Bronchial asthma and pregnancy

Exacerbation of bronchial asthma or the first occurrence of bronchial asthma during pregnancy is always a serious problem affecting the body of the mother and child. Every day in the world, about 8% of pregnant women suffer from exacerbation of bronchial asthma!

In this regard, many women are concerned about the following questions:

How will changes in the body during pregnancy affect asthma?
How can asthma affect pregnancy and childbirth?
What to do if surgical delivery (caesarean section) is indicated?
How will bronchial asthma affect a child?
Will asthma medications affect my baby during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

The course of asthma during pregnancy

Asthma behaves differently in different women during pregnancy. And it is very difficult to predict how it will progress for YOU. Especially if this is your first pregnancy. During pregnancy, asthma worsens in about one third of women, improves in one third, and remains stable in one third.

There are also a number of noted medical facts:

Asthma worsens most often between 29 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. During this period, the symptoms of bronchial asthma may increase - suffocation, lack of air and cough;
If asthma suddenly improves during pregnancy, toremission usually progresses gradually throughout pregnancy;
The severity of asthma symptoms during the first pregnancy is often similar during subsequent pregnancies.

What symptoms indicate that you need to see a doctor?

Shortness of breath is not always well tolerated by women. Often, such an ailment leads to the fact that a woman experiences severe discomfort, cannot lead her usual lifestyle, and feels severe pain. You should consult a doctor if you have the following symptoms:

Pain while inhaling.
Breathing too quickly.
Blue lips.
Cold hands or feet.
Fainting.
Increased weakness, unable to get out of bed.
Increase in body temperature.
Coughing up blood.
Increased asthma.

Any breathing pathologies will certainly affect the baby. A lack of oxygen can lead to the child developing various developmental problems. There is no need to ignore such problems and diseases. It is worth taking decisive action immediately.

In the early stages of pregnancy, shortness of breath is not as dangerous for the baby as in later stages. It often goes away on its own. As soon as the hormonal levels settle down and hemoglobin returns to normal, shortness of breath will disappear. Try not to panic, walk outside more, lead a healthy lifestyle and actively relax. Try breathing exercises that will help you during childbirth.

Treatment of asthma during pregnancy

During pregnancy, care for women with asthma is divided between a pulmonologist and an obstetrician. Treatment of asthma in pregnant women differs little from the usual management of a patient with bronchial asthma.

Treatment for asthma during pregnancy is successful if the woman receives regular medical care and follows an individualized plan. If you are planning a pregnancy, we advise you to discuss the condition of your respiratory system with a pulmonologist.

Women who discover that they are pregnant should be sure to continue taking their asthma medications. Suddenly stopping asthma medications could be harmful to you and your baby.

The success of asthma therapy during pregnancy is achieved with an integrated approach and compliance with a number of key elements:

Control Maternal lung function
The course of asthma should also be monitored at home using a simple device - a peak flow meter. A decrease in PEF usually signals worsening asthma and changes in therapy, even if the patient feels well.

Child's well-being

The baby's well-being is checked during regular pregnancy medical examinations. These visits are especially important for women who have asthma. Women should be aware of their baby's movements. If your baby is not active, contact your obstetrician immediately. This is especially true for women who have asthma symptoms or asthma symptoms.
Testing a child's heart rate using an ultrasound examination. As the baby moves in utero, its heart rate should increase.

Education It is important to know as much as possible about asthma, this always has a positive effect on the quality of asthma control. Especially during the period of exacerbation of the disease. You will always know what to do in a given situation, how to quickly interrupt an attack and prevent its development. This knowledge can be especially useful during pregnancy.

Managing external factors A few simple steps can help manage external factors that make asthma worse.

Avoid exposure to certain allergens that appear to trigger your asthma symptoms. This is especially true for items of clothing - fur or feathers, house dust and irritants such as tobacco smoke, strong perfumes and other household chemicals.

Make sure mattresses, blankets and pillows are synthetic to reduce exposure to house dust mites.

Pregnant women should not smoke or allow smoking in the home.

Women who are planning a pregnancy during the flu season (winter months in most areas) should get a flu shot; There are no known risks of the flu shot to the developing fetus.

Medicines - mandatory use of anti-asthma drugs. The type and dose of drugs are determined by a pulmonologist.

It is important to understand that the potential (unproven risk) of using anti-asthma drugs is not comparable with the objective threat of exacerbation of bronchial asthma. Exacerbation, and even more so attacks of suffocation, reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood of the mother and child. Therefore, it is important to take asthma medications on a regular basis to prevent asthma symptoms. The dosage and method of delivery of the drug is determined for you personally by our pulmonologist.

How to deal with shortness of breath

To eliminate all the problems and consequences of shortness of breath, you must adhere to the following simple rules. The first thing you need to do is reconsider your lifestyle.

Need to:

Stop smoking.
Avoid stress and overload.
Choose a suitable wardrobe that will not hinder your movement.
In summer, try to take a sun umbrella.
Reduce your vital activity.

You can also try to relieve other symptoms, such as extreme fatigue. This will lift your spirits even in such a difficult stage as pregnancy.

What moms can do:

You need to monitor your diet, improve it and balance it.
You should try to drink more fluid.
It's worth improving your sleep. If the weather outside is suitable, you can even sleep with the window open.
Before going to bed, try to drink soothing teas.
Try to stick to breathing exercises.
Buy special pillows for sleeping.
Do not sit for a long time in front of a computer or TV. You should constantly get up and stretch.
You must not give in to panic and always control your condition even during an attack of shortness of breath.

Many expectant mothers speak positively about various essential oils. If shortness of breath takes you by surprise during physical activity, then you can sit down or lie down and take a break. The increase in loads should be gradual.

Asthma medications

Two groups of drugs are used to treat bronchial asthma:

A. Drugs to relieve an attack of bronchial asthma How to act in case of choking:
If you have a nebulizer, use it!
Apply warm drink (degassed mineral water);
If the attack is not stopped within 20 minutes, repeat taking the bronchodilator for an hour, every 15-20 minutes;
If you cannot cope with suffocation within an hour, call emergency help.

The use of theophedrine and ephedrine during pregnancy is strictly prohibited!

B. Basic drugs for long-term control of bronchial asthma.
If the attacks do not bother you and there are no nighttime episodes of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, then you can limit yourself to using bronchodilators in the form of inhalers. For example, Salbutamol.

According to modern data, the above drugs effectively suppress inflammation in the bronchi and there are no risks of fetal abnormalities.

With proper, modern asthma treatment, most women can breathe easily, have a normal pregnancy, and give birth to a healthy baby.

Remember! The risk of uncontrolled asthma is much greater than the risk of taking asthma medications.

NUTRITION FOR A PREGNANT WOMAN

What is possible.

What is possible in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, what foods should always be in the diet?

During this period, the fetus’s brain is actively developing; magnesium, iodine and phosphorus are necessary for normal development. Vitamin D is needed for the formation of the skeleton. Therefore, it is worth including foods containing these elements in your diet.

The optimal frequency of meals is 5-6 times a day, in small portions. Food should be baked or steamed; it is better to avoid fried and fatty foods, as this increases the load on the liver.

Include a large amount of vegetables and fruits in your diet; they contain many vitamins and minerals that your baby needs for growth and development.

It is recommended to increase the calorie content of your usual diet by at least 300 calories, but everything is calculated individually by the specialist with whom the woman is registered.

What is not allowed.

You should refuse:

alcohol;
products with high salt content;
coffee (only with a doctor’s permission);
fried and fatty;
increased amount of fast carbohydrates,
canned food;
spicy food;
carbonated drinks.

How much fluid to drink.

The optimal amount of liquid consumed is 2-2.5 liters. This amount is allocated not only for “free” water, but also for tea, compotes, and broths.

Vitamins for pregnant women.

Vitamin complexes include the following components:

folic acid or vitamin B9;
iron;
iodine;
omega-3;
vitamin C;
vitamin D;
magnesium.

Kabrita purees are a good option for a balanced snack. The puree is intended for baby food, so it has an excellent composition:

organic fruits and berries;
goat milk cream.

The puree does not contain sugar, starch, preservatives or GMOs. The expectant mother will receive from such nutrition not only vitamins, but also the pleasure of taste.

How to keep your weight under control.

In order not to gain too many extra pounds, you need to follow simple rules: a balanced diet, caloric intake, daily walks, eight hours of sleep, the last meal - 2-3 hours before bedtime.

FAQ

Do asthma symptoms change during pregnancy?

— Yes , sometimes the symptoms characteristic of your bronchial asthma may unexpectedly change. The quality and quantity of manifestations of asthma symptoms may change. During pregnancy, a woman's asthma symptoms (cough, difficulty breathing) may remain unchanged, disappear altogether, or suddenly worsen.

Are there special tests to assess the course of bronchial asthma and the condition of the child during pregnancy?

- Yes. To control your asthma, we give you spirometry (SP). When assessed, the true state of your asthma becomes clear to me and my colleagues. We can recommend correction of therapy or recommend leaving everything unchanged in treatment tactics.

We also teach our patients proper self-control of asthma using peak flowmetry. During your obstetric examination, your baby's health will be assessed using an ultrasound examination - his mobility and heart rate response when moving.

What else can I do to prevent asthma symptoms during pregnancy?

— To help prevent asthma symptoms, you can:

exclude contact with familiar or established allergens for you - dust, dogs, cats, pollen, smoke, industrial emissions (this is more difficult for residents of a metropolis).
Do not smoke and avoid being around smokers.
Avoid colds and contact with people with colds.

Will my child be healthy if I have asthma?

— If your asthma is well controlled by you and your pulmonologist, then it will not harm your child’s health. Since during an exacerbation of bronchial asthma the supply of oxygen to the mother’s body may be disrupted, the child will automatically also experience this deficiency. Therefore, it is obvious that the fewer manifestations of asthma in the mother, the more oxygen the child has.

How is asthma treated during pregnancy?

Treatment of asthma during pregnancy differs little from the management of non-pregnant patients.

For the treatment of bronchial asthma the following is used:

Drugs to provide quick relief for shortness of breath and suffocation: usually bronchodilators . Their most prominent representative is Salbutamol. During an attack, it must be used either with an inhaler or with a nebulizer. An intractable attack of suffocation within an hour requires an emergency call.
Drugs for long-term control of bronchial asthma - basic therapy for bronchial asthma: this is a group of modern inhaled drugs ( inhaled glucocorticosteroids and short- and long-acting bronchodilators ). You can receive more detailed information during a consultation. Everything must be individual.

The use of theophedrine and ephedrine is strictly prohibited during pregnancy.

Are asthma medications safe to take during pregnancy?

This is the most common question from our patients. I will answer - Yes .

Anti-asthma medications are safe during pregnancy. Their use is recommended by the Russian and European Respiratory Societies.

Remember! The risk of uncontrolled asthma is much greater than the risk of taking asthma medications.

Controlling asthma is the key to normal oxygen supply to the mother and child. If for some reason it turns out that taking it is unsafe for you, our pulmonologist will change the medication.

How the baby develops at the twenty-seventh week of pregnancy

Active movements and growth are characteristic of the baby this week. He still has enough space in his mother’s tummy and nothing hinders his movements. The baby actively moves its arms and legs and can still roll over if it is positioned with its head up. The strength of his thrusts increases, and this is due to constant training and an increase in muscle mass. The baby is actively preparing for birth, training its arms and legs. From this period, the endocrine system and its important part, the pituitary gland, develop, which plays a huge role in the growth of the baby. The thyroid gland is activated, producing important hormones that regulate metabolism in the body. The production of hormones this week allows the baby to provide for its own needs, because until this moment the mother’s hormones played the main role. This week is the main one in the formation of the baby’s individual metabolic system and his reaction to many events and processes in life. The baby’s weight also increases, reaching 1000 g, and the length of the baby’s body is 34 cm. The baby’s body is covered with vellus hairs, and there are small soft marigolds on the fingers. The lungs continue to develop and train for the birth of a baby. The baby receives oxygen through the placenta. The baby begins to distinguish colors and can turn its head towards the light source, can feel pain and clench its tiny fists.

When is shortness of breath dangerous for the health of the woman and the fetus?

Shortness of breath in pregnant women is often normal. However, if it occurs repeatedly, you should pay close attention to your health and consult a doctor. Urgent medical assistance will be required in a number of situations that can be dangerous:

blue lips, painful pale skin;
severe pain in the sternum when inhaling;
pulse 110 beats per minute or higher;
fainting state;
panic attack;
persistent cough, fever;
allergic reaction in the form of bronchospasm.

The above symptoms are signs of the development of respiratory and heart failure, exacerbation of asthma, and pulmonary embolism. They are dangerous for the expectant mother and fetus and require hospitalization and professional support.

What is the reason?

Difficulties with breathing during pregnancy are associated with the fact that the respiratory system undergoes a restructuring. The growing uterus puts pressure on the diaphragm and makes it difficult to breathe as we are used to.

You can often hear that 2 to 4 weeks before giving birth, many women find it easier to breathe. And indeed it is. After all, the baby’s head drops into the pelvis, the pressure on the diaphragm decreases, and shortness of breath either disappears completely or becomes much weaker.

But relief occurs only at the very end of pregnancy. But what about before that? Is the only thing left to do is to resign yourself and feel like a fish thrown ashore?

Fortunately, everything is not so sad. There are ways to significantly alleviate the condition. In this article we have collected the most effective ones.

Count how many times you take breaths per minute. If the breathing rate is 16 – 18 times/min. and more often, you should tell your doctor about this and use the tips from our article.