Asthma during pregnancy.

Hi.  I would really love any information I can get on this subject.  My asthma seems to be acting up due to pregnancy/weather/ and the unknown.  I've been using my inhaler (albuterol) but it's not working on me.  Last night, twice, I had to use my nebulizer.  I left a message for the nurse who deals with my Dr., regarding the use of the nebulizer and it's affects on my baby.  
So here are some questions:
-What happens during labor if you have ashtma?  Are you just hooked up to Oxygen?  If I have trouble walking up the stairs then how can I expect to so something so strenuous as pushing a baby out?
-Has anyone on here used Albutorol  (either in their inhaler or in their nebulizer) if so, did your baby turn out ok?
I know have a Primary care dr. so I also asked if the nurse can refer me to one.  I just need some direction.  I'm really concerned.  Any info is welcomed.

[nel06]

I'm sorry for you, asthma is horrible!  I don't have it, but I just watned to offer some support.  I totally understand your worries, I would be too.  I know that during labor they do hook you up to oxygen if you need it for sure, and they may just make sure that you can get an epidural at the right time so your labor isn't so strenuous.  Or they may opt for a c-section if you asthma is that bad.  Sorry I'm not much help.  They will keep a close eye on you during labor for sure.  Have you looked up the effects of albuterol during pregnancy online?  Good luck!

[emma10]

I have asthma and am pregnant (14 weeks). The biggest concern is to have it under control during the pregnancy apparently (so I am told). I was up to using the albuterol inhaler (never had a nebulizer, not sure what that means) more than once a day (in hayfever season like 10 timesper day!)  They said you can't use albuterol more than once a week--not because it's necessarily bad (although it is a "C" class)--but because it means you're short of oxygen, constantly in a lowlevel crisis, bad for baby (and you). Having asthma during pregancy is worse than treating asthma (ie there are great risks for preterm labor etc).

  I had to go on ADVAIR (inhaled steroid) which I'd been on before (also a C class) once a day at the lowest dose.  The one drug that is a "B" is an inhaled steroid in things like PULMICORT, forget the actual name, unfortunately that drug doesn't work for me.  Oh yes, and taking the ummmm pill called Singulair can prevent the allergy apparently (not for me) and it's safe (B). Sounds like you need to up your therapy; gasping through pregancy is far worse than whatever could happen in delivery. See an asthma specialist. (oddly my obgyn knew next to nothing about this). I am sure there's stuff they can give you in labor to help.

BTW, I have such horrible allergies now with 14 weeks (since about 6 wks) that all I do is sneeze all day and itch (my eyes). Luckily the Advair makes breathing ok. I didn't have this with the first two, sometimes I can't even drive I am sneezing so badly!! Good luck to you!!

[mgi]

I cut back dramatically - then for mayeb 4 months I didn't need them at all!!
and i am a 2 x a dayer on the flo and sere!   it was amazing

at about 15 weeks I asked my doctor if it was Ok to cut back if I didn;t need them - he said go ahead but be careful

the one that worried me was cutting back on singulair becuase I can't breath at night without it - and I was worried being pregnant I would sleep like the dead and then not realize how poorly I was breathing - but there were times I didn't even take that

[emma10]

You are so lucky!  i heard it either gets better or worse. Did you give up those drugs during pregnancy then or just cut back? All the "C" classes make me nervous but then again, can't breathe without them, not much of a choice.

[mgi]

my asthma symtoms (symptoms) were very lessened in pregnancy

I even took less meds (i am on flovent, serevent and singulair daily)

BUT I had an asthma attack during labor - they just gave me an inhaler and waited it out

[tyesmommy]

i have had asthma all my life, yet when i got preg with my son (almost 4 years ago) it actually got better. until that is closer to the day he arrived. i had to use my inhaler what seemed like 4 or 5 times a day. because you already have a hard time breathing while you are preg., and it seems as if the bigger my belly got the harder it was to breathe. but while in delivery when i started to have problems they just hooked me up to oxygen and i started to breathe better. my only concern would be to make sure that you know that when it is hard for you to breathe it is also hard for baby. maybe you should try to get a pulse ox machine. that might help you....
oh but by the way my son is absolutely amazing child no side effects from any of the asthma meds!