Asthma and Allergy > Asthma > Triggers > Pregnancy

Pregnancy and asthma

For women who have asthma, pregnancy can affect the severity of their symptoms. For some women, asthma symptoms will get better; for some, they will get worse; and for others, they will stay the same.

Managing your asthma is particularly important when you are pregnant because the oxygen you breathe is shared by your developing baby. If asthma is well-controlled during pregnancy, there is no increased risk of complications for you or your baby. If asthma is not controlled, the risk is increased for stillbirth, premature birth or low birth weight.

Treatment

The goals of asthma management and treatment during pregnancy are the same as for other people with asthma – minimize symptoms and prevent hospitalization and emergency room visits. The treatment plan for asthma during pregnancy generally involves the same steps anyone with asthma should follow – avoiding triggers and taking medications as needed.

Taking recommended asthma medications during pregnancy is safer for your developing baby than letting your asthma go uncontrolled. Inhaled asthma medications are preferred to medications you swallow, because only small amounts enter the bloodstream. In general, the same medications used during pregnancy also can be used during labor and delivery and when nursing. Schedule a visit with your asthma doctor to review your asthma control and treatment plan if you become pregnant (a visit before pregnancy is preferred).

Albuterol still may be used for quick relief of asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing or shortness of breath. Low-dose inhaled corticosteroids are recommended as the first-step controller therapy.