The MFMU SLEEP Trial

Sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that affects the quality of your sleep and your daytime functioning.

Normally during sleep, air moves through the throat and in and out of the lungs at a regular rhythm. In a person with sleep apnea, air movement is periodically diminished or stopped. In obstructive sleep apnea, breathing is abnormal because of narrowing or closure of the throat.

Sleep apnea is common in pregnancy. About 1 out of 5 women who are overweight or report snoring will test positive for sleep apnea in pregnancy.

Sleep apnea is treatable.

The most commonly prescribed treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP.

Adjusting sleep positions and avoiding alcohol and other sedatives also can help.

Treatment of sleep apnea has been shown to help women sleep better and function better, both physically and mentally during the day.

More research is being done to understand the other possible health benefits of treatment.

The Maternal Fetal Medicine Units SLEEP Trial  is a study of using CPAP in pregnancy.

The goal is to understand if using CPAP in pregnancy can help women have healthier pregnancies.

The first part of this study involves going home with a portable sleep monitor. Wearing this monitor for one night will let research staff see if you have sleep apnea.

AFTER THE HOME SLEEP TEST

If you test positive for mild or moderate sleep apnea then you will be eligible for a treatment trial in pregnancy.

SLEEP TRIAL

If you agree to participate in the trial you will be randomly assigned to  one of two groups:

• Sleep advice and treatment with CPAP
• Sleep advice only

If you are in the CPAP group we will teach you how to use, clean and track your device usage.  We will help you get used to sleeping with CPAP and encourage you to sleep with it every night .

If you agree to participate in the trial we will follow you throughout pregnancy and collect data on your prenatal care and delivery. We will also collect some blood samples during pregnancy. After pregnancy you will complete a brief survey.

You will be compensated for your time and effort.