Anyone ever heard?

jaime5121

Have you or anyone you know ever developed asthma while pregnant?  I think I have.  I went to the Dr. on Wednesday thinking I just had a bad cold, and when I didn't get better by Friday, She put me on an antibiotic.  But, my breathing is getting worse, and it is usually during the night or when I exert any sort of energy.  I know no one can diagnose me here, and believe me, that's not what I am looking for.  I would just like to know if this has happened to you, or anyone you know.  TIA

MuckDiva

It might not be asthma but I have read that it can get more difficult to breath during pregnancy because our womb and kid(s) are taking over the area.

Are you wheezing?  Light headed?  Coughing a deep cough?  Coughing a shallow cough?

Could just be an upper res. infection.

meg1974

Typically with asthma you will have coughing  and wheezing, and that's what my allergist and pulmonologist say is the tell-tale sign. However, a symptom of asthma is shortness of breath (which is what I have always had, even pre-pg), so one could argue that if you are short of breath you may have mild asthma.

As far as developing it during PG, I would imagine it's like everything else in that you can develop it. Some people develop new allergies, and some people's allergies or asthma go away. My pulmonologist said a lot of PG women develop shortness of breath b/c the baby is pushing on their lungs and decreasing capacity. He also said that normal people have 30% unused capacity in their lungs, so even if you feel like you aren't getting enough air you most likely are fine.

There is one asthma inhaler I know of that is category B (pulmicort), and it's a long-acting. All of the rescue inhalers are category C.  There is also singulair, which is a pill that is category B. I'm not taking it b/c of the risk of depression.