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Motherhood brings chronic sleep deprivation. But constant fatigue may signal sleep apnea. This condition causes breathing to stop and start during sleep. Yet it’s frequently overlooked in women. This blog explains why spotting it in moms matters.
Understanding Why Mom Fatigue is Different From Sleep Apnea Fatigue
Common parental fatigue decreases following a good night’s sleep or a weekend rest. But the fatigue from sleep apnea will not go away because your brain keeps you waking up dozens of times per hour without your awareness.
This will disrupt your sleep cycles such that you fail to enter the deep sleep phase when your body is rejuvenated. Mothers frequently link this to stress or getting older. Yet the key distinction is that sleep apnea makes you feel as though you’ve run a marathon all night, no matter how many hours you’ve actually slept.
A new mom who is getting eight hours of sleep per night and finding it difficult to stay awake at her toddler’s playgroup may think that she’s “not a morning person.” However, if the same tiredness carries into the afternoon and evening and affects her patience, concentration and driving ability, it’s time to dig a little deeper.
There are also many women who may have morning headaches, dry mouth, or irritability. All are symptoms of disrupted breathing. The difference lies in identifying whether it’s because the baby woke you up or because you’re tired despite having enough sleep.
The Silent Signs of Sleep Apnea
Snoring is the classic sleep apnea symptom, but not all women snore much or even at all. What they may experience is insomnia and restless sleep, with waking due to a racing heart or feeling of panic. This condition is sometimes mistaken for an anxiety problem or perimenopause when hormonal changes mimic similar complaints, when in fact these instances of waking up are caused by adrenaline spikes brought about by the lack of oxygen.
Moms in their forties and fifties are very prone to such problems because of the decreased estrogen levels during menopause, which relax the muscles of the throat and increase the chances of the collapse of the airways.
Other symptoms of sleep apnea may include teeth grinding, excessive night urination, and acid reflux. A stay-at-home mom with unexplained fatigue and mood swings may be advised to “manage stress” when she actually needs a sleep apnea test. Remember, untreated sleep apnea raises serious long-term risks like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Why Moms Are at Greater Risk and How to Advocate for Yourself
Moms put other family members’ health before their own. They plan pediatrician visits, dentist appointments, and sports physicals, but forget about themselves. Doctors also tend to dismiss women’s fatigue as the “normal” overload of a busy mom, missing the diagnosis of diseases such as sleep apnea.
This bias can cause many women to have undiagnosed sleep apnea for years, until a partner notices a pause in her breathing, or a physical exam identifies sleep apnea as a suspected cause of high blood pressure.
In order to disrupt this pattern, have yourself evaluated and maintain a sleep diary for two weeks, with notes on refreshment levels, number of nighttime awakenings, morning headaches and dry mouth. Ask for a sleep test in case you have persistent symptoms despite lifestyle changes. Taking charge of your sleep is not selfish. It is a vital step to keep you healthy and to be able to enjoy your family.
Endnote
Motherhood fatigue is real, but it shouldn’t be debilitating. Consider sleep apnea if you’re constantly tired, unfocused, or anxious. A simple sleep study can give you the restful nights and vibrant days you deserve by restoring your health, mood, and energy.