Maternal Health, Airway & Pregnancy
PATIENT EDUCATION - MATERNAL HEALTH
Why Breathing Matters Before Baby Arrives
Pregnancy brings remarkable changes to a woman's body—including the way she breathes. Breathing is not just automatic; it’s functional. A healthy airway ensures that both mother and baby receive the oxygen they need for optimal growth, sleep, and development.
At MYOPHYSX, we emphasize the importance of nasal breathing, tongue posture, and airway support throughout pregnancy. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) can help address breathing-related dysfunctions in a non-invasive and collaborative way.
DISCLAIMER:
All information presented on this page is intended for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your OB-GYN, midwife, or primary care provider before beginning any therapeutic exercises or nutritional supplementation during pregnancy.
The Role of Airway Health in Pregnancy
Nasal Breathing and Oxygenation
Nasal breathing plays a vital role in oxygen regulation, immune defense, and nervous system balance. During pregnancy, nasal breathing becomes even more important as the mother’s respiratory and circulatory systems adapt to support the developing fetus.
Mouth breathing, on the other hand, bypasses key functions such as nitric oxide production and filtration of airborne particles, and may contribute to fatigue, light sleep, and stress.
Source: nature– article review
Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Pregnancy Outcomes
Structural and hormonal changes in pregnancy can increase the risk of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These conditions are often underdiagnosed and may affect both maternal and fetal outcomes.
Sleep-disordered breathing during pregnancy is associated with:
- Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia PubMed – Sleep apnea and preeclampsia
- Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) PubMed – Sleep apnea and GDM
- Preterm birth and low birth weight PubMed – Maternal OSA and fetal outcomes
Orofacial myofunctional therapy offers an airway-centered approach that may improve sleep quality and airway function without medication or devices.
Myofunctional Therapy in Pregnancy: What We Support
Our focus is on restoring function. For pregnant patients, OMT may help address:
- Chronic mouth breathing
- Low or altered tongue posture
- Snoring or disrupted sleep patterns
- Jaw tension or muscular fatigue
- Reduced oxygenation contributing to fatigue or brain fog
OMT uses gentle, targeted exercises to improve oral rest posture, breathing function, and muscle tone—supporting better airflow, better sleep, and better outcomes.
Disclaimer: Therapy is only initiated or continued with the approval and supervision of your obstetrician.
Maternal Airway and Infant Health
Emerging evidence links maternal airway restriction and sleep-disordered breathing to complications such as intrauterine growth restriction, low Apgar scores, and increased NICU admission risk. Source: PubMed – Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy
The earlier airway concerns are addressed, the more support we can provide to help optimize breathing patterns before, during, and after birth.
Nutritional Foundations that Support Airway Health
Nutritional needs during pregnancy extend beyond general wellness—they also support breathing, oxygen delivery, and tissue development. Below are key nutrients and their impact on airway and fetal health.
Disclaimer:
All information presented on this page is intended for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your OB-GYN, midwife, or primary care provider before beginning any therapeutic exercises or nutritional supplementation during pregnancy.
Pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to fetal outcomes
PATIENT EDUCATION - MATERNAL HEALTH
Nitric Oxide and Preterm Labor Prevention
In addition to supporting implantation and reproductive blood flow, nitric oxide may also play a protective role in pregnancy maintenance. Research conducted on primates has shown that nitric oxide can help inhibit uterine contractions and delay the onset of preterm labor.
A study published in The Journal of Maternal-Fetal Medicine found that nitric oxide administration in rhesus monkeys inhibited premature labor, suggesting its potential role in sustaining pregnancy and supporting full-term development.
(Jennings et al., 1993) https://doi.org/10.3109/14767059309017336
This reinforces the broader role of nasal breathing—by promoting nitric oxide production—in creating a stable internal environment for reproductive success and fetal development.
MATERNAL HEALTH - REFERENCES
References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2022). Nutrition during pregnancy. ACOG. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/nutrition-during-pregnancy
Bourjeily, G., Danilack, V. A., Bublitz, M. H., Lipkind, H., Muri, J., Caldwell, D., Tong, I., & Rosene-Montella, K. (2017). Obstructive sleep apnea in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal outcomes: a national cohort. Sleep medicine, 38, 50–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2017.06.035
Facco, F. L., Ouyang, D. W., Zee, P. C., & Grobman, W. A. (2014). Implications of sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 210(6), 599.e1–599.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2014.01.045
Jennings, R. W., MacGillivray, T. E., & Harrison, M. R. (1993). Nitric Oxide Inhibits Preterm Labor in the Rhesus Monkey. Journal of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 2(4), 170–175. https://doi.org/10.3109/14767059309017336
Lefebvre, R. A. (1995). Nitric Oxide in the Peripheral Nervous System. Annals of Medicine, 27(3), 379–388. https://doi.org/10.3109/07853899509002591
Lundberg, J., Weitzberg, E. & Gladwin, M. The nitrate–nitrite–nitric oxide pathway in physiology and therapeutics. Nat Rev Drug Discov 7, 156–167 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd2466
Maniaci, A., La Via, L., Pecorino, B., Chiofalo, B., Scibilia, G., Lavalle, S., & Scollo, P. (2024). Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Review of Maternal and Fetal Implications. Neurology international, 16(3), 522–532. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint16030039
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2022). Folate: Fact sheet for health professionals. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2022). Iron: Fact sheet for health professionals. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2022). Vitamin B12: Fact sheet for health professionals. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (2022). Vitamin D: Fact sheet for health professionals. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
Pengo, M. F., Rossi, G. P., & Steier, J. (2014). Obstructive sleep apnea, gestational hypertension and preeclampsia: a review of the literature. Current opinion in pulmonary medicine, 20(6), 588–594. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCP.0000000000000097
Pien, G. W., Pack, A. I., Jackson, N., Maislin, G., Macones, G. A., & Schwab, R. J. (2014). Risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy. Thorax, 69(4), 371–377. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25148881/
Zhang, X., Zhang, R., Cheng, L., Wang, Y., Ding, X., Fu, J., Dang, J., Moore, J., & Li, R. (2020). The effect of sleep impairment on gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Sleep medicine, 74, 267–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2020.05.014
Li, L., Zhao, K., Hua, J., & Li, S. (2018). Association between Sleep-Disordered Breathing during Pregnancy and Maternal and Fetal Outcomes: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in neurology, 9, 91. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2018.00091
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