Pregnancy and Asthma

Just because you have asthma, it doesn't mean that you can't have a healthy pregnancy. But, you have to keep your asthma in control. Pregnant asthmatics who see their doctors (both their allergist and/or internist and obstetrician) regularly throughout their pregnancy have as good a chance of having a normal pregnancy and healthy baby as women without asthma.

What if My Asthma Isn't Well Controlled During Pregnancy?

If you do not keep your asthma under control during your pregnancy, you may suffer from high blood pressure, severe bleeding, eclampsia (also called toxemia), and have a complicated labor. Your baby may be born prematurely, with a low birth weight, and could be at risk for an early death. For these reasons, it is very important to keep your asthma in control during your pregnancy.

Can I Continue to Take My Asthma Medicine During Pregnancy?

Several scientific studies have shown that if you do not control your asthma properly during pregnancy, you are much more likely to harm both yourself and your baby than if you use appropriate medicines to control your asthma.

If you are using an asthma inhaler, most doctors believe that because the amount of medicine you get from a puff of inhaler is small and goes straight to your lungs, it is not likely to harm your baby.

If you take oral medications or shots to control your asthma, you may want to talk to your doctor about decreasing the dose, switching medicines, or using an inhaler since oral medications and shots can be absorbed into your bloodstream and can affect your baby. If possible, these medicines should not be taken during the first trimester, when there is a small chance that they may harm your baby.

The most appropriate thing to do is to talk to your doctor, who will look at how severe your asthma is and what treatment is appropriate for you.

How Can I Reduce My Asthma’s Impact on My Baby?

Good asthma control is the key to a successful pregnancy.

• Have an asthma plan. Work with your asthma doctor to determine the right kind and quantity of asthma medication for you to take.
• Recognize your triggers. Keep a diary of what triggers the worsening of your asthma and find ways to avoid those triggers.
• Receive coordinated care. Make sure your asthma doctor and your pregnancy provider coordinate your care.

Can Pregnancy Make My Asthma Worse?

It may. There is no clear answer to this question. For some women, their asthma gets worse, for some it stays the same, and for some it improves. In general, if your asthma is severe, chances are it may become a little worse during your pregnancy. On the other hand, if you were pregnant before and your asthma did not get worse, chances are that it will not get worse during the next go around.

Asthma is almost never a reason to not get pregnant. However, if you have severe asthma, it is worth talking to your doctor before you get pregnant.