Respiratory ailments such as sleep apnea are notorious for their role in disturbing sleep. There are two primary types of sleep apnea: obstructive, in which the airways become blocked for one of a number of reasons, and central, in which the physiological mechanisms controlling breathing are disrupted. Sometimes the apnea is a result of both types, and is thus known as mixed apnea. At this point I will briefly discuss those breathing disorders that are specifically associated with DIMS; for the most part these fall into the central sleep apnea category (CSA). However, I want to point out that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a more common problem. Like CSA, OSA can occasionally result in the disorders of maintaining sleep that are the focus of this chapter; more often, however, OSA is manifested as a disorder of excessive sleepiness (DOES).

Relatively little is known about central sleep apnea. In CSA something—perhaps disruptions in circadian cycles, perhaps some facet of the sleep process itself—causes perturbations in the basic system that drives your breathing cycle. As a result you may cease to breathe temporarily, or your breathing may become too infrequent or too shallow to provide adequate oxygenation of the blood and tissues. As described earlier, your brain will then alert you to awaken in order to overcome the problem. Normally we awaken several times a night anyway, usually at the end of a REM period. With central apnea, however, the arousals are frequent and prevent you from enjoying a good night’s sleep.

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Supplements

Dandelion leaves: the leaves in salad or drink 3 cups of dandelion tea each day

Dandelion is a non-irritating, diuretic herb that won’t upset your mineral balance.

Vitamin B6: one 25mg tablet with food each morning acts as a diuretic and also helps with

morning sickness

Weight gain in pregnancy

During pregnancy it is normal to increase your weight by 10 to 13kg (22 to 28 pounds). Some women may put on more than this without affecting their own or the baby’s health. Do not think that after the baby is born, all that is left is fat. The added weight is in the placenta, amniotic fluid, membranes and the increase in size of the breasts and uterus, combined with the increase in blood volume.

The following chart will give you the weight distribution you should expect during pregnancy.

Weight Distribution                       %

Your baby                                       38

The amniotic fluid                           11

The placenta                                     9

Increase in the breasts and uterus     20

Increase in the blood                       22

Total weight gain                           100

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