How does asthma affect pregnancy?

Asthma and pregnancy

Will asthma medication harm the baby? As an expectant mother, you will want the best for your child. You can safely continue using most asthma medications during pregnancy. In case of doubt, consult your doctor.

Regular check-ups will ensure that both you and your baby receive a good supply of oxygen.

With appropriate treatment and monitoring, pregnancy can proceed without complications. With well-controlled asthma, there may even be an improvement during pregnancy, as the production of natural cortisone through the placenta may alleviate discomfort.

Your baby is three times more likely to develop asthma. This probability decreases for infants who are breastfed for an extended period. Therefore, asthma sufferers should breastfeed their babies for as long as possible.

Asthma medication in pregnancy

Fundamentally, respiratory distress and the resulting under-supply of oxygen to the body are more dangerous for the unborn child than asthma medications, which are usually inhaled and thus only reach the bloodstream to a limited extent.

Be sure to discuss any appropriate adjustment of your asthma treatment with your doctor.

Severe asthma attacks should be treated in hospital so that the oxygen supply to the mother and unborn child can be guaranteed at all times.

References:

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (2018). Asthma in pregnancy. Retrieved from www.gesundheitsinformation.de/asthma-in-der-schwangerschaft.2591.de.html?part=behandlung-wf

German Society for Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine. Pregnancy & lactation. Retrieved from www.lungenaerzte-im-netz.de/krankheiten/asthma-bronchiale/schwangerschaft-stillzeit/