![]() ![]() Excessive sleepiness and cataplexy could interfere with a person’s ability to care for a newborn. Newborn CareĪnother consideration for expectant parents with narcolepsy is how symptoms of the condition may affect their ability to care for their newborns postpartum (after birth). The journal's smaller study found comparable rates of C-sections among the 25 women with narcolepsy and cataplexy and the 75 healthy controls.Īlthough C-sections may pose complications, they may be the safer route for delivery for those with a risk of a cataplexy episode during delivery. The Journal of Sleep Research's study of 249 women with narcolepsy found that C-sections were conducted more frequently in women with cataplexy. It is considered major surgery, so the surgery itself, along with general anesthesia if needed, may pose health complications to the pregnant person and baby. Caesarian SectionsĪ C-section is a surgical procedure for delivering a baby and is done as opposed to vaginal delivery for many different reasons. Gestational diabetes must be carefully managed with regular blood sugar tests and lifestyle changes during pregnancy. It may increase the chances of having a C-section, as well as the pregnant person’s risk of high blood pressure and future diabetes.Īlthough gestational diabetes poses a complication for pregnancy, it can be controlled and will usually go away after delivery. Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that is diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. In several studies, researchers found that women with narcolepsy had higher rates of impaired glucose metabolism and gestational diabetes during pregnancy. A third, smaller study - also from the Journal of Sleep Research - found no difference in the number of obstetric complications among 25 women with narcolepsy and cataplexy, compared to 75 participants who did not have narcolepsy. The study found more obstetric (birth) complications among the women with cataplexy, but the complications were not severe. Furthermore, if a caesarian section (C-section) were required, there were no increased risks from the surgery or anesthesia.Īnother study from the Journal of Sleep Research examined 249 women in Europe, all of whom had narcolepsy and some of whom experienced cataplexy as a symptom. They found that it was rare for an episode of cataplexy to interfere with delivery. One study that surveyed 75 clinicians from around the world found that most pregnant people with narcolepsy had delivered babies without any complications. ![]() Birth ComplicationsĬan narcolepsy affect the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth? One may not expect most symptoms of narcolepsy to pose major concerns during pregnancy, but the possibility of undergoing an episode of cataplexy during childbirth may be troubling. Although the research is sparse and employs different methods, there are some findings to discuss. In the past decade, sleep medicine and psychiatry researchers have started examining how symptoms of narcolepsy change during pregnancy, how narcolepsy symptoms may affect pregnancy, and also how narcolepsy medications may affect pregnancy and breastfeeding. Pregnancy has an impact on sleep quality, but it is less clear how it affects the sleep quality of pregnant people with narcolepsy. There are several other symptoms of narcolepsy, including hallucinations, vivid dreams, the sudden urge to go to sleep, and sleep paralysis - the temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up.Īll of these symptoms can be severe and have the potential to affect sleep and quality of life during pregnancy. However, it can be dangerous if a cataplectic episode occurs while a person is performing activities such as driving, as a person may temporarily have no control over their body during an episode. Cataplexy does not cause any lasting damage. Episodes may last from a couple of seconds to a few minutes.Ĭataplexy is usually brought on by strong emotions such as intense laughter, fear, or anger. Episodes of cataplexy range in severity from mild - resulting in drooping eyelids and relaxed facial muscles - to strong, which may result in total body paralysis and falling. ![]() People with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia), which is characterized by persistent sleepiness throughout the day, regardless of the amount of sleep achieved at night.Īnother symptom of narcolepsy is cataplexy, or sudden onsets of loss of muscle tone and weakness. If a person's narcolepsy symptoms start before pregnancy, they will persist throughout and after pregnancy. ![]()
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