Snoring during pregnancy: why it happens and when to mention it

What’s going on

Snoring is common in pregnancy. In one study of 1,719 women in their third trimester, about a third snored. One in four had started snoring during the pregnancy.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says weight gain in pregnancy can make the airway swell, leading to snoring. Rising estrogen and progesterone also change sleep patterns.

Your nose is part of it too. Many pregnant people get a stuffy nose that isn’t a cold or allergy, called pregnancy rhinitis. A 2025 review links it to pregnancy hormones and blood vessel changes, and notes it can affect sleep.

Why it’s worth mentioning

Most snoring in pregnancy is just noise. But sometimes it’s a sign of sleep-disordered breathing, where the airway narrows or closes during sleep. That has been linked to some pregnancy complications.

High blood pressure and preeclampsia. In the study above, snoring that started during pregnancy was linked to both. Snoring that started before pregnancy wasn’t. The study found a link, not proof that snoring causes either one.

Gestational diabetes. The same study found no link between snoring and gestational diabetes. A larger 2017 study measured breathing with home sleep tests in more than 3,000 first-time mothers. Those with sleep-disordered breathing had higher odds of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.

None of this means snoring will cause a problem. It means your OB or midwife will want to know.

What helps

1. Tell your OB or midwife

This is the most useful step. ACOG says you can talk with your ob-gyn about sleep problems, and they may ask whether you snore. Mention when the snoring started, how loud it is, and anything your partner has noticed.

It helps to bring a few notes:

1. When the snoring started: before pregnancy or during it.
2. How often it happens, and whether it’s getting louder.
3. Whether your partner has seen you stop breathing, gasp or choke.
4. How sleepy you feel during the day.

Say so sooner if you have pauses in breathing, gasping or choking at night, or you’re very sleepy during the day. Your OB or midwife can decide whether you need a sleep test.

2. Sleep on your side

Sleeping on your side Some often helps if your snoring is worse on your back. In pregnancy it has a second benefit.

ACOG says side sleeping may be best in the second and third trimesters. Lying on your back later in pregnancy can press on a major blood vessel that carries blood to the uterus. That can make you dizzy and may reduce blood flow to your baby.

To get comfortable, ACOG suggests:

1. Keep one or both knees bent.
2. Put a pillow between your knees and another under your belly.
3. Try a full-length body pillow for support.

3. Ease a stuffy nose without medicine first

The 2025 review says drug-free steps are the first choice for pregnancy rhinitis. A saline rinse is one; the FDA says rinses can loosen mucus and ease nasal symptoms. Ask your OB or midwife before you start.

Use distilled, sterile or previously boiled water, never straight from the tap, the FDA advises. Check with your OB, midwife or pharmacist before taking any cold, allergy or decongestant medicine while pregnant.

4. Skip snoring gadgets for now

Don’t start a snoring mouthpiece or tape your mouth during pregnancy. Mouth tape Weak + warning is risky when your nose is blocked, which is common in pregnancy. Mouthpieces can wait until after the baby arrives, and a dentist can advise then.

If you want to try nasal strips Weak, ask your OB or midwife first. They’re drug-free but have weak evidence.

5. Ask your partner to listen

Your partner is often the first to notice a change. Ask them to tell you if your snoring gets louder, or if they hear you stop breathing, gasp or choke.

A short phone recording of a snoring night can help too. Play it for your OB or midwife if you’re not sure how to describe it.

What a dentist or doctor can do

Your OB or midwife is the right first call. They know your blood pressure, your glucose results and the rest of your history. If they’re concerned about your breathing at night, they can refer you to a sleep specialist.

A physician diagnoses sleep apnea, usually with a sleep test. If you’re diagnosed, the treatment plan will be made with your pregnancy in mind.

Does pregnancy snoring go away after birth?

Pregnancy rhinitis is temporary, the 2025 review notes. We didn’t find a good study on how often snoring itself stops after birth.

If you’re still snoring a few months after birth, or you snored before pregnancy, it’s worth looking at the usual causes. See why do I snore? and how to stop snoring.