Help My Wife Snore Less And Sleep Better?

October 9, 2008 7:24 PM

Help my very pregnant wife breathe (and sleep) again (more inside)

My wife is eight months into being pregnant with our third child, and while she's always been afflicted with pregnancy-related snoring, it's especially bad now. Not only is it louder than ever, but it's getting to the point where she's struggling to breathe while sleeping. As a result, she wakes up many times a night.

She's tried elevating her head while sleeping, nasal stips, saline spray, using a ceiling fan, etc. Tonight we will try inhaling steam before bed, but I'm not optimistic.

So, the question is, what more can we do? I don't think going to a sleep specialist and having a sleep study would be worth it, because in four weeks the problem will likely self-correct. Any thoughts?

posted by suasponte to health & fitness (12 comments total)

can she sleep on her side? they make all kinds of pillows to support side-sleeping pregnant women.
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:30 PM on October 9

Yup, sleeps on her side.
posted by suasponte at 7:32 PM on October 9

OMG - get a SNOOGLE immediately. It changed my pregnant life. I am wrapped in it right now. It also works as a breastfeeding pillow.
posted by k8t at 7:36 PM on October 9

Is she having any congestion at all or just snoring? I'd give Afrin a try if her doc is cool with it. People get kind of hysterical about nasal spray, but it's saved my allergy ridden, stuffy nose life on many occasions (and I've never gotten addicted). It shrinks up the tissues, helps my husband when he's snoring, and basically kicks the butt of saline.

Speaking of allergies, does she have any issues with them at all? If so, I bet pregnancy could exacerbate even very mild ones into something worse; then you could treat not just the symptoms, but the cause.

Some nice info on both here in the "Can allergy medications safely be used during pregnancy?" section. Regardless, I agree with thinking woman that you try to find a way for her to sleep on her side. Lying on your back is a classic thing that makes snoring worse.
posted by mostlymartha at 7:39 PM on October 9 [1 favorite]

Ahem, link would be helpful.
posted by mostlymartha at 7:40 PM on October 9

I can't imagine snoring is going to be cured by anything but baby weight loss.

I'm a snorer at the best of times and just a few weeks behind your wife... I've never heard of any cures other than surgery or c.p.a.p. machines. Obviously surgery is out but maybe a cpap machine... if she's getting aponea when snoring, it's worth doing something about earlier rather than later.... in terms of oxygen to her and the baby... four weeks is worth it, possum.

Have you got a big comfy chair she could try sleeping in? Other than that.... I got nothin'.

If she has a cure for sore hips as a trade off... I'd love to hear that one! :-)
posted by taff at 8:09 PM on October 9

Yeah, that sounds like apnea. Which she might have even when not pregnant; you can't always tell without a sleep study.
posted by trevyn at 8:37 PM on October 9

I would suggest a long body pillow so she can sleep on her side and comfortably support the stomach. Vietnamese have circular body pillows that you can have made based on your preferred firmness. Your profile does not indicate your geographic region but mefi mail me and if you are in my area you can borrow one of the three that I have. I suffered like your wife while pregnant and those pillows were helpful.
posted by jadepearl at 9:10 PM on October 9

Seconds on the body pillow! It has cured even the most skeptical of their sleepless late-pregnancy nights.
posted by tamarack at 10:01 PM on October 9

The only thing that cured it for me was delivering my baby and losing all of the weight (almost entirely fluid). I never snore but around 30 weeks I started snoring. I was so swollen with fluid that my jaw was in a different position than it is now. Everything has since gone back to normal.

She can try sleeping propped up, like in a chair; that may help some.
posted by FergieBelle at 7:10 AM on October 10 [1 favorite]

Don't know if I can help with the snoring part as my husband hasn't stated that I've snored during my pregnancy (7 months here), but I do have to say that my friend brought this for me early in my pregnancy and it has made sleeping so much better. It may help to support her in a way that will cut down on the snoring.

The only time I wake up now is when I have to make the nightly bathroom trip.

If the snoring is due to excess fluid/weight (which it sounds like it is), it's possible a good swim or wading around a pool could help. The water cushions the body and encourages the fluid built up to spread out some more. It will also help with any swelling or backaches, too. I'd also suggest gentle stretching with an exercise ball to help open the diaphragm area. I sometimes find I can't breathe because of how the baby is positioned, but if I do some stretches or even just sit on an exercise ball, it helps a lot.
posted by zizzle at 7:33 AM on October 10

I used a vaporizer next to the bed every day of my pregnancy. I was congested pretty much from the moment of conception until delivery, which of course leads to snoring.
posted by pinky at 8:39 PM on October 10