albuterol in the 3rd trimester?

[chai]

I've had this cough for a couple of months. Doctors (two) thought it was caused by reflux. About two weeks ago it became asthmatic (wheezing, coughing up phlegm). My midwife really wants me to get an albuterol inhaler to have on hand, just in case the asthma becomes severe, especially during labor. I have pretty bad (practically non-stop) wheezing/coughing in the mornings (till noonish), but usually the afternoons aren't too bad. I'd be tempted to use it in the mornings to see if it helps... but I know it's category C.

Just wondering if anyone has experience with this drug while pregnant, esp. in the third trimester (I'm 38 weeks).

[MaerynPearl]

To fix it, here is why it is Category C: http://asthma.emedtv.com/albuterol/a...pregnancy.html

In humans, albuterol can increase the heart rate and blood sugar levels in the fetus.

I am sure your midwife would not have given you it if the risk of not having it (being unable to breathe) did not outweigh the possible risks associated with it.

[Mosaic]

I use it, and I'm so grateful to have it. Long story shortish, I had an awful cough for months while I was pregnant and nursing, and it turns out I permanently damaged my airways because I didn't want to take meds while pregnant/nursing. I tend to be pretty laid-back when I'm sick (let nature do its thing), but I had no idea I was doing actual damage by letting it go, and when you are talking about an asthmatic-type cough, that's what is at stake. Now every time I get the slightest sniffly nose, I get that same terrible, gagging cough, reduced lung capacity, decreased oxygen, exhaustion, etc.

I'm pregnant now, with a stupid cold, and I'm practically living off of my inhaler. I HATE using it, but the baby needs oxygen, period. That outweighs the minute amount of meds that may make it into my lungs, into my bloodstream and then across the placenta to the baby. I certainly won't tell you what to do, but I do hope that you discuss any concerns you have with your midwives rather than make the mistake that I did! Plus, at 38 weeks, I doubt you'll be using that inhaler much while pregnant at all!

[chai]

Originally Posted by Mosaic

I use it, and I'm so grateful to have it. Long story shortish, I had an awful cough for months while I was pregnant and nursing, and it turns out I permanently damaged my airways because I didn't want to take meds while pregnant/nursing. I tend to be pretty laid-back when I'm sick (let nature do its thing), but I had no idea I was doing actual damage by letting it go, and when you are talking about an asthmatic-type cough, that's what is at stake. Now every time I get the slightest sniffly nose, I get that same terrible, gagging cough, reduced lung capacity, decreased oxygen, exhaustion, etc.

That is very helpful, thanks!

I've seen two doctors already that basically shrugged off the cough... they both said to make another appointment if the cough wasn't gone after delivery. Do you have any idea what caused your original cough? Both doctors said my lungs sounded clear.

Then like a week later I develop asthma! What's up with that? I'm really tempted to use the inhaler in the mornings when the coughing is really bad... and certainly don't want to damage my lungs! Was the inhaler itself what you resisted using? Or did they prescribe you some other medication as well?

[chai]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl

I am sure your midwife would not have given you it if the risk of not having it (being unable to breathe) did not outweigh the possible risks associated with it.

Absolutely! I guess what I'm wondering about specifically is whether or not I should use it even when I can still breathe... just to stop the asthma itself.

[Mosaic]

My lungs are fine, too, so I've officially avoided the "asthma" label even though they keep loading me up with asthma drugs.

Basically pregnancy hormones gave me the constant post nasal drip, which turned into a constant cough, which turned into a reactive airway, which, after a couple of months, apparently turned into a very reactive/cranky/miserable airway and ended up into the same "asthma-like" issues. To get it under control, we used a cough med with codeine, albuterol, Singulair, and Simbicort just to get back to square 1 (and keep in mind that at that point, my DD was 3 months old and I'd been coughing to the point of vomiting since pregnancy). Apparently I'd cough enough to get my respiratory track inflamed, then I'd keep coughing and damage the already inflamed tissue. NOT my smartest move.

Since that phase, I've gotten other little colds, etc. that turn into downright misery due to this stupid cough which I'm now stuck with forever, and I've been to a number of specialists who have confirmed that my airway is hypersensitive but my lungs are perfect (and that this isn't related to my allergy history or true asthma). So honestly, I have no qualms about using the inhaler, especially now that I understand that my oxygen was low all that time and I didn't even know it. And honestly, I've huffed my vaporizer for hours, and while it might have been great for my face it did nothing for my cough. This is just one area where steam ain't gonna cut it!

Now that I'm pregnant, there is basically nothing I can do for colds, congestion, etc., so I'm using my inhaler a lot more. But breathing is kinda important, so I don't think twice about it.

[Mosaic]

Originally Posted by chai

Absolutely! I guess what I'm wondering about specifically is whether or not I should use it even when I can still breathe... just to stop the asthma itself.

Sorry to keep blabbing, but I wanted to comment on this specifically. I did not realize how badly I was breathing until they tested me at the doc's office. I *thought* I was breathing totally fine and normally, but my lung capacity was diminished and my blood oxygen was low, and I had NO clue at all. It was a real eye opener for me. Since then I've been given additional tools and advice to better keep track of how I'm breathing so that I can start noticing a change long before it gets bad and start treating it immediately.

[chai]

Originally Posted by Mosaic

Basically pregnancy hormones gave me the constant post nasal drip, which turned into a constant cough, which turned into a reactive airway, which, after a couple of months, apparently turned into a very reactive/cranky/miserable airway and ended up into the same "asthma-like" issues.

Sounds exactly like what's been going on with me... Makes me think the doctors I saw were crap since all they did was listen to my lungs and send me on my way!