Snoring in pregnancy.
Snoring that starts in pregnancy is common, and it is worth mentioning at your next appointment. It isn’t something to fix with a product.
How common
In a study of 1,719 women in the third trimester, a quarter had started snoring during the pregnancy. Weight gain, fluid retention and swelling of the nasal lining all narrow the airway.
Why it matters
In that study, women whose snoring began in pregnancy were about twice as likely to have gestational hypertension and about 1.6 times as likely to have pre-eclampsia, after adjusting for other factors. Women who had snored before pregnancy did not show the same link. This is an association from one cohort, not proof that snoring causes either condition, but it is why maternity clinicians ask about it.
snoring comes with a bad headache, vision changes, sudden swelling of the face or hands, or pain under the ribs. These can be signs of pre-eclampsia, which needs checking straight away, whatever the snoring is doing.
Tell your midwife or doctor that you have started snoring, especially if it comes with breathing pauses, gasping, headaches, or heavy daytime sleepiness. They may check your blood pressure more closely or refer you for a sleep assessment. Don’t buy a mouthpiece, nasal device or tape to deal with it yourself.
What you can do tonight
- Sleep on your side, which is usually advised in later pregnancy anyway.
- Raise the head of the bed slightly.
- Treat a blocked nose with saline rinses; ask a pharmacist before using any medicated spray in pregnancy.
These are comfort measures. None of them replaces mentioning the snoring to your care team.
After the birth
Pregnancy-onset snoring often settles in the months after delivery. If it doesn’t, the usual adult options apply, starting with an assessment.
Original sources & their limits
- Pregnancy-onset habitual snoring, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia: prospective cohort study (American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2012) ↗
Abstract read. 1,719 women in the third trimester; 25% began snoring during pregnancy. New-onset snoring was associated with gestational hypertension (adjusted odds ratio 2.36) and pre-eclampsia (1.59). An association in one cohort, not proof that snoring causes either.
- Australasian Sleep Association position statement on consensus and evidence based treatment for primary snoring (Sarkis et al., Respirology, 2023) ↗
Full text read, 2026-10-26, from the open-access copy. The only recent guideline written specifically for snoring without significant sleep apnoea. Grades each option: mandibular advancement devices first line (Level B, high certainty); CPAP an option for people willing to try or already using it (Level B); positional therapy reasonable (Level C); weight loss and less alcohol recommended (Level D); mouth and throat exercises low risk, small effect (Level B, low certainty); radiofrequency palate surgery safe and effective short term (Level B); over-the-counter nasal dilators, sprays and herbal remedies not advised (Level D, low certainty). Nasal strips and mouth taping are not addressed.
Sources checked 26 Oct 2026.