Asthma brought on by pregnancy/birth - your experiences/advice?

[dusty]

I mentioned to an Ob that my life long asthma which has been controlled for over 20 years now, has been exacerbated since falling pregnant.

I have been using Symbicort intermittently the last few years to relieve and prevent asthma, normally just when I get a cough/cold/bronchitis and in between times don't need anything. Because it isn't a category A drug, I switched back to Ventolin and Pulmicort when I fell pg, which I now take twice daily, but still find myself breathless and a little wheezy at the start and end of the day. My diet is excellent and I know to avoid foods and drinks that can trigger an attack.

Has anyone else had their asthma flare up in pregnancy?
Did it get worse over the course of pregnancy?
Did it affect your birthing experience?
Did you prepare for birth in any different way?

I REALLY want to be able to birth in the midwife led birthing centre but I'm not sure if things get worse with my asthma whether they would refer me on to the hospital instead as a medical complication.

Any advice or experience you have had is welcome.

[nicjay]

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.

HTH hun and good to see you doing so well

ETA - Love the avi too, stunnning

[Visitor7]

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.

[Chamberry]

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.

HTH

[LimeSlice]

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

[Tinks]

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.

[dusty]

Wow that is a range of responses. Thanks for sharing.

Megsmum, I can imagine having all those 'nursery' illness didn't help at all. I have also developed a dry cough that some days drives me crazy. There doesn't seem to be any reason for it or why I am being irritated.

Tinks that sounds dreadful. What a shock for you.

I'm surprised that it wasn't talked about at birth or in the lead up to birth as surely breathing well is important? I will mention it to my midwife when I meet her next week.

[diva det]

yep hun my asthma hadnt played up for years and it flared up really badly in the second tri! It did settle down but was shocking for around 6-8 weeks.
just keep on top of your ventolin so that it doesnt progress any worse
hopefully as the weather settles then maybe your asthma will
take care