Special Circumstances: Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Pregnancy

No drug treatment used in the treatment of adult patients with acute asthma has been demonstrated to be teratogenic. Oxygen saturations levels should be maintained in the range 94-98%.
The only difference in management of pregnant patients is that obstetrician input is recommended in cases of severe asthma and continuous foetal monitoring commenced.

Breast feeding

The British guidelines encourage women with asthma to breastfeed. Although drugs used in the treatment of asthma (salbutamol/ ipratropium/ steroids/theophyllines) are excreted in breast milk the minute levels are not considered to pose clinical risk to the baby. Experience with newer agents (e.g. leukotriene antagonists) is less and manufacturers recommendations should be followed.