Waking up Because I'm Not Breathing/ Oximetry Test

Hi, I have had simmilar issues while I was pregnant. I recently was having those same things happen and I'm not pregnant, but I am overweight. What I did when I was pregnant was sleep on my side, the left is the better side for you and the baby. I either used my husband to prop me up or pillows. I think with my last pregnancy, I used 4 pillows, one big one behind my back one inbetween my legs and one under my belly, they other one was just whereever needed more cushion. Since not being pregnant and having these issues, losing 20 lbs and trying for more really helped. i haven't woke up from lack of breathing in 4 months. Good luck.

Do the sleep study. My husband had it done and found out he stopped breathing 23 time a minute! it will help you in the long run and even after you have the baby.
C. B

Carrie,
I used to work for Praxair health care services in the cpap Department it was a very usual thing to have the oximetry machine fall off sometimes they were to big. from what you described in you post.... and im not a doc so I cant diagnose you but you do have all the symptoms of sleep apnea. You should see about having that test done again. Expecially if it happens every night, even when your not pregnant.

I heard of some people solving this by playing a certain kind of flute. That toned the throat muscles and stopped the snoring. Meanwhile, get a new doctor, that machine ought to have been on all night.

Aside from that I would visit an herb store, but be sure the herbalist knows you are pregnant. You can find lists on websites of what herbs are not safe.

Definitely see another dr. My husband has sleep apnea and had it for years claiming I was just too light of sleeper. It is a very dangerous condition and they have learned so much about it and so many things to do for it. As our Dr. said, "Twenty years ago we wouldn't even have a conversation about sleep apnea." Besides, your life will be better if you are properly rested!! Go girl, right away. Sorry for your bad experience. J.

Yes, when you know your symptoms are bad enough to need attention and your doctor says, Nope, everything looks good!! Then you need a different doctor. Go find a doctor who will do for you what you need.
K.

Carrie, I used to work for an orthodontist that had a special appliance made to help people stop snoring. It keeps the teeth together not allowing the tongue to go too far back in the throat. Proper possition of the tongue is resting one the roof of the mouth. And we are supposed to only breathe out of our nose. (which is all but impossible during a cold). The other thing is; do you still have your tonsils and adnoids? If they are still in, you might want to consider having them removed. My son had a bad snoring problem when he was small, but after having his tonsils and adnoids removed he was cured. It really sounds like sleep apnea. Good luck

I have gone through 7 pregnancies and this last one, my 7th, was the worst. I have never had sinus problems like I would hear was normal during pregnancy with any of the other pregnancies but man this last one was awful. I could hardly breathe at night and I did wake myself up through the night. Even during the days I was so stuffed up the ENTIRE pregnancy. I was also snoring so loud my husband being woke up every night. There was just nothing I could do because I tried many things. My friend got prescribed a nose medication that she loved and it helped her. You could ask your doctor about an asthma inhaler medication. Nothing helped me though except giving birth to my 7th child. Within a week of having her my body went back to normal and I don't have the problem anymore. You might just have to tough it out until that little baby is born. There is an end to it and I totally understand how frustrating it is. I was so tired through that whole pregnancy and could hardly get up to get my kids out the door for school. I had 6 boys and my 7th was our first little girl. Maybe the difference in hormones is what did it. I'm not sure. I just know it goes away after the baby is born. Good luck and congratulations on having a girl on the way.

It couldn't hurt to try the test again, or go to another doctor and try it again. I have sleep apnea and use a C-Pap at night. It really helps. It sounds like you are uneasy about your breathing. Maybe you could just try the c-pap for a while and see if it makes you fell any better. Maybe you wouldnt need it after you deliver.