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In order to develop a positive self-management approach to your pregnancy you should follow all the health messages from your midwife and ante natal team:
- Avoid smoking or being around those who smoke Smoking makes an asthma attack more likely and an asthma attack can stress your baby. Smoking increases the chance of miscarriage, your baby may be born with breathing problems or may be premature with a low birth weight. You can get special help if you want to quit while pregnant.
- Avoid your known asthma triggers.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet and avoid putting on lots of excess weight. There is no evidence that avoiding certain foods when pregnant prevents your baby from developing asthma. You should only avoid foods which you yourself have allergies to or the same foods all pregnant women should avoid such as unpasteurised cheese, raw fish, undercooked meat and so on. You can keep a check on your weight when seeing your midwife.
- Avoid alcohol (excessive exposure to alcohol can cause damage to your unborn baby at all stages of pregnancy). reference NHS Inform.
- Drink plenty of water and soft sugar free drinks to keep hydrated.
- Attend ante natal classes. They are important to monitor the health of you and your baby throughout the pregnancy.
