6 Ways to Effectively Manage Asthma in Pregnancy

6 Ways to Effectively Manage Asthma in Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the most exciting phase in any woman’s life. You go through a roller-coaster of emotions and changes in your body during this period, and the last thing you want, is to deal with an asthma attack.

Asthma is one of the most common conditions in pregnant women. In fact, almost 4% to 8% of the total women in the United States suffer from it. If you are one of them, read this article further to understand how you can manage it.

What Are the Symptoms of Asthma?

Based on the stage and severity of your asthma, here are common symptoms you can face during your pregnancy:

• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Constant coughing
• Tightness in chest

You may also feel exhausted and might faint due to the lack of oxygen circulation. Your anxiety might rise and breathing troubles may follow up.

How to Manage Asthma During Pregnancy?

Pregnant women are more vulnerable to experiencing a huge change in their asthma symptoms. Hence, effective management is required. Take a look at how you can manage them:

1. Regularly Monitor Asthma

It’s always recommended that pregnant women with asthma get frequent check-ups. This is because the asthma stages change throughout your pregnancy and different women experience different reactions.

So constant doctor visits are better as they can assess your condition and run necessary tests before something can turn into a major challenge.

Moreover, if you have persistent asthma, go for monthly lung auscultation, history, and pulmonary function evaluations. You also require spirometry tests. Carefully make notes of your fetal activities. At 32 weeks, your doctor will start ultrasound examinations for women with controlled, moderate, and severe asthma.

2. Form Medication Plans

Many women contemplate whether to continue their asthma medications during pregnancy. But getting treated through medicines is a safer option than watching your symptoms exceed, reducing your lung function and blocking oxygen to the fetus.

Medications are safe. Your treatment will be monitored. Based on the severity of your condition, the doctor will reduce or increase your medicine dosage and establish a proper medication plan.

3. Control Asthma Triggers

To control or avoid your asthma triggers, you first need to know what causes your flare-ups. This step is necessary because when you realize what is causing it, you will keep yourself away from the source.

Some patients’ most common triggers are pet dander, smoking, and dust mites. So, keep an eye out for these.

4. Quit Smoking

While it is quite obvious that smoking is bad for every individual, pregnant women with asthma should particularly stay away from both firsthand and passive smoking.

Taking extreme health care during pregnancy is important. So, if you’re a smoker, completely quit it because you’re not only risking yourself but also your fetus since it can trigger more asthma flare-ups.

5. Exercise

Exercising is the best way to keep yourself physically active during pregnancy. Include it in your routine, even if you have exercise-induced asthma, with proper doctor consultation. They will give you a personalized solution based on the severity of your condition.

6. Take a Flu Jab

Flu shots, also known as the influenza vaccine, are recommended when you’re pregnant because you’re more prone to getting the flu. When you have asthma, you should be taking this vaccine to reduce the risk of severe attacks.

An asthma attack during pregnancy is fatal for your child. It can deprive the fetus of oxygen. Hence, ensure that you talk to your doctor regarding this shot.

Bottom Line

Being one of the most common health conditions in pregnant women, it’s necessary to take asthma seriously! However, that doesn’t mean you’ve to be blindly scared.

There are many women who still think they should avoid pregnancy if they have asthma. But you need to understand that asthma shouldn’t ever be the reason behind stopping you from conceiving! It’s all about proper management. Talk to your doctor and figure out what plan will work for you.

You might also enjoy this article: Can You Grow Out of Asthma?

Guest Article.