Catching Your Breath: Managing Asthma during Pregnancy

Preventing Asthma Attacks

Asthmatic episodes can be triggered by allergens, irritants (such as cigarette smoke), exercise, infections (like a cold or flu), cold air, and other factors. It's important to avoid known triggers and to identify mild asthma symptoms before they become severe.

Common asthma symptoms include:

• wheezing
• coughing
• shortness of breath
• tightening of the chest

• a runny or stuffy nose
• fatigue
• headaches
• moodiness
• coughing or wheezing (brought about by laughing or by various activities)
• waking up at night or early morning with a cough or wheeze
• faster breathing rate
• irritability
• throat itches

Because shortness of breath often occurs in all pregnancies and not just for those who have asthma, the regular use of a peak expiratory flow meter is often recommended. This meter tells how well a person's lungs are working by gauging how fast she can exhale after a deep inhale. Peak flow numbers often drop hours, or even a day or two, before the onset of an attack, which makes the meter an indispensable tool for expectant moms.