Asthma is not incompatible with pregnancy

Does asthma pose risks for the fetus and the pregnant woman? Should I continue to take my treatment during pregnancy? Doctissimo interviewed Dr Anne Prud'homme, head of the pneumology department at Tarbes hospital and asthma specialist.

What is the influence of pregnancy in an asthmatic woman?

Dr Prud'homme:  " For a third of women, the disease remains stable , for another third,  there is an improvement , finally for the last third, the asthma worsens during pregnancy .

But there is no typical profile that allows us to predict in which category an asthmatic woman will find herself. It was simply found that  women whose asthma symptoms worsened usually had significant asthma at baseline. But there are no set rules ."

What precautions to take?

Dr Prud'homme:  " It is essential not to stop treatment . Because uncontrolled asthma can lead to major problems for the child ( low birth weight , prematurity , even hypoxia which can lead to developmental delays).

Asthmatic women must therefore imperatively be followed by their general practitioner and pulmonologist  during their pregnancy and follow their treatment to the letter .

Precisely, are the drugs intended to control asthma all indicated during pregnancy?

Dr Prud'homme:  " Some drugs have an indication during pregnancy, others have no particular mention. In fact, laboratories and health authorities are quite cautious in this area, because there is no clinical studies conducted during pregnancy .

There is therefore a lack of information on the possible effects of certain proprietary medicinal products. We prescribe drugs that are old and have proven their safety and effectiveness over time . Thus,  beta 2 bronchodilators (Ventoline® type sprays) can be used without problem.

On the other hand, some antihistamines  are not contraindicated during the first three months of pregnancy. Let's say for simplicity that in pregnant women , it is preferable to take the oldest specialties, for which we have more hindsight ".

Is there a particular procedure to manage an asthma attack when you are pregnant?

Dr Prud'homme:  " No, we must proceed exactly as for any asthma attack .  Early treatment is what matters most. We must treat as quickly as possible to avoid hypoxia.

It should be noted, however, that many asthmatic women worry unnecessarily about dyspnea (breathing difficulty). However, this is most often psychological because the hormonal upheavals of this period influence the respiratory center of the brain and create this  impression of dyspnea ; it is a common problem for all future mothers, asthmatic or not!

In any case, the watchword is: take care of yourself, monitor yourself and have your breathing checked regularly (every quarter) ".

Will the child in turn be asthmatic?

Dr Prud'homme:  “ A child of an asthmatic mother has a 20% risk of being asthmatic . This percentage rises to 40% if both parents are affected .

This is why it is essential to take precautions when preparing the child's room,  eliminating potential sources of allergens . Likewise, it will be necessary to avoid too early food diversification ".