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Asthma and pregnancy

How pregnancy affects asthma

If you have asthma, it's hard to predict whether your asthma symptoms will be any different in pregnancy. Your symptoms may improve, stay the same or get worse.

Important

See a GP, asthma nurse or specialist as soon as you know you're pregnant for advice on how to manage your asthma.

Your midwife will support you throughout your pregnancy, but your GP, asthma nurse or specialist will continue to manage your asthma care.

You're also more likely to suffer from acid reflux – when stomach acid travels back up towards the throat – while pregnant, which can make asthma worse.

Urgent advice: Call your GP, asthma nurse or 111 immediately if you’re:

  • using more of your reliever than usual
  • coughing or wheezing more, especially at night
  • feeling shortness of breath or tightness in your chest

Any of these could mean your asthma is getting worse and needs to be checked. A health professional can review your medicines and make changes if necessary.

Immediate action required: Call 999 if you're having an asthma attack and any of these apply:

  • you don't have your inhaler with you
  • you feel worse despite using your inhaler
  • you don't feel better after taking 10 puffs

Asthma treatments and pregnancy

Don't stop taking your asthma medicine – talk to a GP, asthma nurse or specialist first.

Most asthma medicines are safe to use in pregnancy and, if your asthma is well controlled, there's little to no risk for you or your baby.

You should continue to take your prescribed asthma treatments throughout pregnancy. Unless your asthma gets worse, your treatment can remain exactly the same as before.

Your symptoms may get worse if you stop taking your medicine. This can pose a risk for your own health and increase the risk of your baby having a low birthweight.

Asthma treatments and breastfeeding

It's safe to continue any asthma treatment while you're breastfeeding. Even when you're busy with your new baby, it's important not to neglect your own health and to keep your asthma under control.

Managing your asthma during pregnancy

There are things you can do to help manage your condition during pregnancy, such as:

  • using a preventer inhaler (steroids) when you get a cough or cold – speak to a doctor about using preventer inhalers in pregnancy
  • avoiding smoking – get tips on stopping smoking in pregnancy
  • avoiding things that trigger allergic reactions for you – for example, pet fur
  • controlling hay fever with antihistamines – talk to a doctor or pharmacist about which antihistamines are safe to take in pregnancy
  • avoiding hay fever triggers, such as mowing the lawn
  • continuing to exercise and eat a healthy diet
  • have the flu jab in pregnancy

Find out about having a healthy pregnancy diet, exercise in pregnancy and medicines in pregnancy.

Visit Asthma + Lung UK for more information on asthma and pregnancy or call the helpline on 0300 222 5800, open 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.

Asthma and giving birth

It is very rare to have an asthma attack during labour. If you have asthma symptoms during labour it’s safe to use your reliever inhaler as normal.

Make sure you tell your midwife and the hospital staff about any allergies you have.

Page last reviewed: 16 April 2021
Next review due: 16 April 2024