Baby Your Baby: Asthma medications, triggers, and studies for pregnant women

Pregnant and breastfeeding women with asthma may have questions about using their usual medications. Al Romeo, RN, PhD at the Utah Department of Health's MotherToBaby/Pregnancy Risk Line Programs says on bad air-quality days, try to exercise or stay indoors and if your symptoms get worse, contact your usual provider. Romeo stopped by to educate pregnant women about asthma medications, triggers, and various studies.

• Asthma reduces the amount of oxygen to the baby, so untreated asthma is more of a risk to the baby than any of the medications.
  
  
• Beta2-agonists such as albuterol, formoteral, and salmeterol inhalers deliver medication to the lungs, so less is in the bloodstream and there is no increased risk based on limited studies. We are looking for moms who will participate in observational studies so that we have better information. We are continuing to study asthma and the medications for asthma.
  
  
• Inhaled corticosteroids, such as beclomethasone, budesonide, fluticasone, mometasone, and others, used for prevention of asthma symptoms also stay mainly in the lungs and are not expected to be a problem in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  
  
• Montelukast (Singulair) is an oral medication is also not expected to cause increased risks for pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  
  
• Prednisone is another oral medication used for asthma. There are some conflicting studies but the asthma may be part of the problem rather than the medication. Again, untreated asthma is likely more of a risk for the baby.
  
  
• So pregnant and breastfeeding women should continue to use their asthma medications to control their condition and symptoms.
  

If moms have questions or are willing to help with the observational studies, they can visit MotherToBaby.org, to text, chat, or email, or call 801-328-2229.