Breastfeeding and Asthma Medication

[NotQuiteCockney]

I'm very mildly asthmatic (really, exercise-induced bronchospam, I think) and breastfeeding. I'm having problems getting reliable information about my inhaler, which is Salbutamol Sulphate. My SIL (a doctor) looked it up in the book and they were quite vague about it.

I know that inhalers are normally non-optional, but I can avoid using it ... if I avoid cardio exercise, particularly outside, particularly in this weather. This isn't a very appealing prospect. I'd rather go without running than give up breastfeeding, by a very large margin, but do I really have to give up?

I don't know about that particular type of inhaler. I use an Albuterol (Ventolin) inhaler for my mild exercise-induced asthma, and I used it throughout my pregnancy and breastfeeding. Is there a reason you don't use Ventolin? (I always thought it was the most widely used.) If you can't find any more info on your inhaler, could you consider switching to Ventolin?

I hate to think of you giving up either cardio or breatfeeding.

A small websearch reveals that salbutamol sulphate = ventolin. This clears one thing up for me, I had been sure my inhaler was ventolin, despite not saying as much. It was ventolin I asked my SIL about, and her books said "only use if benefit outweighs risks". Which is better than the website I found: "talk to your doctor before breastfeeding."

I can do indoors cardio without the inhaler, so I wouldn't be totally cut off.

I guess need to talk to my GP. My asthma went away, mostly while pregnant. I just don't really trust GPs on breastfeeding.

I guess I'll probably try to minimise inhaler use, use a mask when running, as that seems to help with biking. I only ever need one puff, per workout session, so it's hardly like I'm living on the stuff.

I guess it depends on the age of your baby but ventolin is given to babies with breathing difficulties so it's hard to see why it should be contraindicated with bfeeding.

NotQuiteCockney - I have asthma too - and it is these days pretty mild, though I have had bad attacks in the past. I'm 6 months pregnant and have a dd age 2.4 and have occasionally had to use Ventolin to control my asthma symptoms during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding. I too have particular problems when exercising in cold weather - I'm cycling at the moment and often get wheezy en route, though find it quite often goes without me needing to use my inhaler.

My GP was adamant that taking the inhalers was vital - health of mum being paramount to health of baby etc. But like you I felt that some of my wheezing could be avoided by not dashing about in cold weather. I've weighed up the pros and cons and decided that me cycling and keeping healthy is more important and valuable to me and the baby than any downside to me needing the odd Ventolin puff.

One thing they do say is that if you're having to use the Ventolin regularly (I think once a day counts as regular) you should consider switching to the inhaled steroid type inhalers (Becotide etc). Just something to bear in mind.

NotQuiteCockney - I use Ventolin (Salbutamol) and Becotide (forget the "proper" name) and from the research I've done both are just about as safe as you can get during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The amount of drug is very small and localised (to your lungs) and very little if any gets through to the baby. These drugs have decades of use behind them and are really very well recorded in terms of safety. In fact, in most cases, it's much better for the baby if your asthma is well managed (which includes preventatives and relievers - might be worth talking to your asthma nurse if you're having to take your reliever frequently - you may be better off having a preventative such as becotide prescribed to you as well).

The \link{http://www.asthma.org.uk/\Asthma UK} site is a great place to go for more information, particularly the \link{http://www.asthma.org.uk/about/booklet09.php\Asthma and Women section} which states:

"Should I breast-feed my baby?

* Some, but not all, studies have shown that breast-feeding in the first few months of life may reduce the chance of your baby developing allergic conditions, including asthma.

* Breast-feeding also reduces the risk of babies developing intestinal illnesses and other infections.

Will my asthma treatment interfere with breast-feeding?

* Your inhaled asthma medication will not affect your baby when you breast-feed. Usual doses of inhaled steroids do not enter the bloodstream, so they won't be found in breast milk.

* Steroid tablets can sometimes be present in very small quantities in breast milk. However, there is too little to have any harmful effect on your baby.

* Medication prescribed for asthma does not affect your ability to produce breast milk.

I'm asthmatic and I'm bf my 8 month old DD2. I currently use a salbutamol inhaler as necessary (quite a lot at this time of year) and a seretide inhaler. My GP said that my DD would be better being bf by a mother with treated asthma than a mother who risked an asthma attack by not using her medication!
Seretide is the latest combination therapy, and I've found it to be excellent. As its new, no-one knows exactly what the long term effects could be, but as its inhaled the risks are at a minimum. If I were you I would continue to use your salbutamol and breastfeed as the benefits far outweigh the risks. HTH.

Thanks, everyone. I definately need to talk to my GP about my asthma, as it's only recently been diagnosed, anyway. The Ventolin works beautifully, I just need one puff before a workout or run, and I'm sorted. But I'll look into other options.

I don't think our practice has anyone who specialises in asthma, unfortunately. Maybe I'll ask for a referral.

I certainly feel happier about the idea of running now, even in the cold.