harmful effects of snoring on their babies. What is important, however, is that pregnant women are able to get enough rest.
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