The ability to bring life into this world is an amazing superpower that women have. To be able to hold and grow an entire human being in your belly and give it life is something that should always be seen as magical. Since childbirth is such a powerful task it’s only right to assume that with that great responsibility comes dangerous risk and complications. Pregnancy and childbirth can cause many changes to a woman’s body. One example is the change in a woman’s respiratory system.
Is There a Link Between Asthma and Pregnancy?
Giving birth to children will change a woman’s body forever. One not-so-fun discovery is that a woman’s respiratory system can be affected negatively in the process. Growing a child affects the upper and lower respiratory tracts.
During that time, a woman’s lung capacity is reduced. Pregnant women are also more prone to stuffy and runny noses, changes in the shape and size of the chest occur, and more.
With that being said, a good question to ask is, “can you become asthmatic due to pregnancy?”.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, there is no research that shows that you can develop asthma due to pregnancy.
This can be relieving to know if one is planning on becoming pregnant.
The downside to pregnancy and asthma is that if you already have asthma, becoming pregnant can worsen your symptoms or expose pre-existing symptoms.
RELATED: When Should You See an Asthma Specialist?
How Symptoms May Worsen in Pregnant Women
When pregnant and suffering from asthma, there is a possibility that one of three things will happen. Your asthma will either worsen, stay the same or improve during the duration of pregnancy. Women who suffer from severe asthma may see their symptoms