Maternal snoring during pregnancy is not associated with fetal growth restriction

Abstract

A small number of studies have, thus far, evaluated the association between maternal snoring and fetal growth revealing conflicting results. No study has compared fetal growth between women with habitual snoring who snored before pregnancy and women with habitual snoring that started to snore during pregnancy.

Objectives: To examine the effect of maternal snoring on fetal outcome and to investigate the differences between “chronic snorers” and “new-onset snorers”. Methods: Women of singleton, uncomplicated, full-term pregnancies completed a questionnaire. Obstetric and labor records were reviewed. Newborn records were reviewed for gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score and gender. Results: 246 low risk women were studied. Mean BMI at the beginning of pregnancy was 22.3 ± 3.5 kg/m². 32% reported habitual snoring. Of those, 26% were chronic snorers and 74% were new-onset snorers. Neither significant difference in fetal growth was found between snorers and non-snorers nor between chronic snorers and new-onset snorers. Increased rate of nulliparous women was found in new-onset snorers compared with both chronic snorers and non-snorers (54 vs. 25 and 29% respectively; p = 0.001). Conclusions: In pregnant women with no apparent risk factors, maternal snoring does not affect fetal growth. No differences in maternal characteristics or fetal outcome were found between chronic snorers and new-onset snorers.

Keywords::

• Snoring
• sleep disordered breathing
• obstructive sleep apnea
• pregnancy
• fetal
• growth

Declaration of Interest: This research was supported by The Legacy Heritage Clinical Research Initiative of the Israel Science Foundation (grant No. 1700/08).