Pregnancy and Health

This chapter illustrates the impact of sleep disorders in pregnancy by demonstrating a case of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) associated with preeclampsia. Maternal-fetal health complications are well documented in association with maternal OSA. OSA in pregnancy is a risk for preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and gestational diabetes mellitus. A growing body of literature supports the importance of detection and diagnosis of OSA in pregnant women. Pregnancy-related complications may be mitigated by OSA treatment. Treatment with continuous PAP therapy is well tolerated in pregnancy and can be offered during pregnancy. Further investigation is needed to understand the effects of treatment on outcomes in pregnancy.