Snoring when pregnant linked to low birth weight

Conclusion This large cohort study has found that self-reported snoring during the last trimester of pregnancy - and in particular chronic snoring - is associated with having a small for gestational age baby as well as a caesarean delivery. A cohort study is the ideal study design to investigate this question, and the researchers have attempted to adjust for a number of important potential confounding factors that could be responsible for any association seen, such as maternal age, BMI and smoking status. However, this study cannot show that snoring directly caused the poorer delivery outcomes, as there could be other health or lifestyle factors not adjusted for that are involved in the relationship. In addition, in this study snoring was self-reported. It is possible that other women snored who were not aware of it (though the vast majority of women had bed partners, and only 2% of partners complained about snoring when women reported not snoring). This study cannot tell us whether, if there is a direct link between snoring and poor delivery outcomes, by what biological mechanism this may be. The researchers speculate that snoring leads to increase levels of inflammation which could affect the placenta leading to low birth weight. But this hypothesis needs further investigation. Overall, pregnant women who snore should not be overly concerned by this research that this is going to have a harmful effect on their baby. The research does raise the possibility that it may b...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pregnancy/child Source Type: news