Asthma occurs in approximately 8% of pregnant women. Women are concerned about how the changes in their body influence on the course of asthma, and whether drugs harm the child.
With proper treatment, asthma women do not suffer from seizures, pregnancy is proceeding normally, and the child is born healthy. In any case, poorly controlled asthma harm your child much more than medication.
When planning pregnancy, women with asthma should consult their primary care physician. Upon the occurrence of pregnancy is necessary to continue the use of drugs against asthma. Abrupt withdrawal of drugs can harm both mother and child.
The severity of asthma during pregnancy
Severity of symptoms varies greatly from woman to woman. Predict something very difficult. One-third of women during pregnancy, asthma increases, one-third - and decreases in others - remains stable.
Features of asthma during pregnancy:
- If asthma is enhanced, the symptoms usually appear between 29 to 36 weeks.
- In most cases, symptoms are reduced in the last month of pregnancy.
- Genera typically do not degrade during asthma.
- If the course of asthma during pregnancy improves, it happens gradually and progressively during the whole pregnancy.
- The severity of asthma is usually the same, and during the first pregnancy, and during follow-up.
What affects the risk of exacerbations
It is not known. The most common are acute in the period 17 - 24 weeks. Most likely this is because women abandon drugs. Just at this period, they finally realize they are pregnant and decide not to treat asthma.
How asthma affects pregnancy
In women with asthma are slightly higher risk of pregnancy complications. It is not known why this occurs. It is more likely to occur the following problems:
- High blood pressure or preeclampsia;
- Premature birth;
- The need for caesarean section;
- The lower weight of the fruit.
All of this can happen, but in most cases the pregnancy is without complications. Good asthma control reduces the likelihood of these problems to a minimum.
Before pregnancy
When planning a pregnancy is important to tell your doctor about all the medicines you use.
Treatment of asthma during pregnancy
Treatment of pregnant women with asthma are engaged together pulmonologists and gynecologists. Treatment of asthma in pregnant women is very similar to the treatment outside of pregnancy.
There are some features for which you need to follow.
monitoring:
- Spirometry in the hospital allows to distinguish dyspnea associated with exacerbation of asthma and wheezing, which can be in normal pregnancy;
- A peak flow meter at home twice a day. If performance is reduced by the day, the case goes to the aggravation.
Observation of the child:
It is important to regular visits to the gynecologist. A woman should follow the fetal movements. If the baby stopped moving as usual, then you need to seek emergency medical attention.
Training
If, before the pregnant women with asthma were not trained in asthma-school, now would be a good time to explore all the important questions.
triggers an exception
Triggers are called the factors that can trigger asthma. To reduce its effect, it is necessary to observe the following rules:
- Avoid contact with known allergens such as house dust or animal fur, and nonspecific irritants like tobacco smoke, strong smells and industrial dust.
- Pack mattresses and pillows in special cases against dust mites. Abandon sleep on sofas, couches, chairs and other non-ecological areas.
- Stop smoking and not allow anyone to smoke at home.
- If the pregnancy during the flu season, you should get vaccinated. Influenza vaccination is safe for the child.
medicine
In most cases, they use the same medications as before pregnancy. Preference is given to drugs are inhaled, because it makes them less likely to get into the blood.
There is no absolutely harmless to the fetus drugs. But any asthma guaranteed and very harmful to the child.
Childbirth and the postpartum period
Treatment of asthma in the period of delivery is discussed separately. If necessary in pregnant women with asthma use more epidural anesthesia rather than general anesthesia.
Breast-feeding
In itself, breastfeeding reduces the likelihood of wheezing episodes in a child's first two years of life. This is due to fewer respiratory infections.
Similarly, it is not clear exactly how breastfeeding affects the risk of developing asthma in children, but women with asthma are encouraged to breastfeed.
It is important to consult your physician with any questions related to asthma during pregnancy and after childbirth.
