The effect of pregnancy on asthma varies; deterioration is slightly more common than improvement, but most pregnant women do not have severe attacks.
The effect of asthma on pregnancy also varies, but severe, poorly controlled asthma increases risk of
Also, cesarean delivery is required more often.
Treatment
Pregnancy does not usually change treatment of asthma (see also Asthma Outcomes and Management During Pregnancy). Women are taught strategies to help manage asthma, including how to minimize exposure to triggers and how to serially measure pulmonary function (usually with a handheld peak flow meter).
Inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids are first-line maintenance therapy for asthma in pregnant women. Budesonide is the preferred inhaled corticosteroid. Based on available data, inhaled budesonide does not appear to increase the risk of congenital malformations in humans. Theophylline is no longer recommended routinely during pregnancy.
For an acute exacerbation, in addition to bronchodilators, methylprednisolone 60 mg IV every 6 hours for 24 to 48 hours may be used, followed by oral prednisone in a tapering dose.
