Asthma is quite common in the United States and most other countries around the world. Anyone who has suffered an asthma attack knows the symptoms. An exacerbation, or attack, involves coughing wheezing and the frightening feeling of being unable to get any air. Some describe an exacerbation as drowning in air. Asthma treatments are developed to alleviate the symptoms associated with the attack. 

Unfortunately, the developing baby in the womb takes in oxygen through his mother’s breathing. If the mother isn’t getting any air, neither is the foetus. The baby is dependant on the mother’s breathing to get the appropriate supply of oxygen he needs to survive. When a woman has an exacerbation, the baby is at risk for not getting enough oxygen. This can be very dangerous to the developing foetus. 

Many women who used asthma treatments that involved medication before they became pregnant often cease the asthma treatments. Women with the breathing disorder are afraid that the medicine will have an adverse effect on the baby. However, it is best to consult a physician before quitting the medication completely. 

The doctor would know what type of asthma it is. It could be bronchial asthma, an allergy induced asthma. Whatever the cause the doctor is the one who should decide the treatment or cessation of one.

Your doctor needs to know the details about your condition and he needs to know if you choose to quit asthma treatments. You could be putting the baby at greater risk by quitting the medication because a severe attack will do more harm to the foetus than the medicine can.

The more severe the exacerbation, the more dangerous it is for the baby. Abruptly stopping asthma treatments can do more harm than good.