Summary
Read the full fact sheet- Keep taking your asthma medicine when you are pregnant. It is important for your and your baby’s health that your asthma is under control.
- Talk about any concerns with your doctor and work together to create an asthma action plan.
- Feeling short of breath in late pregnancy is common, even in pregnant women who don’t have asthma.
- Children of mothers with asthma who breastfeed are less likely to have breathing problems.
On this page
About asthma and pregnancy
During pregnancy, some women may feel worried about taking medicines. It is important to for the health of both mother and baby that the mother’s asthma is under control.
Your baby will do best if you are breathing well. If your asthma isn't under control, your baby has a higher risk of prematurity and low birth weight.
Work with your doctor to create an asthma action plan. Review it often with your doctor during your pregnancy. This will make sure you are getting the best asthma care.
Your asthma may change during pregnancy
Pregnancy can mean a change in a woman’s asthma.
For some women, their asthma gets worse and for others it improves. For some women it does not change at all.
About half of Australian women with asthma find their asthma gets a bit worse during pregnancy. As the baby grows, some women feel short of breath, particularly when they move around.
Asthma medications are safe during pregnancy
Asthma medicine is very safe for use during pregnancy. Because most asthma medicine is inhaled, it goes straight into the lungs. This means a small dose can often be enough.
Asthma medicine does not enter the blood stream. Because of this, most of it bypasses the baby.
Talk about any concerns you have with your doctor before stopping any asthma medicine.
It’s important to keep your asthma under control throughout your pregnancy. If you have an asthma attack, your baby may suffer from a low oxygen supply. Remember, if you can’t breathe then neither can your baby.
Asthma medicine will not harm your baby. Taking medicine is safer for you and your baby than having asthma that is not under control.
Asthma during labour
Asthma attacks during labour are rare.
However, you should make sure your asthma medication is always accessible, including when you are in hospital.
If you have asthma symptoms during labour, take your reliever medication as usual.
Asthma and pregnancy – the health risks of smoking
You can improve your asthma and prevent lots of health problems for you and your baby if you don’t smoke.
Smoking when pregnant can cause:
- premature birth
- low birth weight
- risk of fetal death (stillbirth) and sudden unexpected death in infants (SUDI)
- risk of asthma and breathing infections in the baby.
Pregnant women who smoke are more likely to have:
- miscarriage
- ectopic pregnancy
- problems with the placenta
- premature rupture of the membranes
- early labour.
So if you are pregnant, quitting smoking is ideal. If you need help to quit, see your GP or call Quitline.
Asthma and breastfeeding
Most asthma medicines are safe to take when breastfeeding. If you have questions, speak to your doctor.
Children of mothers with asthma who breastfeed are less likely to have breathing problems, so it's important to try.
You and your baby might need time to learn and practice breastfeeding.
If you are having trouble breastfeeding your baby, there are lots of people who can help. You can:
- speak to your midwife
- ask your maternal and child health nurse
- see a lactation consultant.
Where to get help
- Asthma in pregnancy toolkit, Centre of Excellence in Treatable Traits.
- Pregnancy and asthma, Asthma Australia.
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