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Original poster

Asthma and pregnancy

13 replies

MrsWood · 06/02/2006 20:15

TTC at the moment, so need some info on preventer inhalers - can you use these in pregnancy? I tried going without mine for 2 weeks and was having real difficulties breathing - scared me a little, so I resumed usage again - is anyone in the same situation? If you can't use them - how do you cope?

OP posts:

Yorkiegirl · 06/02/2006 20:19

Message withdrawn

Caribbeanqueen · 06/02/2006 20:21

You need to keep using them. If you don't get enough oxygen, then neither does your baby. I even had to use steroid tablets for my asthma in early pregnancy as I had a really bad attack. Really didn't want to but didn't have much choice.

gothicmama · 06/02/2006 20:29

Same advice here mrs wood keep using the same - book an appointment with teh ashma nurse or doctor for reassurance my inhalers changed as I was using releiver to often I 'm much better now and feel that it is not a problem although I am booked to deliver at the consultant unit as a precaution

Original poster

MrsWood · 06/02/2006 20:32

Oh, that's great news. I was really worried the gp will tell me it's dangerous. Such a relief. Luckily I only needed to use blue one couple of times - preventer usually helps greatly. I've started using it again few days ago and it's like someone's unplugged my lungs or something... Thanks so much for reassurance.

OP posts:

treacletart · 06/02/2006 20:34

I use venthoin, flixotide preventer and also montelukast sodium tablets and was told to try to cut back to just ventholin if poss during preganancy - just because the others hadn't been tested in pregnancy - but no anecdotal contra indications either - my asthma did get worse but I went to an accupuncturist who specialised in peri natal treatment and it then became better than it had been in years - hardly had to even use ventholin. TBH I think the most important thing is to keep your asthma under contol but it might be worth expolring some alternative ways of doing it.

KristinaM · 06/02/2006 20:39

Agree with everyone else, you must keep using your brown and your blue as needed. Its not a risk to the baby.

Like carribeanqueen,i ended up on oral steroids during one pregnancy as my asthma got very bad.Its not a risk to the baby but it is riskier for you. Not sure why, i think its something to do with lowered immune system when you are pregnant .They got me off them asap. Baby was fine

Remember to tell the hospital you use inhalers (they shoudl ask) and take them with you when you go in to have the baby.

Good luck

jstbcs · 06/02/2006 21:28

have u tried cutting out dairy, u could use alternatives, this shoudl help massively! talk to your midwife about alternatives.... asthma and eczema are usually made much worse by dairy.

suzi2 · 08/02/2006 22:45

It's better to take your inhalers and steroids than risk an attack. I've had bad asthma since I was 4 but found pregnancy greatly improved it!

Nemo1977 · 08/02/2006 22:47

hi you can use them in pregnancy as the risk of not using is higher. I used preventer and reliever through both of my pregnancies with no problems.

Original poster

MrsWood · 08/02/2006 23:43

thanks everyone - been back on inhalers for few days now and feel great again.

OP posts:

GabyG · 12/04/2007 10:23

Thank god for this site! it's such a relief being able to read othre's women experiences regarding asthma and pregnancy. I'm almost 3 months pregnant, not with a very bad asthma untill lately. I guess the early hay fever is not helping. i tried not to use my inhaletors (brown & blue) but there's no point in suffering since they're safe. Tomorrow i'm going to my first hospital appointment and I'm sure the midwives will advice me on the best.

ejt1764 · 12/04/2007 10:28

Gaby - the midwives aren't experts on asthma and pregnancy - you would be best going to see the asthma nurse at your GP's surgery (they have to have one!).

My GP put it to me that the risk of me having a bad attack and possibly dying as a result would obviously be much worse for the baby than the incidental risk of taking inhalers.

Also, the reason all the medecines say they are not to be used in pregnancy is that it is unethical to test drugs on pregnant women - there are hardly any drugs at all that have be licensed - hence the dire warnings on the leaflet in your medication.

kinki · 12/04/2007 10:49

My asthma has been really bad lately and I'm about 4 months pregnant. I'm on a strong inhaler and apart from 3 weeks have been on steroids the whole time. Because of the steroids, I have to take medication for my stomach. And on top of that I've had 3-week long courses of strong antibiotics. Not forgetting the 3 x-rays and 2 cameras into my throat. Throughout all this I have been thoroughly reassurred that none of this will harm the baby. I'm under the chest physicians during my pregnancy and they liaise with the obstetric team and GP to ensure I'm looked after. Broncoscopy is the only thing they don't want me to have because of being pregnant, and I think that's because of sedation. But they keep talking about the risk/benefit ratio, and that if things don't improve, me and baby might be more at risk without it.

Basically, as pregnancies progress we all need as good lung function as we can get. So carrying on with inhalers and other meds is certainly the best course of action. Incidentally, although this pregnancy seems to have made my ashtma worse, my other 2 pregnacies drastically improved my chest and asthma. Apparently there is no pattern at all, some stay the same, some worsen and some improve.

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