I just had a moderate Asthma attack first one in 14 years anyone else had this in pregnancy?

[ANTagony]

I had Asthma in my early 20's, very mild. After a slight cold and maybe a bit of chest infection I've been feeling a bit unwell yesterday and today which ended in me sitting gasping for breath. I rang the GP who was fantastic and called me straight in, arranged for the Asthma nurse to come in and put me on the nebuliser, I've been dosed up on steroids (a five day course) and ventolin and given another inhaler to use twice daily.

I don't have an asthma management plan its been so many years since I've had any symptoms. Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm 26+5 today so got a way to go and I'm a bit concerned about feeling this discomfort whilst running around after the other two DS's and the effect of all these drugs.

I haven't had an Asthma attack but mine has got worse while pregnant. I'm back on inhalers and having to use my blue one a lot more than I would usually.

I spoke to the Asthma nurse at my last check (where I was also told off for never having had a flu jab ) and apparently when pregnant you either stay exactly as you were, get noticeably better or get noticeably worse (which looks to be we're we are both fall ANTagony ) and stay that way for the whole pregnancy. It was also suggested that I might find it easier to use one of the spacers (can't remember what they're actually called, the big clear plastic ones children usually use), as you don't need to take such a deep breath to get the medicine. Something I'm already having trouble with at 17+5!

I hope you feel better soon, and I'm sure they wouldn't have given you anything that would harm your LO (plus you being able to breath properly is pretty important too!).

This was just what I was looking for on mumsnet today. I'm 15 weeks into my second pregnancy and really feeling the need to use my inhaler again. I've always had one to hand but rarely use it so it feels awful to be reaching for it every few hours. I'm trying to convince myself that it's related to the cold I'm trying to shift but even that is a rare thing.

Good to get some more information on it - even if it is to learn that it can last all pregnancy...arrggh

The doctor has told me to use an inhaler twice a day every day as a preventative measure. I've never used one more than twice a month before so its all a bit of a shock that suddenly this isn't very mild. I guess in simple terms she said if I don't get oxygen the baby doesn't so prevention of future attacks is the best way forward.

I'm down to visit the Asthma nurse every few weeks to keep things monitored and balance the level of inhalers I use.

JP from the bits I've read online since I got home it would be worth seeing if your local Asthma nurse can review your inhaler options with you so that you are comfortable and don't end up like me drugged to the eyeballs to bring things back in control.

Funny thing is with my other two full term pregnancies I didn't have any shortness of breath. As BB and my asthma nurse today said it can go three ways.

I found my asthma got really bad. As other ladies have said I hadn't used an inhaler for years and then suddenly found that I couldn't walk up the stairs!

However, mine went back to normal (i.e. no symptoms) somewhere around 30 weeks & hasn't returned (now 41 weeks). Don't know if that gives you some hope :)

I am 33 weeks and have two incidences in last week - both started with something being swallowed the wrong way and led to me coughing then throwing u then feeling very short of breath. I also have a cold anyway. Both times I have needed to use my inhaler. Have started myself on a preventor course for a couple of weeks as really hard to get appt with the nurse at my GP - am hoping it gets better as both wiped me out for the day.

Oh poor you - I don't have asthma but I had breathing problems twice when pregnant.

First time I was 5 months pregnant with DD & moving home. Dust allergy triggered attack. I then got out of car not far from new flat, got hit by traffic fumes & almost collapsed. Thankfully doc's short walk away & neighbour saw me & helped me. No nebuliser required but it took about a week to breathe & move properly again and I had inhaler.

The on Sunday morning just gone I woke up with VERY mild cold - runny nose & sneezes. And I had very laboured breathing. I'm 13 weeks PG. Laid out all day Sunday & got progressively worse. Went to docs first thing Monday morning & got prescribed inhaler again.

Clearly the episodes I've had are much less than yours ANT but I've only had these breathing issues whilst pregnant. Dr says very strange & no link between my 'episodes' & being PG but I think there is.

Helped me decided to get flu jab as I can't imagine having flu which speficallly attacks respiratory system if I had such a sever reaction to mild runny nose. Still feeling dreadful today but inhaler means I'm up & about.

oh I'm using a spacer - being an inhaler novice. Very easy - you just breathe normally into it.

I've asthma, and have noticed it being worse now (am 16 wks) - though I have had a cold which has left me with a stinky cough which never helps. I've been told by a couple of different consultants that steroids for asthma are extroadinarily negligibly low risk to the baby, partly becuase so little inhaled steroid will enter your bloodstream anyway, and partly becuase that type of steroid is inherantly very safe for you and baby anyhow.
I also have another condition which can cause very low oxygen levels (mine are fine so far though). The risk to the baby of constant low oxygen in the mother (i.e not "just" a dip in oxygen level during an asthma attack)is surprisingly low - generally it results in low birth weight but otherwise healthy babies. Some of the data is from mothers with extremely low oxygen levels - low enough to lead to congestive heart failure.

I reckon the asthma is yet another irritation of pregnancy!

I have only ever had asthma at very stressful times in my life (major exams, lead role in school play etc), and then I got it again when pregnant. It made me realise that although I was telling everyone I was fine and very happy, I was actually very anxious in early pregnancy. I don't know if that is a factor in other peoples asthma, but thought it was worth mentioning because if it is such a big trigger factor for me it might be relevant to other people too.

A third of pregnant women will find their asthma is worse, a third better and for a third it will be unchanged.

I would always encourage any woman who has, or has had asthma to see the Asthma Nurse (or GP) if they have ANY change at all in their asthma symptoms when pregnant. It's fairly likely that your therapy will need reviewing and may well change, some women will need less and some will need more.