Asthma during pregnancy

[Frillsandspillsx2]

Just wondering if anyone else has noticed their asthma get worse during pregnancy? I'm 23 weeks and have been told that it does tend to get worse but I assumed that would be near the end of the pregnancy.
I've always had really mild asthma which was generally only triggered by hayfever, cats and if I'm ever around a lot of dust all of which is never regular so it's never a problem.
Over the past week or so I have a really tight chest during the night, and if I so much as laugh my chest is wheezing terribly. I had to leave a friends house early one night to go home to relieve it with my inhaler as I couldn't breathe properly (I never usually carry it round but I'll have to start now) I know with the weather being quite stuffy that's probably contributing so I'm hoping it passes as it cools down.

I have the brown inhaler, and a blue inhaler but before being pregnant i never needed to use my blue one really as the preventer did enough for me but now it's a little frustrating especially of a night.

Is there anything I can do to help? my blue inhaler doesn't seem to help as much as it used to and if I take any more than two puffs my hands go really shaky and i have palpitations so I'm not keen on taking it at all.
Is it worth mentioning to GP or midwife or is this one of the annoying sides of pregnancy?

My asthma got bad around 22/23 weeks mark aswell don't forget your body processes oxygen differently when your pregnant and then add in a baby pushing on your diaphragm your bound to get breathless. I often feel my heart pounding out of my chest and when dp puts his head on me he says it's all he can hear. I notice though when I get a tight chest I also get palpitations which doesn't help. Try breathing deep and in a rhythm it can help loosing your chest and give you enough oxygen to ease it. If you find it happening all the time go to your gp xx

Try to get an regency appointment with the asthma nurse/asthma clinic at your gp surgery. They will be used to dealing with asthma in pregnancy and may be able to advise you on suitable
Changes to your med regime.

Yes, see your GP about it.

It's not good for either you or the baby if you're not breathing properly.

I'm on something called symbicort which is a preventer and much much better (for me) than the brown one was. Ask your Dr about it. It's perfectly safe in pregnancy (at least I've not been told it isn't).

My asthma actually got a bit Bette during pregnancy but it's always better during the summer rather than winter. Have been using my free prescriptions to stock up!

You need to see your GP or athsma clinic for a full work up and a medication review, and while it's not a mega emergency, you do need to book it soon (as in call them today and try to get an apt within the week.) don't mess with athsma!

One question as well - do you have issues with vomiting? I've had very bad nausea and sickness and I realised the acid was irritating my trachea and exacerbating the wheezing. I started taking ranitidine and it helped enormously. It's available without prescription, but do check with your GP first to make sure it's ok for you.

My asthma has been significantly worse in both my pregnancies. When I'm not pregnant, my purple inhaler keeps it under control and I barely use my blue one at all.
But during pregnancy I'm using the blue one three or four times a day.

When I was pregnant with DS I began taking steroid tablets as well, cut down on exercise, and upped the dose of my purple inhaler. Nothing worked.

Hence this time, after seeing an asthma specialist who's stumped, I'm just putting up with it. Definitely not ideal.

Thank you all for your help - I'll speak to my GP about it, if there's any other medication I'll gladly take it, it's just frustrating as I'm not used to it being this bad.

Skipton I've had no vomiting or nausea at all during this pregnancy but over the past week or so I've had horrendous heartburn so I wonder if that has affected it?

Yes heartburn won't help you.

It's not making the athsma worse, if you see what I mean, but I definitely made me feel more wheezy. That lump in the throat/constricted throat feeling was much worse. I found after two days of ranitidine I was much better.

Definitely see your doc - you need to have a medication review. Mention the heartburn too and ask for ranitidine or olmeprazole (you can get both without a prescription but as with any medication, best to check with your GP first.)

And ask about alternatives/extras for your brown inhaler as well - things like singulair (monteleukast) are ok in pregnancy.

It's really important not to have it get worse/be uncontrolled, really at any time, but definitely during pregnancy.

Good luck! Don't suffer with the heartburn either - get that nipped in the bud.

Thank you Skipton
I see what you mean about feeling more wheezy with the heartburn I'll get that sorted!

I'll ask about alternatives to the brown inhaler - I'd prefer not to use the blue just because it does make my hands tremor so any preventer that actually helps would be brilliant!

Ask about a green inhaler (like a long-acting blue inhaler) which you'd take in addition to the brown.

I used to take both of those but that was then upped to a purple, which is like a brown and green combined.

Mind you, in my last pregnancy I took the purple inhaler, montelukast tablets and ranitidine, and I was still on the blue inhaler 5+ times a day. A lot of it is down to luck I'm afraid.

Please see your asthma nurse or GP as soon as you can.

For about a 1/3 of women their asthma gets worse in pregnancy, a 1/3 get better and a 1/3 stay the same.

You don't have to put up with it, and a change to your inhaler regimen should improve things quite quickly. Inhaled asthma medication is safe in pregnancy; the most important thing is that your symptoms are controlled. Also make sure you're using a spacer for your brown inhaler to optimise the amount reaching the smaller airways and reduce oral deposition - you could also use a spacer for your blue inhaler to improve your technique.

If you came to see me (I'm an asthma nurse) I would suggest trying a combination inhaler such as Symbicort, Seretide, Fostair or Relvar). Then review within a few weeks to see what improvements are occurring.

My asthma got a bit better and is now a bit worse. I don't think the damp weather has helped. Definitely see your GP.

Agree with Skipton, heartburn makes it worse.

Strangely my doc said my asthma has got worse due to my lower iron levels. may be worth getting those checked out too.x