Labour and delivery are not usually affected by asthma and attacks are uncommon in labour. Parenteral steroid cover may be needed for those who are on regular steroids, regular medications should be continued throughout labour and bronchoconstrictors, such as ergometrine or prostaglandin F20, should be avoided. Adequate hydration is important in labour, and regional anaesthesia favoured over general, to decrease the risk of bronchospasm, provide adequate pain relief and to reduce oxygen consumption and minute ventilation. The inheritance risk of asthma for the fetus ranges from 6 to 30 per cent. Postpartum, there is no increased risk of exacerbations and those whose asthma deteriorated during pregnancy have usually returned to pre-pregnancy levels by three months after birth