Following are some common questions and answers to assist you. Studies indicate that maternal asthma that is well-managed during pregnancy does not increase the risk of maternal or infant complications. With appropriate asthma management, you can have a healthy baby. Conversely, there is a direct relationship between lower birth weight and uncontrolled asthma. So, it is to both your and the baby s benefit to control asthma symptoms.
Uncontrolled asthma causes a decrease in the oxygen content of the mother s blood.
Since the fetus receives its oxygen from the mother s blood, decreased oxygen in her blood can lead to decreased oxygen in the fetal blood. This, in turn, can lead to impaired fetal growth and survival, since a fetus requires a constant supply of oxygen for normal growth and development. Studies and observations of hundreds of pregnant women with asthma have demonstrated that most inhaled asthma medications are appropriate for patients to use while pregnant. The risks of uncontrolled asthma appear to be greater than the risks of necessary asthma medications. Interestingly, pregnancy may affect the severity of asthma.