Yep Dusty, mine got worse with both DD1 and DD2. With DD1 I just managed without any medication and tolerated it, but with DD2 it was absolutely shocking and exacerbated by constantly getting sick with preschool germs
I started out just using Bricanyl when I needed it, then graduated to using Bricanyl a few times a day on good days and added Pulmicort twice a day as a preventer. When I got sick I was sucking on Bricanyl every 4 hours - max dose you can take.
I wouldn't say that it got worse as the pregnancy progressed, although it did but I'm sure it was only due to being so sick as well KWIM?
I was worried about it affecting my birth too, I had a shocking uncontrollable cough by the time I was about 37 weeks. The only way I prepared for birth was by praying it would go LOL But unfortunately it didn't, and it wasn't an issue while in labour at all. I had a fabulous labour - 1 hour, no drugs - and the asthma/cough was no problem during it at all. It did reappear when DD2 was about 2 days old though and took a few weeks to resolve. I stayed on Pulmicort until winter was over, and ditched the Bricanyl when I didn't need it any more.
I remember when I fell pg with DD1 that my dr warned me that my asthma could either get worse or get better. It was already pretty bad at that stage and I worried it would get even worse. Fortunately it went the other way and I haven't had to take an asthma preventative for 5 years now. But I do know of other women who have their asthma flair up with pregnancy.
Im on the flip side when I fell pregnant with DS my asthma became more manageble but after the birth it returned to normal and I was back on preventors and relievers everyday. This pregnancy has had the same effect I still reach for my reliever now and then but most times Im just breathless due to everything being squashed up inside IYKWIM.
I do not usually get asthma at all, never have, but did get 'sickness induced asthma' from about 33 weeks on.
They gave me a script for an inhaler (a preventative) and I think I used it 3-4 times. It was never very severe though.
It did not affect my birth plan at all, nor did it affect my labour.
The midwives or doctors when I was in labour never even mentioned it or asked me how I was breathing lol As I said though, I am not usually asthmatic, and it was not severe.
HTH
I'd never suffered Asthma in my life but I developed it during my first pregnancy. It was so bad at one point that I was on a pump 5 times a day, i couldn't go anywhere. When I had him it died down but shortly after I had my 2nd baby I was hospitalised several times due to it.
It didn't affect my births at all but to this day I am on asthma medication.
and good to see you doing so well
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