You are having the sweetest dream in your life suddenly you were awakened – awakened by your husband! “Honey, you sound louder than the horn of a train!” You’d like to deny but you’ll realize that you may not notice it because you’re unconscious during these snoring episodes. Many women find that they snore whilst pregnant even if they have never done so before.

What is snoring?

Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structure such as the uvula (the U-like structure of the soft palate), soft palate (the back roof part of the oral cavity) and the larynx (voice box) that results to different kinds of sounds; sometimes a whistle, in other times, a roaring sound – which can be very unpleasant to hear by your companion.

Snoring is one of the normal discomforts of pregnancy along with nausea, vomiting and backache; most common in later term of pregnancy. The diaphragm elevates to give way to the enlarging uterus and the displacement of the diaphragm may cause shortness of breath. The enlargement of neck may also be culprit of snoring owing to edema and nasal congestion which is caused by increase in estrogen levels. Excessive weight gain may also contribute to this. Average weight gain is 25 to 35 pounds. Water is retained during pregnancy to support the growing fetus thereby adding to the body weight. An increased in level of steroid sex hormones, lowered blood protein and delayed gastric emptying time may also be another factor of weight gain. In addition, for some people who smoke during pregnancy, it causes respiratory way to constrict thus decreasing the ability of the body to gas exchange.

How to alleviate snoring during pregnancy?

Living healthy during pregnancy is the key for comfortable sleep.

1. Eat right. Know the food that you and your baby needs. Avoid caffeine such coffee and soda. Eat less of high fat food as it may be more difficult for your stomach to digest. Take more fruits, green leafy vegetables, right amount of carbohydrates and proteins.
2. Exercise. You may attend class that gives the right exercise for pregnant mothers. This may also help you prepare for the labor. You may also exercise at home by just having ten-minute walk in the garden or plainly do simple deep breathing exercises.
3. Proper sleep position. Pregnant mothers are advice to sleep on their left side. Not only it helps you breath but it eases the blood flow from your heart to your system going to your baby. You may also use one or two pillow to elevate your head in doing so your lungs expand more.
4. Avoid vices such as alcohol, smoking and prohibited drugs. Alcohol is a muscle relaxant which can cause your respiratory muscles to relax. Smoking decreases the circumference of your respiratory airway making it difficult to breath. There are drugs that constrict your air passages. These things may also be potentially be dangerous to your growing baby causing congenital abnormalities.
5. Relax. Listen to soft music during sleep. Think positive and de-stress yourself.

We tend to forget that lifestyle modifications can also go along way during pregnancy. If you eat right, exercise regularly, cut down the caffeine, and de-stress yourself, you may find a sound-free sleep.

Does your breath smell this bad?

Gastric bypass surgery is among the most popular bariatric surgeries. It is a weight reduction procedure for treatment of morbid obesity. After you have undergone this procedure an unwanted side effect of losing weight is developing bad breath. Bad breath (also known as halitosis), by itself, is usually not a disease. However, bad breath is usually a symptom of some other disease process going on within your body.

In the case of bad breath after gastric bypass surgery (or other bariatric surgery) you should consider the changes that have been made to the physiology of your stomach. The changes made can make the breakdown of food into a slower, more drawn out process. This can lead to heartburn, acid reflux and bad breath.

It is important to ingest enough protein-rich foods immediately after surgery to help wounds heal properly. Protein is an essential nutrient that helps the body builds new tissues.. Now, eating just pure protein-rich foods like chicken (either roasted, fried or boiled), steak, fried eggs, etc and nothing else may be important if recommended by your physician, but excess protein in the gut without or little carbohydrate or any other minerals can cause bad breath.

Regardless of how much mouthwash you use and how often you brush your teeth the fact is, this bad breath originates from your stomach and not your mouth. It is essential to treat the cause and not the symptom.

The stomach is also an area that causes bad breath problems for many people. Poor digestion, constipation, or bowel disorders may create gas which exits the mouth. It is important however to maintain normal dental hygiene and to brush your teeth even when taking only a liquid diet; otherwise, bacteria accumulate on the tongue and between the teeth and can cause bad breath. Hydrating your mouth and body is the first step that you can do in order to get rid of bad breath. Always remember that the treatment for your bad breath depends on the causes of it. Do not take antacids or other medication without first consulting with your doctor. Strong chemicals in these medications can have an adverse effect on your stomach after gastric surgery.?

In conclusion, if you are suffering from bad breath after gastric surgery you should consult your doctor before considering any kind of medication.

Read more on bad breath cures, gastric surgery.