Asthma medication and booster 24 weeks pregnant

[brokeoutinsong]

Hi

I’m 24 weeks pregnant and my asthma has really deteriorated. I was on a brown preventer and blue ventolin. I saw the asthma nurse last week who has put me on 200mg of Symbicort.

Has anyone taken this when pregnant ? I read up on it afterwards and I am a little concerned it may impact the baby ?

Secondly, in light of the fact my asthma has gotten so bad I am considering having the booster. I have had my two primary courses when not pregnant but again, I’m concerned that having the vaccine may cause some harm. I’m pro vaccines, I’ve had my flu jab and the whooping cough but the lack of research / the studies on the long term impact is concerning me.

Does anyone have any experience of either of these two situations, was baby okay ?

I'm severely asthmatic (36 weeks pregnant now) and I take fostair. I am under respiratory medicine generally and under the maternal medicine obstetricians due to asthma. Essentially, the absolute priority is that your asthma is well controlled in pregnancy and if you read the asthma U.K. website regarding asthma meds and pregnancy it states that you can take any inhalers. I had similar concerns as you regarding fostair. I was also reassured by both my respiratory and obstetric consultants that many women take these inhalers during pregnancy. The thing is that if you don't take the inhalers then your asthma will become worse which will mean you have more attacks and you could become hypoxic and your CO2 levels will be out of balance so that is more harmful to you and baby.
The booster vaccine and primary courses of the covid vaccine has been given to hundreds of thousands of women in pregnancy and all the evidence is that it is safe. I had my booster at 22 weeks. I am quite short of breath now at 36 weeks pregnant so if I got covid I think I'd struggle as any mild cold / flu always goes straight to my chest and I end up on steroids / nebs in hospital.

Agree with PP. With asthma it is so important to keep it controlled, and especially so in pregnancy so this definitely falls into the category of ensuring the health of the mother to protect the child. The nurse wouldn't have prescribed an inhaler that would cause problems for your baby.

I hope the Symbicort helps - I haven't taken it while pregnant (although am also finding my asthma isn't the best - I'm 16 wks) but I did find it worked wonders when I was prescribed it for a flare up a year ago.

In terms of the booster, definitely get it especially as you are asthmatic. There is so much data on this vaccine. Here's something from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that will hopefully reassure you: "Research from 13 studies in five countries, involving more than 100,000 people vaccinated in pregnancy, shows having the vaccine does not increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth or stillbirth. Nor does it increase the risk of a small-for-gestational age baby, or the risk of congenital anomalies." Would recommend them as your best source of information on the vaccine www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-womens-health/covid-19-vaccines-and-pregnancy/covid-19-vaccines-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding/

I take Symbicort and Bricanyl and had a normal pregnancy.
While I am not a severe asthmatic anymore, I did find I needed to use my inhaler more when carrying my daughter.
Somehow I managed to avoid all illness which would normally have landed me a chest infection and I havent had covid but still needed my inhalers more than normal.

I was worried about taking these meds when pregnant but the risk of having an unstable respiratory condition was more dangerous than the risk of the meds to my baby.
Baby arrived safe and well and has not been affected by the medication.

I had both of my covid vaccines when pregnant and didnt have any side effects.
I had my booster when baby was 3 weeks old as well.

Thank you all. I’m just very nervous because we had a scare early on and I already feel so protective over this little baby.

It seems everything you do could pose some
risk, from eating certain cheeses to using menthol ! I have never felt so anxious as I do being pregnant.

I have done so much research on the vaccine I just wanted to hear from other people and their experiences so I can have some reassurance baby will be okay. I am grateful.

After reading this thread I had my vaccine today, I had a bit of a difficult time getting the pfizer (which is the one I was told was safer for pregnant women) but at least it has been done.

Good for you OP.
Have you been referred to see an obstetrician for your asthma?

Glad you were able to get the jab. OP with the worries I completely relate, I was very anxious for most of my first trimester! My big tip is to try to not google things too much - the internet will tell you that everything is risky to eat but really you just need to look at the NHS list. Thankfully lots of cheese is still fine to eat. The reason for most food restrictions is that they are foods that carry a higher risk of food poisoning even when not pregnant and if you did eat an off bit the food poisoning is the risk to your baby rather than the food itself. So if you accidentally eat some brie and feel fine after then you and your baby will be fine

I have been referred ! Which is a relief. Just want to try and get it under control before the baby arrives. I feel better with the stronger inhaler and have a bit more peace of mind taking it now talking to you all.

Thank you. I’m trying my hardest to stay away from Google. Now I can feel baby kick the anxiety has eased a little but it is the lack of knowing everything is okay and lack of control of it that is the worst. I thought I would be this lovely glowing, calm goddess but it doesn’t seem to have worked out that way haha.