It’s important to address certain health issues that can arise during pregnancy. One such issue is sleep apnea. Many may not be aware, but sleep apnea can significantly affect a woman’s health during pregnancy and could also impact the baby’s health. This piece aims to discuss the connections between sleep apnea and pregnancy, providing expecting mothers with vital knowledge on the topic. Notably, we will also be discussing Dr. Kelley Mingus’s alternative and innovative treatment methods for dealing with sleep apnea, which are available at his dental practice in Bend, Oregon.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by frequent pauses in breathing during sleep. This happens when the muscles in the back of your throat fail to keep the airway open, causing a temporary stoppage of breathing during sleep. It can make the person feel tired even after a full night’s rest and has been linked to other health issues like hypertension, heart conditions, and diabetes.
Sleep Apnea and Pregnancy
Pregnancy can often lead to the development or worsening of sleep apnea symptoms. This is primarily due to increased estrogen levels, accumulation of fat in the throat, and the enlarged uterus pressing against the diaphragm, reducing lung capacity. If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, preeclampsia, eclampsia, and low birth weight babies in pregnant women.
Why Expectant Mothers Should Care
Yet, why should expecting mothers be worried about sleep apnea? Medical studies indicate that untreated sleep apnea is linked to several complications during pregnancy, which we have summarized below:
- Increased risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia
- Low birth weight babies
- Increased chances of C-section deliveries
- Increased chance of premature birth
To avoid such complications, expecting mothers should take necessary precautions if they have or are at risk of developing sleep apnea.
Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea
Dr. Kelley Mingus offers an alternative approach to managing sleep apnea that moves beyond the traditional CPAP treatment. This includes two innovative methods—custom mouth appliances and Facial Growth treatment.
Custom Mouth Appliances
At Kelley Mingus’s dental practice, sleep apnea patients are offered a custom-made, comfortable orthotic. This appliance holds the jaw in a position that allows the tongue to comfortably rest away from the airway, thus maintaining a clear breathing path during sleep.
Facial Growth Treatment
In addition to custom mouth appliances, the practice offers Facial Growth treatment. It promotes the natural outward development of the jaw and airway, reducing the chances of tongue obstruction during sleep. This treatment not only helps in managing sleep apnea but can also potentially eliminate the need for invasive surgeries or a lifetime of using CPAP machines.
Conclusion
Pregnancy can be a joyous journey for women, but it is necessary to ensure that conditions like sleep apnea don’t dampen this experience. Dr. Kelley Mingus and his team in Bend, Oregon, are committed to helping expecting mothers manage their sleep apnea symptoms effectively, ensuring a safer pregnancy journey and healthier outcomes for both mother and child.