Not sure if this counts as a preg complication... but I figure it is for ME. Does anyone else have asthma that gets worse with pregnancy?

Mine is SO bad.

Last pregnancy I was hospitalized twice in the beginning, then I saw a pulmonary specialist that got me under control.

This time I thought I was doing okay till the other day when I had to go to the ER by ambulance.

The ER doctor sucked... the paramedics got me breathing again, but then I was just sent on my way with my inhaler and the same meds I always take. They did give me a steroid, but thats only for temporary use. I took my last dose of it today. I am worried about how I'll do tomorrow without it.

I plan to call my pulmonary doctor again in the morning. Hopefully I can get in right away and they can get me straightened out...

In the meantime... I hope I last and don't end up back in the hospital.

I think the normal pregnancy shortness of breath aggravates my condition. Then I think I am getting panic attacks on TOP of the asthma... because I already feel short of breath, and when my inhaler doesn't work quickly, I freak out. My job is also high stress lately, so thats aggravating the situation too!

Ugh. Am I the ONLY one suffering with this???

Keep your fingers crossed for me that I can get into the doc before I have another bad attack. Thanks!

So NOBODY else? hmmmmm....

Mine does and i have now been advised to have no more children as it gets worse each pregnancy ... generally end up on steriods xxx

I've devolped asthma in pregnancy, and its getting pretty bad. They don't know if it will continue or just stop after pregnancy. Though my midwife was saying her asthma got alot worse in pregnancy xxx

Really? They advised you not to have any more kids because of it? Thats pretty bad! Did you end up in the hospital for it, or were you able to keep it under control?

Mine does and I'm just back from another Drs appt about it. In my last pregnancy I moved Drs at the same time as my particular inhalers were taken off the market. my new Dr gave the wrong dosage, took me off my antihistamines and missed a chest infection for months. This time round I have been more on the ball with the right dosage inhalers, a different (although not as effective) antihistaime and they spotted my last chest infection early.

Yesterday I saw a different Dr about general wheeziness and going through my meds at a startling rate. She explained to me that, in addition to the pregnancy restricting your lungs, you are more likely to get a build up of phlegm (hence my wheeziness). As my inhalers are powder-based rather than the aerosol type, she reckoned that I wasn't getting good enough breaths to get my lungs opened up to get my preventative/ steroid inhalers to work. She sent me home with an aerosol inhaler and a spacer tube and I have to sya the difference overnight is noticeable. I had much less wheeziness today and my peak flow had increased too.

It sounds like a good idea for you to see your pulmonary doctor but in the meantime if you find your inhalers aren't working get yourself to hospital before it becomes an emergency and the panic sets in. I have found if I get on a nebuliser early enough then all will be good.

Mine was really bad during pregnancy, i have always been on a steriod inhaler as my asthma was really bad before i got pregnant anyway but during my pregnancy i ended up on a higher dose and i had to take a course of steriods. Best thing i did was just resting as much as i could

i got bad asthma but its regulated now. but has got worse since ive been pregnant.

I too always took an inhaled steroid before pregnancy and the fist 5 months it was worse but that may have been becasue of the seasons and I didn't take any antihisamines etc but since it's turned cold I have had no problems at all - I haven't used my rescue inhaler in over a week...I bet once the baby starts putting more pressure on my lungs there might be another worsening.

I read somewhere that aboput a third of women will get worse, a third will get better and a third will remain the same...which i know says almost nothing. lol.

Hey hunny. I have really bad asthma. Im actually registered disabled as get very breathless and cant walk far etc. Im on daily oral steroids plus i take daily nebulisers (plus other meds). I have been admitted 6 times since being pregnant and im booked in for a section, not sure when yet as they are waiting to see how my breathing is when the baby starts getting bigger and putting pressure on my lungs. I see a pulmonary dr every 3 weeks, i was getting scans every 4 weeks but now its every 3 and i go to pulmonary rehabilitation twice a week. Anyway i know exactly how you feel. Its so scary when your trying to breath for 2 but cant even breath for yourself. X