Pregnancy causes sudden and drastic changes in a woman’s body.
These dramatic changes can take a toll on even the healthiest of women, especially those with chronic lung diseases like asthma.
For instance, what happens if, in the middle of your day at the park, you suddenly experience an asthma attack? Are nebulizer treatments safe during pregnancy?
While you can prepare for the adverse outcomes by investing in a portable nebulizer like the ProNebu Mesh Portable Nebulizer, it is a good idea to know what to expect.
To give you peace of mind, we’ll talk about the risks of taking asthma medication during pregnancy and what you can do to manage your symptoms.
Does Pregnancy Make Asthma Worse?
In the US, more than eight out of 10 pregnant women are asthmatic or suffering from another type of lung disease.
Asthma is among the most common, along with high blood pressure, mental health issues, and gestational diabetes.
Unfortunately, it is unclear whether growing a child in a pregnant woman’s belly makes asthma worse, better, or unchanged.
That said, even if it does cause the worsening of asthma, asthmatic patients shouldn’t let it stop them from bearing a child.
At the same time, it also doesn’t mean they should just ignore their health condition either.
Especially if you are a pregnant woman with a more serious case of lung condition, your best bet is to work with a medical care expert, preferably even before your pregnancy.
This way, they can help come up with the best course of action to guarantee your and your unborn baby’s health.
For example, if your asthma attacks are triggered by exposure to allergens, your doctor may suggest staying away from common triggers like pollen, animal dander, or mold.
It will also help to get allergy shots and flu shots, especially if you are pregnant during the allergy or flu season.
On the other hand, those whose symptoms worsen because of elevated stress levels may want to start practicing calming breathing techniques or meditation.
In cases where these remedies don’t work, you might need to resort to taking asthma medications to ensure your unborn baby gets enough oxygen.
Will your go-to nebulizer medication be enough? Even if you don’t have to worry about its safety, are there side effects you should know about?
Are Nebulizer Treatments Safe During Pregnancy?
Pregnant women with asthma should know not to take their condition lightly.
The American Lung Association reports that almost half of asthmatic women experience an asthma attack during pregnancy.
From this alone, it might be safe to assume that the risk of attacks increases with pregnancy.
While nebulizer treatments often worked with not many problems in the past, it is not as simple now that you are pregnant.
In fact, taking any type of medication during the entirety of your pregnancy requires your doctor’s knowledge and approval.
Generally, your healthcare provider might have their own choice of medications, but that depends on how delicate your pregnancy is and how severe your asthma symptoms are.
Among the most common asthma treatment during pregnancy is by using a nebulizer. Still, are nebulizer treatments safe during pregnancy?
Taking Asthma Medications While Pregnant
Researchers found possible positive correlations between asthma medication and the chance of birth defects like esophageal atresia, anorectal atresia, and omphalocele.
However, these congenital disabilities may also very well be just coincidences or the result of failure to manage asthma symptoms during the mother’s pregnancy journey.
In other words, the data on whether or not asthma medication results in adverse pregnancy outcomes are limited and still needs more research.
With these study limitations, the best course of action is to work closely with your healthcare provider to come up with the most effective and safest treatment plan.
For high-risk women, obese women, and aged women with asthma, it would be great if you could work with both an asthma specialist and an OB-gyn.
Possible Side-Effects to Keep in Mind
If your doctor does prescribe nebulizer treatments, you’d probably be given Albuterol nebulizers in moderate doses.
These short-acting bronchodilators treat bronchospasms, which is when the muscles in your bronchi tighten, resulting in coughing, wheezing, and other breathing problems.
Like all medicines, taking Albuterol while pregnant may or may not cause side effects.
If you’re worried about it, here are possible side effects to keep an eye out for:
Common Side Effects
- Headaches
- Tremors, restlessness, nervousness
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Throat irritation and dryness
- Changes in maternal blood pressure levels
- Transient wheezing
- Heartburn
Occasional Side Effects
- Altered taste
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Bronchial irritation
Rare Side Effects
- Flushing
- Drowsiness
- Diarrhea
If any of these side effects become so severe that they affect how you go about your day, please don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider.
Depending on your condition, your doctor may increase or reduce the dosage to avoid complications.
How the ProNebu Mesh Portable Nebulizer Can Help
Since asthma attacks are so sudden and may come out of nowhere, it’s wise to have a portable nebulizer by your side.
Pregnant or not, young or old, we recommend getting the ProNebu Portable Nebulizer.
Despite being a compact device you can bring and use anywhere, this nebulizer does the job without making that annoying buzzing noise.
Even better, it does not require tubing or an air source.
It works via a revolutionary vibrating mesh tech that effectively atomizes asthma medicine into a fine mist for smooth and easy inhalation.
Compared to jet nebulizers, ProNebu’s mesh technology delivers medicine to the lungs more efficiently. It’s also one of the reasons this portable nebulizer has a quiet operation.
Another thing to love about it is that there won’t be as much medicine residue left after every treatment.
Also, since it’s a portable unit, you don’t need to be near an outlet to use it. Yes, you can use it on the go!
While it runs via AA batteries, you can also plug it in using a micro USB cable, which already comes with the package.
Moreover, it has a 30-day guarantee where ProNebu will either refund your money or send you a replacement unit if you find you’re not satisfied with what you got.
To weigh whether this nebulizer is a good investment for you and your developing baby, here are its pros and cons.
Pros:
- Effectively relieves asthma symptoms
- Durable and lightweight build
- For adults and children
- More efficient atomization of asthma medicine
- Produces a finer mist
- Not as loud as other portable nebulizers
- Works plugged in or via batteries
- Does not break the bank
Con:
- Non-rechargeable battery
What Are Other Treatments Used to Manage Asthma?
During their pregnancy, taking certain asthma medications and other lung treatments may be inevitable, especially for high-risk women.
Aside from bronchodilators (Albuterol), which we’ve mentioned, there are two other types of asthma treatment: anti-inflammatory drugs and biologic asthma therapies.
The treatment of asthma symptoms will vary depending on the type of lung condition you have.
For instance, is your asthma an allergic reaction or not related to allergies at all?
Is there inflammation in the lining of your airways? How about mucus?
Again, if you’re experiencing tightening of the airways or bronchospasms, your doctor will most likely prescribe medicines to relax these muscles called bronchodilators.
On the other hand, swelling caused by a chronic lung condition will require anti-inflammatory asthma medications.
Lastly, your best chance of getting relief from severe asthma symptoms is through biological therapies for asthma, which are delivered through injection.
Dealing With Asthma During Pregnancy
From physiological changes to mood swings, there’s no denying the level of stress that comes with bearing a child.
Things get even more stressful if you are unsure how to put your asthma under control.
While you should focus on your baby’s health, you can only do it if you also take good care of your overall well-being.
As someone who suffers from a lung disease, it’s crucial that you are well-equipped when it comes to battling asthma attacks.
More than anything, we’re confident even your doctor would agree that investing in a portable nebulizer like the ProNebu is a good first step.
Talk with your health care provider about how to use a nebulizer during pregnancy and what precautions you can make to avoid another asthma attack.
