Treatment of Asthma in Pregnancy

Though asthma is the most common state affecting the lungs during pregnancy, the body is not engineered well enough to take asthma and pregnancy efficiently. When you have an asthma attack, the foetus may not get sufficient oxygen; this can put the foetus in great danger. If you do not keep your asthma under control during pregnancy, you may experience high blood pressure, severe bleeding, eclampsia and a complicated labour. The following can be the risks of asthma during pregnancy:

• A high blood pressure.
• Severe bleeding.
• Premature delivery.
• A baby too small for its age.
• A caesarean delivery.

Good management of asthma during pregnancy reduces the risk of complications.

Most women having asthma and allergies succeed with a proper medical supervision by physicians familiar with these disorders and the changes that arise during pregnancy. Specific recommendations based on limited or contradictory scientific evidence are as follows:

1. Remove allergy causing pets from the house or at least keep them out of the bedroom at all times.
2. In pregnancy, budesonide is the most preferred inhaled corticosteroid.
3. The clinical estimation of asthma includes both biased evaluations with pulmonary function tests.
4. Make sure your doctor and pregnancy provider synchronise your care.
5. Women with mildest or severe asthma during pregnancy must consider an ultrasound and antenatal foetal testing.
6. If possible, wash your bedding weekly in warm water or get them dry-cleaned periodically to kill dust mites. Keeping the hot water tank at a high temperature may not be suitable if there are children or others at risk of scalding at home.
7. Close the windows when using air conditioning and avoid outdoor activities between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., when pollen and pollution are at their peak.
8. Avoid smoking during pregnancy. Women who smoke more during pregnancy have a high risk of having miscarriages or premature babies. Smoking may also lead the new born to have asthma.
9. Use filtering vacuums to control airborne dust when cleaning.
10. Limit exposure to chemical fumes.
11. Learning more about asthma may help you deal with your symptoms better, prevent attacks and react quickly when attacks occur.
12. Cover the mattresses and pillows with special casings to lessen exposure to dust mites. Avoid sleeping on upholstered furniture.
13. Women, who are pregnant during the flu season, should get a flu shot; there are no known risks of flu shot for a developing foetus.
14. Drink lots of water throughout the day.
15. Avoid visiting polluted areas or going outside the house during rain.

Your healthcare provider is the best source of information for questions and concerns related to your medical problem. Asthma should never be a reason to avoid pregnancy. If you have severe asthma, it is advisable to talk to your doctor before you get pregnant. The important thing to note is that your asthma can be controlled during pregnancy. Good asthma control is the key to a successful pregnancy.