Having a healthy, happy pregnancy is important, but if you are one of the 3% to 8% of women who have asthma during pregnancy, control of your condition is crucial.

A hallmark of asthma is a flare-up leading to narrowing of the airways and making it difficult to breathe, with wheezing and coughing. If this happens during pregnancy, not only does the mother-to-be have breathing problems, but it can have a major effect on the baby as well, by reducing its oxygen supply.

That can lead to a list of complications, including:

Low birth weight.
Premature birth.
Need for cesarean delivery.

For some women, asthma can worsen during pregnancy. Even if your asthma is well-controlled prior to getting pregnant, it does not mean it will stay that way during pregnancy. For some women, there is no change in asthma while other women may even see their asthma improve.

Here are steps you can take – with guidance from your physician –to control your asthma and prevent flare-ups that are detrimental to you and your unborn child.