{"id":21984,"date":"2021-03-15T09:30:46","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T13:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=21984"},"modified":"2022-02-22T12:04:56","modified_gmt":"2022-02-22T17:04:56","slug":"asthma-and-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/asthma-and-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"How to manage your asthma during pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you\u2019re pregnant, it\u2019s natural to worry about, well\u2014everything. Is your baby developing normally? Are you getting enough nutrients to support two or more humans? Is worrying too much bad for your baby? And if you\u2019re one of the <\/span>4% to 8% of pregnant women with asthma<\/span>, you have to add breathing difficulties\u2014and the medications used to treat them\u2014to your list.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Asthma<\/span><\/a> is a chronic condition that causes airways in the lungs to narrow, swell, spasm, and produce extra mucus. This leads to chest tightness, coughing, wheezing, and other breathing problems, like shortness of breath. Should you expect worsening symptoms of asthma in pregnancy\u2014or complications?<\/span><\/p>\n

Asthma and pregnancy: What to expect when you\u2019re expecting<\/span><\/h2>\n

Pregnant women with well-controlled asthma generally do fine during pregnancy, experts say.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHaving asthma doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re doomed to have pregnancy complications,\u201d notes <\/span>Hector O. Chapa, MD<\/span><\/a>, FACOG, clinical assistant professor of obstetrics & gynecology at Texas A&M College of Medicine. \u201cThis is a very treatable and manageable condition that shouldn\u2019t take away from the joy of pregnancy. Many women with asthma have healthy pregnancies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

During pregnancy<\/span><\/a>, you could see your asthma symptoms change due to the changes in your body. You may be at higher risk of asthma symptoms, so it\u2019s important to speak with your provider about keeping up with your long-term medicines such as inhaled corticosteroids.<\/span><\/p>\n

Will asthma affect my pregnancy?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Uncontrolled asthma, on the other hand, can cause some serious pregnancy complications. Your asthma is considered \u201cuncontrolled\u201d if you need to use a rescue inhaler (to open up airways) two or more times a week; wake at night with breathing difficulties two or more times a month; or need to refill your prescription for said rescue medication two or more times a year. Some of those complications include:<\/span><\/p>\n