Asthma and Pregnancy
What You Need to Know
Asthma during pregnancy can pose a number of health risks. However, the effect asthma can have differs from person to person. This makes it challenging to predict what will happen with your asthma when you’re pregnant, but let’s find out what you might encounter if you have asthma whilst pregnant.
What exactly is asthma?
Asthma is a common lung condition that affects the body’s airways. It can be identified by the symptoms it causes such as coughing, wheezing and being breathless. Asthma affects one in twelve adults and one in eleven children. It also affects men more than women.
Should I be worried?
If you’re managing your asthma effectively (such as continuing to take medications or using your inhaler), there is nothing to be concerned about. Taking medicines prescribed for your asthma greatly reduces the risk of asthma-related issues.
I’m concerned that my asthma medicines aren’t safe while I’m pregnant
As with all medication, they sometimes have side effects which can pose risks to your baby.
There has been a lot of discussion on the use of corticosteroids or steroids, which is used as an anti-inflammatory. They have been linked with a greater risk of complications such as cleft lip and palate, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and low birthweight. However, although most medications are safe to take whilst pregnant, we recommend that you consult your doctor or midwife if you have concerns.
Please do not stop taking your medication or reduce the dosage on your own as this can be dangerous and may result in a risk to you and your health.
What happens if I stop taking my prescribed medications?
Taking your medication will reduce the risk of your suffering from asthma-related complications. However, if you reduce the dosage of your medication or stop taking it altogether without first getting medical advice, you run the risk of inducing an asthma attack which affects your breathing as well as the amount of oxygen your baby gets. Lack of oxygen to the foetus has been linked to a greater risk of permanent brain damage and stillbirth.
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If you have any maternity related questions that we might be able to help you with, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
What should I avoid?
Here are a few tips to prevent asthma-related complications:
- Do not self-medicate: It’s not advisable to stop taking your medication or self-dose (reduce or increase the dose). Please consult your doctor or midwife if you have any concerns or before you change your medication plan.
- Don’t smoke: Smoking affects the lungs and can make asthma worse. It’s also not advised to smoke whilst pregnant.
- Avoid triggers: Try to avoid triggers such as second-hand smoke, dust and animal dander (fur, hair, feathers, etc.) that could affect your breathing and trigger an asthma attack.
- Control acid reflux: Acid reflux or heartburn can worsen asthma symptoms. You can reduce them by eating smaller meals, avoiding spicy foods and keeping your head elevated whilst resting.
When should I seek medical help?
You should inform your doctor or midwife if you’re experiencing any of the following:
- Excessive coughing or wheezing at night
- Your chest feels tight
- You’re using your inhaler more often
- Breathlessness
- No improvement after using your inhaler
Asthma, when treated properly, can be unproblematic during pregnancy. And if you continue to use your inhaler and any prescribed medication, asthma shouldn’t affect your or your baby’s health. If you’re still worried though, why not book an appointment with one of our midwives, and together you can talk through any concerns you may have.
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