Do I really need aspirin therapy? Concerned it's made me nearly faint today!

[YankNCock]

During my last pregnancy, in the 3rd trimester, I had one slightly high blood pressure reading (can't recall exactly, but around absolutely no higher than 150/100). It was on the manual machine in the consultant's office. So I got shipped off to the antenatal day unit 3 times a week for 3-4 weeks for blood, urine and BP checks. Once I had a +2 protein reading in my urine, but other than that everything was completely normal, no other high BP readings ever again.

I'm pregnant again now (20 weeks) and the consultant at 16 weeks said I had to take 75mg aspirin every day because of my 'previous high blood pressure'. I think it's a bit silly considering it was only one high reading and never repeated, but started taking it anyway about 2.5 weeks ago. I noticed at my midwife appointment last week my BP was lower than in normally is for me (107/70).

So today I was out with DH and DS, started getting really fuzzy-headed, felt suddenly very weak, and legs felt like they were going to jelly. I didn't feel hungry at all, but DH thought I might be having a blood sugar crash and got me some chips and a regular Coke to have. I felt better about 20 minutes after eating, but it really freaked me out.

Am starting to wonder if this aspirin therapy could be the problem? Maybe my BP is going too low? I felt like complete shite through my first pregnancy mainly due to lots of puking, but I've felt really good so far with this one, so I'm mystified.

[exBrightonBell]

I'm also taking aspirin, but was told that this was to do with ensuring blood flow to the placenta is ok. It isn't to do with lowering your blood pressure as far as I understand it. After my 20 weeks scan they identified that one of the placental arteries has a "notch" which can indicate issues with blood supply, hence the aspirin. The aspirin thins your blood which is meant to help the blood flow. I think that low dose aspirin is a "just in case" measure if they are concerned about high blood pressure.

[Tamisara]

75mg of aspirin is really very, very little. It's only quarter of a regular tablet.

If your consultant recommended it, then I'd do as I was told.

Heartbreakingly one baby aspirin a day 'may' have saved my daughter, who was born sleeping at 37 weeks late last year. If I could turn back time I'd go back and take it, even though I've suffered stomach ulcers in the past, as the risk to me would be more than worth the benefit of knowing she'd lived.

Having said that I think if you feel ill, you should contact the maternity unit or your midwife, just to check.

Low blood pressure can cause you to feel faint, so can anaemia.

The biggest risk of taking low dose aspirin would be gatrointestinal bleeding, although the risk is very small.

Ultimately it's up to you, if you really feel unwell, and you're sure it's the aspirin, then it's ultimately up to you to decide, though it'd be worth contacting your midwife/Dr about it (just in case there is something else amiss).

Have you got your consultant's secretary's number? If so it may be worth giving them a ring, and asking them to explain to your consultant what's been going on.

[Tamisara]

Just to add, if you felt better after eating it could well be that your blood sugar is slightly out, so it's worth making sure you eat really well, and lots of complex carbohydrates to keep it up for longer.

[Boggler]

Hi I'm taking aspirin as well 75mg dose daily, but mine is to reduce the risk of miscarriage as I've had 3 previously. As far as I m aware the risks are of internal gastric bleeding not dizziness. If your consultant thinks aspirin will help I'd take it, the dose is very very low

[misslinnet]

If you're considering stopping the aspirin, it's be sensible to talk to your doctor about it and find out why it's necessary to take aspirin in your case, and how it would affect you and your LO if you stopped, before you make any decision.

I had to take aspirin when pregnant, as I had notching in my uterine arteries, and the aspirin was needed to make sure DS was getting enough blood flow through the placenta for him to grow properly.
I don't know how aspirin works with high blood pressure though.

And, as Tamisara said, it could be something else unrelated to the aspirin, so it's worth talking to someone anyway.

[crochetcircle]

I was prescribed the same dose of aspirin as you a week ago and my understanding is that it doesn't cause low blood pressure/dizziness. I specifically discussed this with the consultant as, like you, I'm not convinced my BP is high enough to be 'risky'.

You should discuss your concerns with your consultant. I was satisfied that there were no risks to taking it, and only potential benefits - a 20% lower chance of pre-eclampsia.

My cons said that because I'd had a quotes normal delivery, with no BP problems in labour and larger than average first baby, I was low risk for PE in subsequent pregnancies anyway but to take aspirin anyway. I'm 16 weeks and have been taking the tabs for a week. We're reviewing my BP and treatment in 7 weeks.

[JumpingJellyfish]

I too had "baby" aspirin (75mg per day) throughout my last two pregnancies due to my first (my son was delivered at 30 weeks due to severe sudden onset PE), upon the recommendation of my consultant. I completely believe, like my consultant, that it's thanks to the aspirin that I made it to 36 and 37 weeks with my last two (PE still caused early deliveries, but was less severe and much better gestations too), and I am forever grateful for that. And it definitely does not cause light headedness/diziness - it sounds (like others have said) that you could have episodes of either low blood pressure (common in the second trimester) or low blood sugar. Even though you have not much of a history in terms of high blood pressure etc. the benefits of low-dose aspirin outweigh the risks, and I think more and more consultants are using it even in less clearcut situations.
I also had a history of stomach ulcers (from anti-inflammatories) but the baby aspirin never caused me any problems in that respect as it's such a low dose, and I ensured I always took it with food.

(Tamisara my heart goes out to you. PE is a horrible, horrible disease).

If you have any concerns before changing any meds I'd seek advice from your consultant.
Hope you feel better soon & hope you have a long & healthy pregnancy :)

[Traceymac2]

As I nurse I can tell you that aspirin wouldn't be lowering your bp unless you were having an active bleed, ie, a ruptured stomach ulcer which would be an emergency an wouldn't pass. Aspirin is an anti inflammatory and has anti blood clotting actions. I have been on it for all three of my pregnancies due to the initial risk of miscarriage and for PE. In my case I still got PE, who knows maybe it would have been worse not on it. It is all Drs have really got and isn't a railways treatment, it just might help and the feeling is it is better than no treatment. I had to stop it this time at 25 wks due to severe gastritis, i was convinced I had a stomach ulcer it was that bad. I am now 31 wks, the last time my bp shot up at 34 wks so i am anxiously waiting to see what happens. My consultant told me to stay off it incase the pain returned. He did say most women at 20 wks tend to have artificially low bp until the 30 wk mark even if there is a history of high bp, it's to do with pregnancy hormones, increased blood volume, etc. As you said after you had eaten you felt better so it could have been your sugars too.

[Traceymac2]

That should say failsafe not railways!

[Jules125]

Like others, I really doubt that the aspirin caused your dizziness / fainting. That just isn't a common side effects of aspirin (and dizziness is common in pregnancy, whatever you are / are not taking).

Aspirin doesn't lower your BP either - as others have said. It may in some women improve blood flow to the placenta.

[YankNCock]

Thanks for all the replies, I think I just got it in my head that 'I'm taking aspirin for high BP, so it must lower BP'. Obviously not the case.

Tamisara, I'm so sorry for your loss.

I guess the most likely explanation is low blood sugar, though I'd eaten recently and had a good amount of protein. Or just general pregnancy dizziness, which now that I've googled is apparently more common in 2nd trimester. Hope it doesn't happen again, I really did not like that! Will carry on with my aspirin, thanks everyone.

[crochetcircle]

Hi yank

The other thing I'm doing to try and quantify whether there is a risk from high BP is to measure mine at home. My friend had a medical grade BP monitor from her last pregnancy so I was able to borrow hers. The difference has been quite big already - from 130-150/90's down to 110-130/80's - just from measuring it at home rather than in hospital.

I'm hoping that as I get used to having it taken I will relax about the whole thing and eventually my BP in hospital will come down too.

[YankNCock]

crochet, my dad has what they call 'white coat induced hypertension' too. He's always high at doctor's office, but fine when my mom (who is a nurse) measured him at home.

[Norks88]

I’ve just read that if you take your aspirin at night time only- it can lower your bp the following day. I started aspirin a week ago and significantly noticed dizziness and today I fainted. No warning symptoms at all.