Asthma when pregnant, and general prevention?

[tinshoes]

Hi there,

I am 35 weeks pregnant. Was diagnosed with seasonal asthma last year and given ventolin which i didnt ned to use between Feb - September. This last week my breathing has been very bad but i put it down to a cold, baby squishing my lungs etc. However i havent slept for 3 nights due to wheezing so went to Dr who gave me a brown preventer inhaler. He says its ok to use and i need to start with 4 x a day for the next week then 2 x a day thereafter.

I'm assuming this will be ok for the baby and my priority is to get better now. but is there anything else I can do to prevent the symptoms in future?

We have cleaned bedroom thoroughly, shampooed all carpets etc. I have a blind not curtains. I have wooden floors downstairs too.

I'm looking for any ideas as feel so lousy and dont want to be dependent on inhalers every winter if i can help it.

You need to use your preventor and your relievers. Any risk to the baby is hugely less than the risk if you have a full blown asthma attack.

My asthma is fine for 95% of the time and then I will get a few days where I really struggle. I am completely in denial though which is irresponsible since it can be fatal and I have 3 kids.

The funny actress in Four Weddings and a Funeral died from an asthma attack a couple of years ago at 33.

Thanks Nab. I was only diagnosed with seasonal asthma last year and its kind of crept up on me. I really believed i just had a little cough. Hopefully the preventer will kick in by tomorrow.

Do you so anything else to minimise symptoms?

my consultant told me that pregnancy can make asthma worse...so it may get better once you've had the baby

i'm sure that everyone is right in saying that you need to use your inhalors etc. Just thought I'd add that when I was pregnant with dd I wheezed alot which I was told was a result of being anaemic (sp?). Sure enough iron tablets sorted it.

Cone to think of it I think my asthma was worse when pregnant. I didn't really do anything, stopped running (!!)and took it really easy when I was suffering. My husband had to tip out the sugar one night as it was the only paper bag we had in the house. Hopefully you feel better soon. Congrats on the baby.

dry air makes mine worse - a bowl of water in the bedroom will help keep the air moist when the heating is drying it out, and a steamy bathroom can give some relief when my chest is tight.

tinshoes I have had asthma from being a baby so have been through 3 pregnancies with using preventer/reliever inhalers and there is no risk to baby...worst risk is to yourself if you dont use them.
In terms or preventers doing stuff like hoovering the bed once a week, trying to make sure are fairly dust free, any triggers like pets etc kept out bedroom in pareticular. If it is seasonal then is due to air outside not a lot can do to stop that but just keep inhalers on you at all times.

I have seasonal asthma and was told by my doctor how important it is to continue using your inhalers through your pregnancy as if you don't it could aggrevate your condition or bring on an attack. I was also told to ensure I had all inhalers with me when I went into hospital. There is no ill effect on the pregnancy and like others the sypmtoms were worse through the pg and then seemed to alleviate once it was all over!!

this is all great advice everyone. last night (after 3 preventer doses throughout the day) I slept better than I had in ages only needing the blue inhaler once so it seems to be helping already