Health Tips A to Z

Health Tips – Asthma and Pregnancy

When you’re pregnant, you are breathing for two, so it’s important to keep your asthma under control.

Uncontrolled asthma is associated with pregnancy complications, such as:

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Changes in maternal blood pressure

Severe asthma attacks can endanger your baby by reducing the amount of oxygen it receives.

The risks of uncontrolled asthma are higher than the risks of the medication used to control your symptoms. Although most asthma medications are safe during pregnancy, the best protection for your baby is to avoid asthma triggers that may provoke an asthma attack.

Cigarette smoke, second-hand smoke or environmental smoke can expose the baby to additional risks. Babies are three times more likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), if their mothers smoke during pregnancy.

If your asthma is under control, you should have no more complications during your pregnancy than a woman who does not have asthma.

Source: The Lung Association
http://www.asthma.ca