Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) is a common condition which encompasses a spectrum of sleep-related breathing disturbances from snoring at one end of the spectrum to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) at the other. Such breathing disturbances may be characterized by repeated partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep, which can result in disruption of normal ventilation, hypoxemia, and sleep fragmentation. The identifying symptom of SDB is habitual snoring and the vast majority of women remain undiagnosed.

There is emerging evidence that SDB may be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes including maternal hypertension and infant growth retardation. It is now well documented that SDB is independently associated with hypertension in the general population so it is possible that SDB may play some role in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Obesity is strongly associated with both SDB as well as poor pregnancy outcomes and since the obesity rates worldwide are increasing the prevalence of SDB is likely to also increase. Of note, the incidence of hypertension during pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, is also increasing. This raises important questions regarding the relationship of SDB to both maternal and infant health. An improved understanding of some of the vulnerabilities that are unique to pregnancy may offer opportunities to improve the health of both mothers and infants. This event is free and open to the public.