Unbeknownst to many people, the incidence of snoring increases dramatically during pregnancy. The further along the woman is in her pregnancy the chances of snoring increases particularly during the last trimester.
With the advance in pregnancy a woman's weight increases thereby increasing the chances of snoring or sleep apnea. If a woman already snores, then it is likely that she will continue to do so; however someone who never snored prior to becoming pregnant might do so.
The question is why? Studies have shown that during pregnancy the woman's upper air passages become narrower because of her increased weight and the natural protuberance of the abdomen, causing these same passages to narrow even further during rest or sleep thereby increasing the chances of snoring.
The increased weight can add fat to the soft muscles around the neck area so that the air passages are narrowed due to the increased size of the neck. This in turn leads to increased instances of snoring and unrest during the night. In addition, there is a chance of possible hypertension and higher blood pressure.
With the nighttime disrupted by snoring or sleep apnea the woman is generally tired during the day which can prove to be a problem. Sleeping on your side is usually helpful to minimize snoring but if you suffer from sleep apnea that can lead to further health problems so your physician should be notified to ensure that the condition is monitored and not cause complications for the mother or the child.
Most often those who suffer from snoring or sleep disorders during their pregnancy only are subjected to it during the last trimester and it generally dissipates after the child is born once the body returns to its natural weight. Those who continue to have any problems should seek treatment to ensure that there is not a health problem.