For pregnant mothers this causes a very high risk of preeclampsia and pre-term delivery. These babies are twice as likely to have low birth weights and be placed in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). Pregnant women who might live at high altitude such as in Colorado live with chronically low oxygen levels and may already be predisposed to blood pressure disorders.
The feeling of a fight or flight response is usually not something any of us enjoy (except maybe on a roller coaster or those who like skydiving). Adrenaline and cortisol are the hormones that rush through the body to create that feeling, with cortisol being the primary stress hormone.
The event of a breathing obstruction during sleep causes a surge in cortisol. Again, there is a domino effect as that imbalance of hormones increases blood sugar levels and leads to a high risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women. In fact, if there is a severe level of sleep apnea during mid pregnancy, the chance of gestational diabetes is twice as high.