INTRODUCTION
Most women with asthma have normal pregnancies and
the risk of complications is low when their asthma is wellcontrolled
[1, 2]. For about a third of women, asthma
symptoms will worsen and for about a third it will improve
during pregnancy, but it is highly unlikely that women will
develop acute asthma during labour; those with uncontrolled
asthma are more likely to have maternal and foetal
complications including hypertension, pre-eclampsia,
vaginal haemorrhage, complicated labour, foetal growth
restriction, pre-term birth, and increased perinatal mortality
[2]. It is safer for mother and baby if pregnant women with
asthma are treated and have their symptoms controlled by
medication than if they remain untreated and have frequent
exacerbations [1, 2]. It may also be the case that babies born
to mothers with uncontrolled asthma and increased severity
of attacks are at greater risk of asthma themselves [3]
although this evidence is disputed [4].