asthma and pregnancy

[jeannie81]

anyone dealing with this? since inhalors are a no no, what do you when you're having an attack? i have allergy induced asthma, so i try to combat the allergies, but sometimes i still have asthmatic bouts, especially in the middle of the night. usually i just use a primatine mist inhalor, but i know you're not supposed to when preggo. also, what are the effects of using an inhalor when preggo? cause i was using mine a couple times a week for the first 8wks, before i knew i was preggo.

[mommyof2soon2b3]

well I put it this way would you rather use your inhaler and open your airways and get oxygen to the baby or not take inhalers and risk that? I have asthma pretty bad and it's worse with pregnancy...Do you have a nebulizer? Well I usually use my nebulizer and put I forget what's it's called I think saline it's the same stuff they spray up baby's noses when they are stuffed up then they use a booger sucker as I call them to suck it out when anyways it's the same stuff...AND try sitting int he bathroom and turn on the shower on FULLY hot water and the steam will help...I use xopenex it's a more pure version of albuterol...Hope that helps...Sorry if I came across as rude I didn't mean to that's just what I was told because I was worried too...I use mine quite often though...

[Firsttimepreggers]

I agree with the pp...I wish that it wasn't neccesary, but I am required to take an inhaler for preventative measures, as well as albuterol sometimes. I have severe asthma, and it's gotten much worse since I started getting bigger. The inhaler is the lesser of two evils for me.

That being said, since you say it's allergy-induced, you may not feel the same. To stop an asthma attack, you can sit cross-legged, hunched over, and RELAX your back and chest muscles. Often, an allergen will aggravate asthma, and then our panic will make it worse by tensing up all of our muscles. Have a cup of coffee, or black caffeinated tea (you can sweeten them if you'd like, but I wouldn't reccomend milk) Sip it slowly...and keep it hot. The heat helps relax your muscles. Put a sprig of eucalyptus in the shower, so that whenever you shower, the steam helps to open up breathing passages. Obviously, try avoiding allergens...and if it gets very bad, benadryl should help with any allergic swelling...but you really need to see a doctor if it gets very bad. Asthma can kill in approximately 2 minutes!!

[Firsttimepreggers]

BTW...Don't worry about what you did the first 8 weeks..lots of mamas don't even know they're pg at that point. I was celebrating my b-day the week before I found out I was pg, and I was drunk every night. You can't do anything about it. I also don't recommend primatene mist...it has bad juju, IMO. Albuterol is less invasive, IMO...Just my opinion. I've heard that because albuterol stays mostly in the lungs, small doses of it won't harm the baby. That's from the medical books, so I take it with a grain of salt, but I think I would rather take that than primateen.

[jocelyndale]

Non-steroidal inhalers would be my docs' first choice, but I react severely to propellants (and I react to binders in the diskus/turbo-haler meds). I take Accolate and practice strict avoidance of my triggers.

It's better to take albuterol if you can. Oxygen deprivation isn't a good thing and asthma can kill. I really wish I could use it. :(

As for primatene mist, it's not the best thing on earth, but epinephrine is still better than dying from a severe asthma attack. My doctor told me to use it if I need it since it's the only inhaler I can safely use. I have one on hand for airway distress from food allergies/latex allergy. As long as it's not a regular thing, it's fine for emergencies. I don't use it for mild chest tightness, but if I have another attack where I seriously question my ability to *survive*, I will certainly use it.

At night, a humidifier might help. Our mattress and pillows are encased, bedlinens are washed in hot water weekly, good filters on the furnace, clean ductwork, we shower before bed, and we have hardwood floors. Any nighttime problems I have are from dryness in the wintertime. A humidifier would probably help that, provided you're not reacting to mold in the middle of the night. ;)

[jeannie81]

BTW...Don't worry about what you did the first 8 weeks..lots of mamas don't even know they're pg at that point. I was celebrating my b-day the week before I found out I was pg, and I was drunk every night. You can't do anything about it. I also don't recommend primatene mist...it has bad juju, IMO. Albuterol is less invasive, IMO...Just my opinion. I've heard that because albuterol stays mostly in the lungs, small doses of it won't harm the baby. That's from the medical books, so I take it with a grain of salt, but I think I would rather take that than primateen.

can i get alburterol over the counter? i have never seen a doc for my asthma, except in the ER when i was a kid. but i know it's allergy induced cause animals trigger it. and sometimes running outside in the winter time. but it almost always strikes in the middle of the night, or i may wake up with it in the morning. a hardcore steam shower helps a little, but nothing like the inhalor. and benedryl will stop my asthma attack, but it takes so long to work, and 30-45 minutes of an asthma attack is hell. plus i hate taking benedryl now that i have a 6mo to care for... it makes me too sleepy and doped up feeling to function properly. :(

[Marvelleaux]

Ok, I hope I'm not totally off your topic here but this is how I deal with my allergies.

I only time I experience asthmatic symptoms is when I've had too much exposure to something I'm allergic too. My biggest triggers are dust, cats and mold. I get the itchy, sleepy stuff with pollen, but exposure to the other three in quantity cause an asthma attack. I used to use an inhaler, nasel steroids, and an antihistimine. I no longer take anything (although I would still take the antihistimine if I wasn't pregnant).

This is probably going to sound ridiculous, but the only way I've been able to manage it effectively is by avoiding the triggers and by being really, really tidy. The worst asthma I've ever had made me think our apartment was poisoned. I would lie down in bed and within 5 minutes I'd be sitting up gasping for breath. This went on for a few months. DH and I were planning our out-of-state wedding and I also thought that stress was a factor, that is, until I went for an out-of-town visit and slept like a baby. When I got back home I had nightly asthma attacks again, so I went to see an allergy specialist and took the tests. Turns out I was allergic to many things, cats included, of which I had two and refused to give up.

For me the solution was in changing my cleaning habits. Not that we were total pigs (ok, well we were :) ) but with both of us working full time and planning a wedding the apartment did not get much attention and the levels of cat dander/dust appearently reached critical levels. I was so freaking miserable.

At the time I wasn't in a position to rip out carpets, purchase new furniture, etc. so I did the best I could by vacuuming EVERYTHING (books, edges of carpeting, under furniture and the furniture itself) and then I wiped off all hard surfaces with a damp rag. I changed the sheets and then went to bed. Asthma attack. As I sat up coughing and wheezing I noticed the eyes of my two cute kitties staring up at me from the foot of the bed and thought: "bingo" and: "dammit". I got out of bed and took a clean sheet to lay over the couch so I could sleep on it (hated the texture of the fabric) and my attack dissipated. I decided it must be the bedding. The next day I washed the blankets, the pillows and put a allergy cover on the mattress and that night I slept in my own bed, without having an asthma attack, for the first time in months. After that I was washing the blankets every week or so, or whenever I could feel the wheezing starting to creep up on me again (our apartment was so small I couldn't keep the animals out of the room). That got old *really* fast. Then I got smart and remembered a trick that nicer hotels use--instead of a decorative comforter they use thin coverlets over down comforters that are removed and replaced with a fresh one after each guest. And that is what I do now. I use a flat sheet as the coverlet and tuck it over the blankets at the top edge, and fold the *regular* top sheet down over the top of it as normal. This keeps dust, dander and all kind of crud out of the blankets. I change this top sheet at least every three days; if I don't I start wheezing.

Also, make certain that your heating/cooling system filters are clean. A good filter can make an enormous difference. I write the date I should replace them on a calendar.

Hope you find a way to feel better~

[melanie83103]

I have fairly severe but mostly controlled asthma, and was told that my inhailers are fine. I actually take 2 different ones every day just to keep my asthma under control. I did quite a bit of research on it, and there is absolutly no study or evidence suggesting any problems in babies can be caused by asthma inhalers..... BUT there ARE big problems caused by oxygen deprevation, so make sure you keep your asthma under control.

By the way, I took my inhalers in my last pregnancy too, and my son is great!

Melanie

[melanie83103]

can i get alburterol over the counter? i have never seen a doc for my asthma, except in the ER when i was a kid. but i know it's allergy induced cause animals trigger it. and sometimes running outside in the winter time. but it almost always strikes in the middle of the night, or i may wake up with it in the morning. a hardcore steam shower helps a little, but nothing like the inhalor. and benedryl will stop my asthma attack, but it takes so long to work, and 30-45 minutes of an asthma attack is hell. plus i hate taking benedryl now that i have a 6mo to care for... it makes me too sleepy and doped up feeling to function properly. :(

No, you can't get albuterol over the counter. But your ob or midwife should be able to perscribe it to you. You really should have it on hand, especially now, just in case your asthma flares.

Melanie

[jeannie81]

No, you can't get albuterol over the counter. But your ob or midwife should be able to perscribe it to you. You really should have it on hand, especially now, just in case your asthma flares.

Melanie

i do have something... the primatine mist, which works wonders for me. i just would like to have whatever is safest for the baby.

Anyone use primatine mist while pg???

[Firsttimepreggers]

I would really recommend getting albuterol. Your OB can prescribe it for you, since often asthma worsens for pregnant women. That way, you don't have to pay for the extra doctor visit. The thing is, I'm pretty sure (don't quote me) that albuterol is centralized, while primateen is sytematic...meaning that there's a possibliity that the baby's being exposed to it, too. You should really talk to your doc, because it doesn't sound like you only have allergen-induced asthma. You said you get it from running and when you sleep...are you allergic to your cats??

:hug for you having to deal with this!! I know exactly what you're going through.

[jeannie81]

...are you allergic to your cats??

:hug for you having to deal with this!! I know exactly what you're going through.

yes, im allergic to the cats. it's a strange story though. when i met dh, he already had the two cats. i have always been allergic to cats, dogs, and basically any kind of furry animal. well i really liked dh and spent alot of time at his apartment and would just will myself not to have allergy attacks. and of course i didn't pet them and shoo'd them away from me. in the beginning they'd bother my allergies some, but not as bad as usual, and eventually i developed some sort of immunity. i rarely got asthmatic from them (which is the last straw for me, first i get itchy eyes and throat and sneezing) since we moved in together i have pretty much been fine, and now i can even pet them and not wash my hands as long as i don't touch my eyes immediately. but every now and then it's like a bit of dander gets up my nose and i'll have a spell. whenever i have the nighttime asthma i always wonder if it's the cats, cause when dh and i first got together even though i was fine during the day, i would get asthmatic at night, which didn't happen before him and the cats moved in. i have never let the cats in the bedroom, but i still think they're at least partially to blame. i think its worse in the winter and when im also dealing with other allergies (allergies that by themself don't give me asthma). and i think pregnancy makes it worse too.

[mommyof2soon2b3]

DUH how could I forget caffiene opens your airways too thats all I had to say

[turnipmama]

can i get alburterol over the counter? i have never seen a doc for my asthma, except in the ER when i was a kid. but i know it's allergy induced cause animals trigger it. and sometimes running outside in the winter time. but it almost always strikes in the middle of the night, or i may wake up with it in the morning. a hardcore steam shower helps a little, but nothing like the inhalor. and benedryl will stop my asthma attack, but it takes so long to work, and 30-45 minutes of an asthma attack is hell. plus i hate taking benedryl now that i have a 6mo to care for... it makes me too sleepy and doped up feeling to function properly. :(

My OB/Gyn simply wrote a perscription for me. It isn't too bad but pregnancy has made me short of breath easily, so he wanted me to have it just in case. Your OB/Gyn should perscribe it for you without having to see a specialist or anything.
Also, I caffeine is supposed to help open your airways. Of course this is another potential no-no in pregnancy but small amounts should be ok. Again, ask your OB/gyn or midwife.

[Azza]

I wasnt sure if inhalers were okay during pregnancy so asked a gynae... she said in her very thick accent "You no breathe, you die. That no good for baby. Use inhaler, ok?"

Anyway... I've been using an inhaler when I have an attack but not using the steroid inhaler that I usually use every day unless I really need it.

[jeannie81]

thanks so much everyone. this thread has really been helpful to me. as for caffene opening airways, well that explains why i have never ever had an attack in the morn! i plan on using the primatene mist only in emergency until i get back to the doc; then i'll ask for albuterol. :wink

[Danelle78]

Something I found that was setting of my asthma at night was the acid reflux/heartburn I get when lying flat to sleep. I now sleep on two pillows and have had very little trouble with the asthma/reflux.

Albuterol is a class C drug. I would only use it sparingly and when in great need.
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/albut2_wcp.htm

[Firsttimepreggers]

Just for the record, the pp above was about the syrup and tablets. We're talking about the inhaler, that doesn't go much of anywhere except the lungs. Is there info on that?

What the previous poster said about sitting up is a great idea. I just started that, and my reflux is alot better. Since there is a correlation between reflux/asthma, I can only assume that it will help with my breathing, too. I know that I had an easier time breathing last night, and I just used an additional pillow instead of sitting up all the way.

Also, may I suggest taking all of the pillows and blankets on the bed and putting them in the dryer once a week...just for a few minutes. It kills dust mites that are always harbored in unprotected pillows and stuff. All you need is a few minutes of heat, nothing major to melt stuff with. If you go to a coin-op place, you can just use the first few minutes of the time that you will dry your regular clothes. It really helps.

[mommysusie]

Caffeine tends to help with my asthma. I don't like inhalers because they usually make my heart race, so I try to avoid them as much as possible.