- Asthma affects over 25 million Americans, creating troubled breathing and irritated airways. Severe maternal asthma increases risk of infant death, preeclampsia (a condition marked by high blood pressure, which can cause seizures in the mother or fetus), premature birth and low- birth weight babies. A mother who has learned to manage her asthma decreases these risks.
- Asthma can either improve or worsen during pregnancy and at this time there is no known method of predicting how it will affect a pregnancy. Mothers need to have their asthma checked monthly by their physician and see that adjustments are made to medication dosages during the pregnancy to minimize the effects of the asthma on the developing fetus.
- When the mother has trouble breathing so does her fetus and this can cause developmental damage to the baby. Many mothers are concerned with potential side effects from prescription medications for asthma and other conditions. Approved medications such as inhaled corticosteroids, have shown no potentially harmful side effects in the developing infant so the benefits outweigh the risks.
- Pregnant women should always keep an inhaler, such as Albuterol, available for quick relief. Women with persistent asthma need daily medication to control any potentially harmful flare up and may find relief in inhaled corticosteroids. Oral corticosteroids may have harmful side effects and are not used for severe asthma cases during pregnancy at this time.
- It is crucial that women learn to identify asthma triggers in order to effectively manage their condition and limit their exposure. Avoiding tobacco smoke and known allergens can prevent flare ups. Taking preventative care in order to avoid conditions that may worsen asthma such as colds, rhinitis and bronchitis is also important. This lessens the use of asthma medications which in turns lessen the risk of exposure to the fetus.
