Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and constricts the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs. It is not uncommon for a woman to develop asthma in the course of her pregnancy, even if she’s never had it before. Women who have or believe they have developed asthma during their pregnancy should consult a doctor about the appropriate treatment as soon as possible. While asthma does not automatically make a pregnancy “high risk,” it can be dangerous for both mother and baby if left uncontrolled.
Risks to Mother and Baby
If left uncontrolled, asthma may decrease the amount of oxygen the fetus receives, which can then negatively affect the fetus’s growth, weight and overall development. The risk of premature birth is also increased, as is the possibility of fetal death, either before or just after the birth. In addition, uncontrolled asthma creates a high risk of the mother developing high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia, a potentially life-threatening illness that can damage the kidneys, liver and brain as well as the placenta.
Signs and Symptoms of Asthma
Women who have never had asthma before may chalk up the shortness of breath they experience to the pregnancy. This would not be an unreasonable assumption because as the fetus grows, it can become more difficult to breathe as the lungs are pressed upward into the chest cavity.
However, if in addition to shortness of breath, a woman is experiencing coughing, chest tightness and wheezing, she should visit her doctor because these are symptoms of asthma.
Diagnosis
A health care practitioner determines whether a woman has asthma by monitoring her lung function. This is done by using either spirometry or a peak flow meter. Spirometry assesses the maximum volume of air that can be forcibly exhaled following a maximum inhalation. A peak flow meter measures the ability to push air out of the lungs.
Treatment
Most pregnant women with asthma will need to take medicine, usually an inhaled steroid, to control their symptoms. Although many women may balk at having to take drugs while pregnant, the vast majority of asthma medications are considered safe for the growing fetus.
Prevention
Pregnant women can minimize or prevent an asthma attack by avoiding known triggers of asthma symptoms. Common examples of asthma triggers include smoke; damp, dusty or moldy environments; animals; foods known to cause allergic reactions; pollen; pollution and extremely cold air. If a woman has developed asthma for the first time during her pregnancy, she must learn to recognize the environmental triggers so that she can avoid them.