Quick Answer: Snoring during pregnancy affects up to 30% of women due to hormonal swelling (rhinitis) and increased blood volume. It is usually harmless but can signal gestational hypertension if it starts suddenly with swelling or headaches. Safe fixes include sleeping on your side, using nasal strips, and elevating your head with an adjustable base.
Brad, Owner, 40+ years of experience: "We have been helping Brantford families sleep better since 1997. Every customer gets personal attention, honest advice, and the kind of follow-up service you just do not get from big box stores."
In This Guide
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You used to sleep silently. Now, your partner says you sound like a bear. You wake up with a dry mouth and a sore throat. Welcome to pregnancy snoring.
At Mattress Miracle, we see many expecting couples in our Brantford store looking for solutions. They are tired, sometimes sleeping in separate rooms, and worried if this new noise is permanent.
The good news: It is almost certainly temporary. The bad news: You still have to sleep through it for a few more months.
Why Your Nose Feels Stuffed (But Isn't)
Pregnancy increases your blood volume by up to 50%. It also floods your system with estrogen.
This combination causes mucous membranes to swell everywhere in your body,including inside your nose. This is called Pregnancy Rhinitis.
The Narrow Pipe
Imagine trying to breathe through a straw. Now imagine pinching that straw halfway closed. That is your airway during pregnancy. Because your nose is swollen shut, you are forced to breathe through your mouth. Mouth breathing allows the soft tissue in your throat to vibrate, creating the snore.
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The Preeclampsia Connection
While snoring is annoying, it can sometimes be a red flag.
Medical studies link the onset of severe snoring during pregnancy with higher risks of Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia. If your airway is blocked (apnea), your oxygen levels drop, forcing your heart to pump harder, raising blood pressure.
Call your doctor if:
- The snoring started suddenly.
- You have swelling in your hands or face.
- You wake up gasping or choking.
- You have persistent headaches.
Managing the "Sleep Divorce"
Brad, our owner, often jokes that an adjustable bed is cheaper than a divorce lawyer. But for pregnant couples, sleep separation is real.
If your snoring is keeping your partner awake, don't feel guilty, but do take action. Sleep deprivation is bad for both of you. Sometimes, sleeping in separate rooms for the third trimester is the healthiest choice for the relationship.
However, if you want to stay in the same bed, you need to change the mechanics.
Drug-Free Fixes for Moms-to-Be
You can't take most decongestants. You need physics.
1. Elevation (The Adjustable Base):
Lying flat makes rhinitis worse (fluid pools in the head). Elevating your upper body 15-20 degrees drains the fluid and uses gravity to open the throat. It also helps with heartburn. An Adjustable Base is the most effective tool for this.
2. Nasal Strips:
These stiff bandages go on the outside of your nose and mechanically pull your nostrils open. They counteract the internal swelling safely.
3. Humidifier:
Dry air makes swollen tissues sticky and loud. A cool-mist humidifier keeps the airway lubricated.
The Side-Sleeping Rule
You already know you shouldn't sleep on your back (vena cava compression). But side sleeping can cause hip pain. Using a pregnancy pillow between your knees keeps your spine aligned, making it easier to stay on your side,which naturally reduces snoring compared to back sleeping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shop: Adjustable Beds at Mattress Miracle
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Adjustable base options at Mattress Miracle:
- Deluxe Adjustable Bed (15 Massage Modes)
- Affordable Adjustable Bed (German Motor)
- Restonic SleepBeat SE1005 Base
Or adjustable bed frames in our Brantford showroom.
Find Your Perfect Mattress at Mattress Miracle
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. Come try mattresses in person and get honest, no-pressure advice.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Will I snore forever?
Likely not. Once the baby is born and your hormone levels/blood volume return to normal (usually within a few weeks), the swelling subsides and the snoring stops.
Does weight gain cause the snoring?
It contributes. Gaining weight in the neck area puts pressure on the airway when you lie down. However, even thin women snore during pregnancy due to the rhinitis (swelling) issue.
Can I use a CPAP machine?
If you are diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea during pregnancy, yes, you absolutely should use CPAP. It protects both your heart and the baby's oxygen supply.
Is mouth taping safe during pregnancy?
We do not recommend it without a doctor's approval. If your nose is completely blocked by rhinitis, taping your mouth shut could dangerously restrict oxygen.
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
Mattress Miracle
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, ON N3R 3V9
Phone: (519) 770-0001
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4
Get some relief before the baby arrives. Come test our adjustable bases and find a position that lets you breathe freely again.
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
We are located at 441½ West Street in downtown Brantford. Free parking available. Our team does not work on commission, so you get honest advice based on your needs.
Mattress Miracle , 441½ West Street, Brantford, ON · (519) 770-0001
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 10am–6pm, Thursday–Friday 10am–7pm, Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 12pm–4pm.
Sources
- Bourjeily, G. et al. (2010). "Pregnancy and fetal outcomes of symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing." European Respiratory Journal, 36(4), 849-855. PubMed 20378592. Links pregnancy snoring to preeclampsia and gestational hypertension risk.
- Facco, F. L. et al. (2017). "Association between sleep-disordered breathing and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus." Obstetrics & Gynecology, 129(1), 31-41. PubMed 27926645
- Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. (2024). Sleep and Pregnancy. sogc.org