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Mark & Peggy
We've met the most wonderful birthmother through our parent profile! And she is due in March 2004. Not only do we get to experience the birth of our child (we'll be the coaches), but we also get to participate in the prenatal visits and birthing classes. Thanks for giving us the outlet to connect with her!
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Asthma and Pregnancy
The effect of asthma on pregnant women is a little bit of a lottery in that it affects different women in different ways; however they all fit into one of three categories:
1. Asthma is better during pregnancy2. Asthma is worse during pregnancy
3. Asthma remains the same throughout the pregnancy
Obviously if the first occurs then simply monitoring the situation to watch for signs of it returning are all that is required, but either of the second two options means that a more pro active approach to controlling the condition is needed. However, even where asthma symptoms improve during the pregnancy, the pregnant woman should avoid all known triggers such as smoke and known allergy hotspots to reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack.
What a pregnant woman is looking for is to be able to live an active life, sleep through the night, and maintain her required peak flow number all without irritating her asthma symptoms. Asthma which is out of control can lead to a premature birth, a below average birth weight, and blood pressure complications such as pre-eclampsia and so it's important that the peak flow number is at it's optimum for the mother as close to the beginning of the pregnancy as possible.
Asthma medication needs to be approved as pregnancy safe as soon into the pregnancy as possible and changed if necessary. If an asthmatic woman is trying to conceive, the medication should be changed prior to becoming pregnant. During the pregnancy the mother-to-be should try and find a medical team who is experienced in asthmatic pregnancies so that the asthma and pregnancy can be monitored and controlled at the usual pregnancy visits and by the same people so that there is no breakdown of communication between different offices. When it comes to labor and delivery time, asthmatic women are usually able to undertake breathing exercises such as those in the Lamaze technique without complications arising.
While eating for two is a common phrase that's heard during pregnancy, it's also an important point to note that a pregnant woman is also breathing for two, and in the case of a woman with asthma, this is a key point to keep in mind.
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