Pregnancy-induced Asthma....

[twiglett]

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I use a Becotide inhaler twice a day to keep my asthma under control. I too worried about using it during pregnancy and discussed it with the nurse from the asthma clinic. She assured me that it would be safe. I think the general rule is to weigh up the consequences of taking it against the consequences of NOT taking it. Someone with very mild asthma probably wouldn't think it was worth it. I've had bad asthma attacks in the past so for me it WAS worth it.

I'd rather take my becotide - a tiny amount of inhaled steroid - than an ingested course of antibiotics when pregnant.

If you're using the inhaler correctly the powder only goes to the lungs and virtually nothing is absorbed, plus it's a tiny, teeny dose. I'd have thought it was better for the baby if you can breath properly, too! Also, don't forget that mums in premature labour are given steroid injections to help mature the baby's lungs. Hope you feel better soon.

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Becotide I take too (I'm asthmatic) - I asked my GP about this first pregnancy and he was very reassuring - becotide and ventolin have been used for years and years with no known problems in pregnancy. The dosage is so small and gets delivered "direct" by inhaling, there's really not much chance of it doing any damage.

You'll probably find that it'll make a big difference once you've taken it for a few days.

hugs hope you feel better soon.

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Yikes! I blame pregnancy hormones myself - they get blamed for everything else

I don't cough all the time with asthma, but if I get run down/get a cold it's the cough that's the most noticeable symptom, if you see what I mean. At that point I usually double dose the becotide (in preference to using ventolin constantly), on the recommendation of my GP I hasten to add, and continue that for a few days after "all is well" and then I can pretty much stop use until I start to get run down again.

In the winter when lots of bugs are around or hayfever season I might take "normal" dose just as a precautionary measure.

I do notice a fairly big difference within a few days of taking the Becotide.

Hope this helps

You might also find the National Asthma Campaign site helpful. In particular the Asthma and Women section (scroll down to the bit about pregnancy)

I get a cough when my asthma is playing up. This is usually either at night when I'm lying down or if I've run/walked too quickly. Coughing and tight-chestedness (is that even a word???) are the first signs that I'm having problems with my asthma. The wheezing usually starts much later.

My friend has developed this- but I know nothing about it.

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The "trick" really is just getting used to the timing between pressing the button and breathing in, tbh. It's really important to try and hold your breath for 10 seconds afterwards to allow as much as possible to be absorbed in your lungs. (If you find you can't hold your breath that long without coughing, try and time it so you take a dose of ventolin a few minutes before to clear the airways a bit first).

I can always taste a little bit of each - and I've had over twenty years of practise - I would stress it's minute quantities and that I think it's mostly propellant we're tasting! The longer you can hold your breath, the more is going to go into your lungs, the more it will help you get better and the sooner you'll be able to reduce the dosage.

I hope you get a good night's sleep very soon. hugs

I meant to say, the thing that often gets overlooked during these times is how utterly scary the feeling of not being able to breathe properly is. You can get really panicky (and I swear sometimes I feel I have to concentrate on every breath otherwise I'll somehow "forget" to breathe!). I just wanted to say, that feeling scared is normal, I know what you're going through, and that if you can use any meditation/relaxation techniques to help calm you down and reduce the panic in the really rough times that can really help reduce the symptoms too.

Abdominal breathing used in yoga I've found particularly helpful - especially when I've been stupid and left my inhalers at home!!! It helps you get more oxygen without hyperventilating and it calms you down.

I've had asthma for some years so this is just my experience not a medical view!!!!!!

The Becotide ( and most of the other preventors ) taste much worse than the relievers ( like Ventolin), so that might be why you are conscious of it on your tongue. Just a thought......

My asthma also got worse for a few weeks early in this preg and i was told to go back on my inhaled steroids, for all the reasons others have said

ie its only a tiny dose, inhaling steroids is much better for you and baby than having to take the tablets ( which is the next step if you get worse), out of control asthma is worse for you and baby than the drugs.

Hope you get better soon!!

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Oh twiglett hugs

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Twiglett - I'm so sorry to hear your asthma isn't properly controlled. i knwo how frightening and tiring this is.

There is a longer acting preventor called SALMETEROL ( generic name) or Severent. Might be worth asking your GP in case it would help you............