Asthma management across the life span: the childbearing woman with asthma

Asthma can pose a serious threat to the pregnant mother and her fetus if not treated appropriately. Studies analyzing the causes of death in severe asthma have shown that most occur outside of the hospital with neither the physician nor the patient appreciating the seriousness of the symptoms. For this reason, a pregnant woman with a diagnosis of asthma must be evaluated thoroughly and managed aggressively by an obstetrician and pulmonary specialist or a maternal-fetal medicine specialist trained in high-risk pregnancies. Any evaluation or assessment of the pregnant asthmatic must be interpreted in light of pregnancy-induced changes. Treatment must be focused on set goals to correct maternal hypoxia, relieve bronchospasm, ensure adequate ventilation, and optimize uteroplacental exchange preventing fetal hypoxia.