In short
- Cleveland Clinic says pregnancy rhinitis, a common cause of pregnancy snoring, goes away for most people within a few days to two weeks of delivery.
- A 2022 scoping review of 13 studies found snoring fell by about half after delivery, from 62% to 29%, but 53% to 65% of women still had some sleep-disordered breathing.
- In a 2018 study, 37% of women had sleep apnea late in pregnancy and 35% had it 6 to 15 weeks after birth, and 8 of the 11 women retested at 6 to 8 months still had it.
- An American Heart Association statement says obstructive sleep apnea can take up to 6 months to resolve after delivery and that anyone with it during pregnancy should see a sleep specialist afterward.
- In the nuMoM2b study, women whose sleep apnea in pregnancy persisted 2 to 7 years later were at higher risk of high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome.
- A 2012 study of 1,719 women linked snoring that started during pregnancy with higher odds of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.
Pregnancy snoring often eases in the weeks after birth, as the swollen, stuffy nose of late pregnancy settles down. For a good share of women it doesn't stop completely, though. Studies that retested women after delivery found snoring rates roughly halved, while more than half of those with breathing problems in sleep during pregnancy still had some afterward. If snoring hangs on for months, or comes with gasping or heavy tiredness, it's worth a check.
When does pregnancy snoring stop?
Research: limited (what this means)Pregnancy snoring usually starts to ease within days to weeks of giving birth, especially when a blocked nose was behind it. Cleveland Clinic says pregnancy rhinitis, the hormone-driven stuffiness of pregnancy, usually happens in the third trimester and for most people goes away within a few days to two weeks of delivery.
That fits the bigger numbers. A 2022 scoping review in Sleep Medicine Reviews pulled together 13 studies that looked at breathing during sleep after delivery. Snoring fell by about half, from 62% of women during pregnancy to 29% afterward. So for many women, the snoring that started in pregnancy fades along with the congestion.
If you want the background on why snoring starts in the first place, our guide to snoring during pregnancy covers the hormones, the stuffy nose and the link with blood pressure. Our article on a stuffy nose during pregnancy has drug-free ways to breathe easier in the meantime.
How often does snoring carry on after birth?
Snoring and other breathing problems in sleep carry on after birth more often than many people expect. The same 2022 review found that 53% to 65% of women who had sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy still had it after delivery, although on average it became less severe. Across the studies that used objective sleep tests, about 24% of women had sleep-disordered breathing after delivery, with a wide range between studies of 13% to 83%.
The review's authors also looked at weight. Changes in weight from pregnancy to postpartum didn't reliably predict who would keep having breathing problems, but higher weight after birth was linked with a greater chance that they persisted.
These are mostly small studies with different methods, which is why our evidence rating is limited. The overall pattern is consistent, though. Things usually get better after birth, and for a sizable minority they don't fully go away.
Does sleep apnea from pregnancy go away after delivery?
Sleep apnea that develops in pregnancy doesn't always go away after delivery. In a 2018 study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, researchers gave women sleep studies at 32 to 35 weeks of pregnancy and again afterward. Of the 65 women with valid tests at both points, 37% had sleep apnea in late pregnancy and 35% had it 6 to 15 weeks after birth. Eight of the 11 women retested at 6 to 8 months postpartum still had it. The authors concluded that sleep apnea is common in the early postpartum period and often persists at least 6 months.
A 2024 American Heart Association scientific statement on the postpartum period says obstructive sleep apnea can take up to 6 months to resolve, and that some people go on to have persistent sleep apnea. Its advice is clear: everyone with obstructive sleep apnea during pregnancy should be evaluated by a sleep medicine specialist after delivery.
A 2026 guideline from the American College of Chest Physicians on sleep apnea in pregnancy also recommends reassessing it after birth in some patients. Its recommendations are conditional, because the evidence base is still thin.
Why might snoring hang on after the baby arrives?
Snoring may hang on after the baby arrives for several reasons, and research has only pinned down a few of them. Weight is the clearest. The 2022 review found that higher weight after delivery was linked with persistent breathing problems in sleep. The NHS lists losing weight among the lifestyle changes that can help sleep apnoea, and our guide to weight loss and snoring explains why.
Some women snored before pregnancy too. The 2012 study of 1,719 women in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found 34% snored regularly in the third trimester, and about a quarter of all the women had started snoring during the pregnancy. Those who snored before pregnancy are less likely to see it vanish afterward simply because the pregnancy ended.
New-parent sleep makes things harder to judge. The 2024 AHA statement notes that after delivery, people have more night waking, more fragmented sleep and less efficient sleep. That can hide the signs of sleep apnea, because everyone with a newborn feels tired. A partner's report of pauses or gasps is often the most useful clue.
What can help snoring after pregnancy?
Gradual, steady changes to weight and activity are the best-supported steps for snoring that lingers after pregnancy. The NHS says sleep apnoea can sometimes be treated with lifestyle changes like losing weight, giving up smoking and cutting down on alcohol, though many people still need a CPAP machine.
The 2024 AHA statement calls the 12 weeks after birth the fourth trimester and says it's a good time to start protecting long-term heart health. It notes that the US Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week after birth, started gradually and after talking with your obstetrician. It suggests brisk walking with the baby in a carrier or stroller as a practical way to get there.
If a stuffy nose is still part of the problem weeks after birth, that's worth checking too. Cleveland Clinic says pregnancy rhinitis should clear within about two weeks of delivery, so congestion that lasts longer may have another cause, such as allergies.
What if you had preeclampsia?
If you had preeclampsia, snoring after pregnancy is worth raising at your follow-up appointments, because both are tied to blood pressure and heart health. In the 2012 study, women whose snoring began during pregnancy had about 2.4 times the odds of gestational hypertension and 1.6 times the odds of preeclampsia after adjusting for other factors. Women who had snored since before pregnancy didn't show the same link. This shows an association, not that snoring causes preeclampsia.
A 2021 AHA scientific statement says that hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, raise a woman's risk of later developing heart disease risk factors and heart disease itself. It calls a history of these conditions a prompt for more active prevention, starting after delivery.
Sleep apnea that persists may add to that picture. The nuMoM2b Heart Health Study followed women from their first pregnancy and retested many of them 2 to 7 years later. Women whose sleep apnea in pregnancy was still present at that later visit had about 3.8 times the risk of developing high blood pressure and 2.5 times the risk of metabolic syndrome. The 2024 AHA statement also lists obesity-related sleep apnea among the clues to look for when new mothers have high blood pressure that may have another cause.
We couldn't find a study that directly tested whether a history of preeclampsia makes snoring more likely to persist after birth. The practical point is simpler: if you had preeclampsia and you still snore, ask whether a sleep test makes sense. Our guide to sleep apnea and high blood pressure explains how the two connect.
Preeclampsia itself can also appear after the birth. The NHS says it sometimes develops in the days or weeks after delivery, and that a severe headache, vision problems, pain below the ribs or sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet need checking immediately. If you've recently given birth and notice these, get urgent medical help.
When should you get checked?
You should get checked if snoring lasts well beyond the first couple of months after birth or comes with signs of sleep apnea. This checklist sums up what to watch for.
| What you notice | What it may point to | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Snoring that fades within a few weeks | Pregnancy congestion settling | Nothing more unless it returns |
| Snoring still loud months after birth | Persistent sleep-disordered breathing | Mention it at a routine appointment |
| Gasping, choking or pauses a partner hears | Possible sleep apnea | See your doctor about a sleep test |
| Sleep apnea diagnosed in pregnancy | Apnea that may persist | Ask for sleep specialist follow-up after delivery |
| Preeclampsia or high blood pressure in pregnancy, plus snoring | Higher heart risk overall | Raise snoring at your blood pressure follow-up |
| Severe headache, vision changes or sudden swelling after birth | Possible postpartum preeclampsia | Get urgent medical help |
The NHS lists the main sleep apnoea symptoms as breathing that stops and starts, gasping, snorting or choking noises, waking up a lot and loud snoring, with daytime tiredness, poor concentration, mood swings and morning headaches. Our guides to sleep apnea in women and home sleep apnea tests explain how it's diagnosed.
Can you use mouth tape for snoring after pregnancy?
Mouth tape isn't the first step for snoring after pregnancy. Check for sleep apnea first, because tape doesn't treat it and can hide the snoring that would prompt a test. If a doctor has ruled out sleep apnea, your nose is clear and you're not unwell, some adults use mouth tape for mouth-breathing snoring. Our guide to mouth tape and pregnancy covers the safety questions in more detail. We don't recommend mouth tape for children.
Check this first. Skip mouth tape and see a doctor if you snore loudly, wake up gasping, have been told you stop breathing in your sleep, or can't breathe comfortably through your nose. More on safety
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your midwife, doctor or a sleep specialist about your own health.
Read next
- Snoring during pregnancy: why it happens and when to mention it
- Sleep apnea in women: symptoms that get missed
- Sleep apnea and the heart
Common questions
When does pregnancy snoring stop?
For many women it eases within weeks of giving birth. Cleveland Clinic says pregnancy rhinitis usually clears within a few days to two weeks of delivery, and a 2022 review found snoring rates roughly halved after birth. Snoring that carries on for months is worth mentioning to your doctor.
Is it normal to still snore after having a baby?
It's common but not something to ignore. A 2022 scoping review found that while snoring fell from 62% to 29% after delivery, more than half of women who had breathing problems in sleep during pregnancy still had some afterward. Persistent snoring, gasping or heavy tiredness deserve a check.
Does sleep apnea from pregnancy go away?
Sometimes, but not always. An American Heart Association statement says it can take up to 6 months to resolve, and some women go on to have persistent sleep apnea. In a 2018 study, 8 of 11 women retested at 6 to 8 months postpartum still had it.
Should I get a sleep study after pregnancy?
If you were diagnosed with sleep apnea during pregnancy, yes. The American Heart Association says everyone with obstructive sleep apnea in pregnancy should be evaluated by a sleep specialist after delivery. If you weren't diagnosed but still snore loudly, gasp or feel exhausted beyond new-baby tiredness, ask your doctor.
Is snoring after preeclampsia a concern?
It's worth raising. Snoring that began in pregnancy has been linked with preeclampsia, and the American Heart Association says hypertensive disorders of pregnancy raise later heart disease risk. Sleep apnea that persists after birth was linked with high blood pressure years later in the nuMoM2b study, so ask about it at follow-up.
Can I use mouth tape for snoring after pregnancy?
Not until you've checked for sleep apnea. Mouth tape doesn't treat sleep apnea, and gasping or breathing pauses are reasons to see a doctor first. If you're cleared and your nose is clear, tape is an option some adults use for mouth-breathing snoring. Skip it on nights you feel sick or congested.
Sources
- Persistence and prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing after delivery: a scoping review of longitudinal and cross-sectional studies
- Gestational obstructive sleep apnea: biomarker screening models and lack of postpartum resolution
- Sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy and after delivery: associations with cardiometabolic health
- Opportunities in the postpartum period to reduce cardiovascular disease risk after adverse pregnancy outcomes: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association
- Adverse pregnancy outcomes and cardiovascular disease risk: unique opportunities for cardiovascular disease prevention in women: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association
- Pregnancy-onset habitual snoring, gestational hypertension, and pre-eclampsia: prospective cohort study
- OSA in pregnancy: an American College of Chest Physicians clinical practice guideline
- Pregnancy rhinitis
- Pre-eclampsia
- Sleep apnoea
About this article
- Research
- 10 published sources, listed above.
- Evidence
- Limited. How we rate it
- Last checked
- October 18, 2026
- Funding
- Paid partner of Titan Recovery. Their ads are labeled.
- Found an error?
- Tell us. We log fixes on the corrections page.
* This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. Talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your health.