A study that looked at pregnancies from 1975-2009 has found links between women with asthma and pregnancy complications including premature birth, pre eclampsia and low birth weight. The Australian and US researches found that pregnant women with asthma are at a significant increased risk and these findings were published in BJOG recently.
The researchers looked at 40 different papers from 1975 to 2009 and found that there was a presence of maternal asthma. They found that maternal asthma increased the risk of PE by at least 50% compared to those who did not suffer from asthma. The findings also showed that pre term delivery was greatly reduced to a non-significant level if a asthma management plan was provided to pregnant women. They also looked at the impact of asthma medications such as inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and found that they did not have a direct adverse affect on the mother or unborn baby during pregnancy, and that the ICS may actually be an active help in outcomes such as low birth weight.
Australian Professor Peter Gibson, Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia and co-author on the paper said:
“Asthma is a common chronic disease among pregnant women, and the extent of the risks for both the mother and baby during the perinatal period make this a significant health issue.
“These results have implications for the antenatal care of pregnant women with asthma. Some of the reported complications may be minimised by effective asthma management strategies and it is important that this group of women and her developing baby are monitored regularly.”
Professor Khalid Khan, BJOG Scientific Editor, added:
“Asthma can complicate pregnancy however this new research is important as it highlights the need for effective management of the condition and the need for increased monitoring.
“Controlling the condition should enable a woman to maintain a healthy pregnancy with little risk to her or the baby.”
I would be interested to hear from any of you out there who have experience premature birth, pre eclampsia ( PE ) or low birth weigh, did you have maternal asthma and was it apart of your pregnancy care to have a asthma plan?
As always make sure you talk to your doctor if you have any concerns
6 Comments
I actually had relief from my asthma during my pregnancies and my boys were born 8.8 and 7.13. in between my pregnancies I was on steriroids to control my asthma but during I had no attacks whatsoever. since my last pregnancy, my asthma is bsck
Hi Tracy, Thanks for your comment. It is interesting what happens to our body, pre existing conditions and then conditions we experience during pregnancy and after.
I experienced pre eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome with my 2nd and Toxemia with my 1st but I don’t have asthma. Were you still taking the steroids during the pregnancy?
Interesting stuff!
I’m really fascinated by this. Like your other commenter my asthma was fantastic in pregnancy but and its a huge one, I had severe early onset pre eclampsia. I’d love to know more about the link between these conditions and whether my care providers should have been more on the ball.
Also I found the management of my blood pressure problematic, as Labetalol is contraindicated for asthmatics, and methylopa contraindicated for depression, so it was really hard to make that judgement call and it was always put back on me. My care providers didn’t seem that clued up, and neither of those conditions are rare!
If we can’t get basics right for common conditions like asthma I really feel for pregnant women with rare/complex conditions.
Hi Fiona. I found your article interesting and it is good to read about academic research on a website rather than just opinions. I had my boy three weeks ago and suffer asthma, and had preclampsia which resulted in my boy being born at 35 weeks and at 5 pounds. Some of the medical practitioners commented on his immaturity regarding growth and detailed that he appeared more to be like that of a 32-33 week birth, which I am aware could not be the case.
I have suffered asthma for the majority of my life, but as an adult it rarely poses a problem. During my pregnancy however I was relying more on medication as my symptoms increased, and at one stage suffered an asthma attack when I had a chest infection.
There wasn’t a consideration of an asthma plan during my pregnancy and I was somewhat relaxed about how I managed it because I thought is only posed an issue for me, not for my baby.
I hope this feedback is of use.
That is really interesting Tracey, thanks so much for sharing your feedback.
Congrats on the birth of your little boy too, I hope he is doing well and you too ofcourse.
How is your asthma now you are no longer pregnant?
Please bring it up with your health carer if you have any other babies in the future, I think it is
really important. As years go by they are finding out more and more things with their studies.
Very impressed it was an Australia University that did this research too.
Take Care
Fee
Hi Kylie,
Thanks so much for your comment, it is always interesting hearing from others and their experiences.
How early did you have pre eclampisa? I had the onset around 25/26weeks and delivered 27+5. For the first few weeks I didn’t actually know
I had it though as I didn’t understand or know what the sings and symptoms were. I also developed HELLP Syndrome in the end too just to make things
even more interesting.
I think even though they are common conditions anything during pregnancy can always complicate
how it is handled as they aren’t only just treating the mother but also possibly the baby too.
I also think conditions do sometimes present differently when pregnant too so this is always a factor.
This research is still very new and was done in Australia, it may not be delivered to patients yet and may
still be in the process of having enough evidence to support it before health professionals Australia and world
wide adopt it.