Asthmatic pregnant women, who are taking medications for their condition, may have a slightly higher risk of having babies with rare birth defects. That’s according to new research published in Journal Pediatrics. However, the researchers hasten to add that the increased risk is only slight, and that there are no firm conclusions about the cause of the defects.
Overall, according to the researchers, pregnant women who took the asthma medication in the month before they conceived and right through the 3rd month of pregnancy seemed to be at a slightly higher risk of delivering babies with birth defects. The defects that were noticed were relatively rare, and included incomplete development of the esophagus, intestines sticking out of the belly button, and missing opening of the anus.
These are extremely rare defects, but the use of antiasthma medications including steroids and bronchodilators seemed to increase their risk slightly in some women.
Overall, the researchers say that they do not know whether the slightly increased risk of asthma is due to the medications themselves or the intensity of the asthma. He researchers do not recommend that pregnant women stop taking their medications because of the results of the study. They say that there is no firm conclusion to prove that the medication is linked to the increased risk of birth defects. However, they don’t completely discount the possibility that the medication could cause a slight increase in birth defect risks. As of now, researchers say that they are not in a position to completely confirm the safety of these medications.
California product liability attorneys would recommend that pregnant women continue to take their asthma medications, and keep the doctor informed about their condition.
