Pregnancy Asthma
Pregnancy Asthma And Delivery
As mentioned in the above previous article, very few women who have asthma during pregnancy have difficulty with asthma symptoms or asthma attacks during labor and delivery. But just in case, it’s a good idea to have an up-to-date Asthma Action Plan to guide you and your medical healthcare providers, so that fast action can be taken.
It’s also essential that fetal monitoring (monitoring of the baby before birth-this usually refers to monitoring of the fetal heart beat. ) be done during labor. For less risk mothers with good asthma control, twenty minutes of electronic fetal monitoring right after you get to the hospital in labor is usually adequate.
Effects Of Asthma On Your Newborn Infant
- Stop smoking (if you are a smoker) and /or keep your child from regular exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke
- Keep your house as allergen free as you can
- Keep your baby’s weight within a healthy range
- Live in a place where air quality is good, such as limited car exhaust fumes and smog
- Manage your stress, since maternal distress can increase asthma risk in children
Pregnancy Asthma Summary
Treating Asthma Attacks During Pregnancy
Most mothers who had asthma during pregnancy and are still taking asthma medication have concerns about whether breastfeeding is safe for their babies, considering they are taking medication. Breastfeeding has many benefits for both you and your baby, both physically and emotionally.
Medicines can be passed from mother to baby through breast milk. But there has been no evidence that asthma or allergy medicines are harmful to a nursing infant. So, in most cases, the same medicines that can be taken safely during pregnancy can also be used when nursing. However,check with your allergist if you have any concerns.
Additionally, if it’s possible schedule your medications to be taken at least fifteen minutes after you nurse your baby and three to four hours before the next feeding to lower any risk even further.
Mothers may also worry that they have passed asthma on to their babies. This is actually a valid concern, as one of the main risk factors for developing asthma in children is having a parent with asthma, especially with first-born babies.
But you can take measures to help protect your child, such as:-
Always remember, it is not certain that your infant will have asthma, just because you do. Although the risk is high, it is not inevitable. But because it is possible, you should be alert for the early signs that breathing problems are in store. That way, you can have your baby checked out by your pediatrician early on, so that any issues can be dealt with.
Pregnancy is always a joyous time for the expectant mother. Nevertheless,it can also be an anxious time, if you had asthma during pregnancy and worry that everything you do might harm your fetus. The good news is that asthma in pregnancy, as long as you stay in control and manage, should cause little reason to worry. With good medical care and a solid asthma management action plan, you and your baby should be able to stay healthy during your pregnancy and after delivery.
Asthma attacks should be treated aggressively during pregnancy, as this is the time that the fetus may not be getting enough oxygen. Often use of Beta Agonists, such as Albuterol, may be required in addition to oxygen therapy. Steroids may also be required, either in oral or injection form, if the attack is severe.
Caution – Oral asthma steroids should only be used if needed during pregnancy, as these are associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes on the fetus.
This is especially true if used in the first trimester(3 months) of pregnancy, and includes cleft lip and cleft palate, premature birth and low birth weight. However, this information obtained on side effects of oral steroids performed in uncontrolled pregnant asthmatics show risks due to either the medications or the fact that the mother’s asthma was uncontrolled to begin with.So,never let your asthma uncontrolled under any circumstances.
It is much safer for pregnant women to be treated with asthma medications before they have problems than for them to have asthma aggravation: [action that makes a problem or a disease (or its symptoms) worse] requiring more and stronger therapies (and more potential side effects) in order to achieve control of an asthma attack.
Immediately,consult your doctor if you have asthma and have become pregnant. Request for an asthma specialist, such as an allergist or pulmonologist, if you have significant asthma or have particular concerns about your condition,to prevent any untoward emergency asthma treatment.
The above information are provided by "What Asthma Is" are not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your Doctor or health care provider for advice about your specific Asthma medical condition.
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