When a woman with asthma becomes pregnant, she’s not only “eating for two,” as the saying goes, she’s also breathing for two.
Oxygen is essential to a healthy placenta and fetus development. And since asthma flares can reduce oxygen levels in the blood, pregnant women must take extra care to avoid asthma-related breathing difficulties.
That’s why it’s important for them to work closely with the doctor who treats their asthma, whether in primary care or a specialist, as well as their obstetrician — and to encourage the two doctors to communicate with each other when establishing a treatment plan.
Asthma and allergies are unpredictable in moms-to-be. Studies show that about one-third of women with asthma find their symptoms improve during pregnancy; one-third say they get worse; and one-third say they stay about the same. Certainly, more and more studies are pointing to hormones as common asthma triggers.
[Read: The Best and Worst Exercises for Pregnant Women.]
If you’re planning to become pregnant:
— Talk with your primary care doctor or asthma specialist about how to improve your symptom management. Review your medications, your inhaler technique and your treatment plan. The healthier your lungs are before you become pregnant, the better you and your baby will be.
— Most people with asthma also have allergies that trigger symptoms. If you don’t know what you’re allergic to, ask for a referral to a board-certified allergist trained in allergy testing and diagnosis.
— Ask about exercise-induced asthma symptoms and ways to prevent them.
When you know you are pregnant:
— Some of your medications may have to be adjusted so they’re safe during pregnancy. Make an appointment with your doctor to tailor your Asthma Action Plan and discuss ways to prevent and treat symptoms safely.
— Share your Asthma Action Plan with your obstetrician, and discuss any concerns either of you have.
— Encourage your doctors to work together; make sure they have contact information for each other.
[Read: The Fertility Preservation Diet: How to Eat if You Want to Get Pregnant .]
Prevention Tips
During pregnancy, women must be extra careful to avoid anything that might cause an asthma flare. This may include avoiding secondhand smoke, staying inside on high pollen or air pollution days, eliminating mold from the home, installing dust mite covers on mattresses and pillows, and keeping pets out of bedrooms.
Some easy and benign preventive allergy treatments are saline nasal washes for nose and sinus care and eye drops for allergic conjunctivitis; both are safe during pregnancy.
It’s also important to follow strict hygiene habits to reduce the risk of cold and flu — and to get an annual flu shot early in the season.
Medication Use
It’s best to be cautious using any medication during pregnancy — especially during the first trimester. However, uncontrolled asthma is dangerous for both mother and baby, and medications may be necessary.
Most preventive asthma medications are topical and inhaled, going straight to inflamed airways and not dependent on the bloodstream to reach the lungs. They are safer than the risk of an asthma flare-up, which not only poses a risk to the mother and fetus, but also may require treatment with stronger medications that have unwanted side effects.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently replaced its A-B-C medication and pregnancy safety ratings with informational websites that give doctors up-to-date research findings on specific medications. Discuss your medication options with both your obstetrician and asthma doctor, and make sure you’re all in agreement.
If you experience an asthma flare during pregnancy, consult your doctor as soon as possible for guidance.
[Read: In Vitro Fertilization Grows Up.]
Purvi Parikh, MD, is an allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Network , the leading nonprofit patient education organization for people with allergies, asthma and related conditions. She practices in New York City at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Murray Hill and New York University School of Medicine. She sits on the Board of Directors for the advocacy council of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
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She’s Having a Baby: On Asthma, Pregnancy and Medications originally appeared on usnews.com
