If you are pregnant and have a history of asthma, you may already be worried about how to deal with it and still have a safe pregnancy. Your asthma alone puts you and your baby at a higher risk than someone without it.
The bad news is, while you are pregnant you may have more attacks and may need to take more medications that can be harmful to your baby.
If your asthma is not controlled you may end up being in a more serious problem like an increased blood pressure, premature delivery, impaired fetal growth, low birth weight, poor APGAR score and stillbirth are just some of the possible complications you are facing.
It is general knowledge that during pregnancy, you are to avoid absolutely all kinds of medications.
But, since your asthma may be life threatening, taking your medications outweighs the possible risks of the medication itself.
There are general guidelines you can follow in taking asthma medications, it includes:
- If it can be avoided, any medication should be eliminated during the first trimester to allow the infant’s organ development unharmed.
- If you must take any medicine at any time during your pregnancy, be sure to have clearance from your health provider first.
- Medications you have taken in the past are preferred than drugs you have no history of use, this is to avoid any unnecessary allergic reactions.
- Inhaled medications are generally preferred because in this route only a small percentage goes directly into the bloodstream.
- If you must take new drugs, your health provider must choose from those that are historically proven safe for pregnant women.
- If you suspect that you are pregnant and have asthma, it is a MUST to disclose it to your health provider.
- Know what triggers your asthma attack and avoid exposure to them.
- You can also have your flu shots, but it is recommended to have them on the second or third trimester.
- Know what triggers your asthma attack and avoid exposure to them.
- You can continue with your allergy shots if you had it before your pregnancy and did not have any adverse reactions.
- Take antihistamine, cough and cold remedies that were prescribed to you by your health provider rather than taking over the counter drugs.
- Visit your allergist/immunologist as frequent as you go to your obstetrician to ensure that your asthma is controlled.
In spite of your asthma, with proper monitoring and management your symptoms can be controlled and you can still have a safe pregnancy and have a healthy baby.
There are signs that will tell you that your asthma symptoms are controlled like: being physically active with no asthma symptoms manifested, a continuous 8 hours of good night sleep and a good peak flow meter.
Signs of a healthy fetus like good fetal growth according to gestational age, good fetal heart tone and good fetal movement all show signs that you have a controlled asthma.
