Asthma Treatments
 During Pregnancy

Asthma is a severe and life threatening breathing disorder that comes in various shapes and forms and affects many people. It is a quite common disease in the United States and other countries around the world. Anyone who has suffered an asthma attack has not trouble recognizing the symptoms. An attack involves coughing, wheezing and the frightening feeling of being unable to get any air into the lungs. Some describe an exacerbation as drowning in air. Asthma treatments have been developed to alleviate the symptoms associated with the attack.

Problems Arise - Asthma Treatments During Pregnancy

Luckily there are treatment options for most. Physicians can prescribe medications that afford most asthma sufferers quick relief. However, the options for asthma treatments during pregnancy dwindle substantially.

One of the happiest and most exciting times in a woman's life can be  when she is expecting a baby. She experiences a multitude of physical and emotion changes during this important time in her life. Some of the physical changes are unexpected and uncomfortable. A woman can find herself sleepless, irritable and nauseated.

Having breathing problems in addition to the regular  symptoms of pregnancy can cause a real crisis. The pregnant woman who is also asthmatic needs to know there are appropriate asthma treatments that can be administered during pregnancy  in order to put her mind at ease. However, finding asthma treatments is not easy if you are for a pregnant woman and her unborn baby.

The baby developing in the womb takes in oxygen through his mother’s breathing. If the mother isn’t getting any air, neither is the fetus. The baby is dependent on the mother’s breathing to get the appropriate supply of oxygen he needs to survive. When a woman has an  asthma attack, the baby is at risk for not getting enough oxygen. This can be very dangerous to the developing fetus.

Know Your Options Before A Crisis Arises

Many women who used asthma treatments that involved medication before they became pregnant often cease the asthma treatments. They are naturally concerned about any adverse affect the medicine might have on the baby. However, it would be wise to consult your physician before quitting the medication completely.

Your medical doctor as well as your obstetrician need to know the details of your condition as well as all of the medicines you are taking. You should discuss the ramifications of stopping the asthma treatments altogether, or just what options you have. You could be putting the baby at greater risk by stopping the medication since a severe attack could do more harm to the developing baby than the medicine can. The more severe the attack, the more dangerous it is for the baby. Abruptly stopping asthma treatments can also be harmful. So, you should decide in advance what your course of action will be.