Sleep Apnea and Fetal Growth Restriction

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 5-10% of pregnancies and is one of the leading causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder in which a person's breathing pauses or becomes shallow during sleep. These periods of low oxygen lead stress and inflammation which that may be harmful to both the mother and her fetus. OSA in pregnancy has been associated with poor maternal-fetal outcomes, including low birth weight, preterm delivery, FGR, gestational hypertension/preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and higher rates of neonatal ICU admission. Auto-titrated positive airway pressure (aPAP) is a machine that gently delivers pressurized air via a mask to keep a patient's airways free of obstruction during sleep. It is currently unclear whether treatment of OSA during pregnancy in women with known FGR can improve fetal and neonatal outcomes.