Managing Asthma During Pregnancy

We do not want to spoil your joy of pregnancy, but you must know about asthma during pregnancy. It is a matter of concern for all moms-to-be. Since asthma is related to respiration, which is one of the most important functions of the body, you should keep your defenses ready to fight this condition.

There have been no reports of any abortions or development of inborn abnormalities in pregnant asthmatic women. However, reports suggest that in one-third of cases, asthma in women worsened when they got pregnant, another one-third showed no deterioration in their condition, while the remaining ones actually found their condition getting better. In rare cases, it has been found that asthma during pregnancy lead to complications in delivery.

 

In most of the cases, asthma reverts to its original condition within 3-4 months after giving birth. However, there have been cases too, where asthma during pregnancy led to the birth of premature babies or underweight babies or even had the risk of distorted babies.

It would be unwise to overlook asthma during pregnancy. It causes an insufficient supply of oxygen in your blood, which, in turn, leads to deficiency of oxygen in your developing baby. This may lead to a slow growth of your baby, increasing the chances of distortions.

 

When you have a common cold or any infection in your upper respiratory tract during pregnancy, you need to be cautious, as this is an asthma trigger. Besides, keep away from people suffering from cold and such infections, lest you may catch it and worsen your condition. In addition, there have been cases, in which women, who had no history of asthma, showed signs of this condition while catching an infection of asthma during pregnancy.

Not all drugs are safe for asthma during pregnancy. However, do not ignore the condition for the fear of medicines harming your baby. Your doctor knows best about the drugs that are regarded safe during this period. If you ignore your asthmatic condition, it might get severe. There have been incidents of respiratory failure due to acute asthma. So, it’s a matter of your as well as your baby’s life!

 

Doctors usually do not recommend allergy tests in women to diagnose asthma during pregnancy. They also don’t recommend administering allergy injections during this time, although certain allergy shots are regarded as harmless. Another thing – do not try to treat asthma yourself. It can be dangerous. Always take medicines under a doctor’s prescription and regular supervision. This holds true for those drugs that are considered safe as well.

A caesarean delivery needs close monitoring, as it requires the use of general anesthesia. Your surgeon should be aware of your asthmatic condition. A check-up and a breathing test are necessary before the caesarean. If you suffer from sever asthma, you should choose a hospital that is equipped with a respiratory care unit.

Most asthmatic women refrain from breastfeeding their babies. You need not do so. In fact, those suffering from allergic asthma should certainly breastfeed. Reports suggest that babies who are breastfed exhibit lesser symptoms of allergic asthma or other kinds of allergies in younger stages of their life. But, you need to be cautious about the drugs you take for asthma, as some percentage of it is transmitted to the babies through your milk.

 

Asthma during pregnancy requires careful management, not ignorance, or fear.