low dose aspirin

[Mrsbadger77]

I had a late miscarriage in October and have only just received a debrief from the consultant in letter form. I've just read it and am panicking. Although nothing was found to be wrong with my placenta he has recommended that I take a low dose aspirin when I test positive for pregnancy to optimise placental function. Problem is I'm already 10 weeks tomorrow so obviously haven't been taking it. Now I'm very worried that as I've not been taking it I'm going to have another miscarriage. Also what is a low dose? As its Friday tea time obviously I can't get hold of anyone to discuss this. Can anyone put my mind a ease?

[Penguinepenguins]

Hello,

I'm so sorry to hear about your MC, I had a relatively early MC and that was heartbreaking I can't imagine what you went through

Low dose aspirin/baby aspirin is easily found in the chemist, just ask at the counter you want the 75mg one from memory but its different from your average aspirin. Its taken for all sorts of things as a precaution generally, against things like heart attack and stroke I didn't know about its use in early pregnancy.

It's easy to panic with a letter like this but if it was an "essential" they would have called you, and nothing was found wrong with your placenta, which they later state is the reason to take it. So please don't panic I'm sure it's a precaution

I would have a chat with a pharmacist when you go to buy it and they can then give you some advise to put your mind at rest over the weekend, but just start taking it tomorrow

I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy!

[gonegrey56]

I am on what is described in my consultant's notes as a low dose aspirin - it is 75 mg. I take it because of a heart condition. Please try not to worry but you could buy some ans start taking immediately .

[WhatWillGeorgeDo]

Hi - I was also recommended to take low dose aspirin in my 3rd pregnancy after 2 MMC discovered at 10-12 weeks. I suspect that there certainly wouldn't be an issue for you to start it now - I carried on up to 36 weeks (when they recommended I stop in case the baby came early - aspirin being a blood thinner it's not ideal to be on it if surgery etc is needed). Low dose aspirin is sometimes called baby aspirin (small dose rather than for babies!) and if you ask at any chemist you should be able to get it over the counter - think it's 75mg rather than the standard dose. Normally prescribed for people possibly at risk of stroke etc. It was 2 years ago that it was suggested for me and at the time the research evidence was fairly patchy (unless you had very specific conditions and alongside other drugs) - but I suspect was suggested to me in a 'can't hurt' type of way. I wish you well - know how worrying those early weeks can be - in case success stories are useful my 3rd pregnancy was successful (obviohusly don't know how much the aspirin helped!).

[nixxxy]

I've been taking it since around 10-12 weeks when I had my booking in appointment, I'm now 38+4 - I was recommended it to aid blood flow to the placenta. It's easy to get hold of from any pharmacy (supermarket or otherwise) but you can also get it on prescription for free from your GP once you have your Maternity Exemption Cert :)

Good luck

[Mrsbadger77]

Thank you so much for your replies and kind words. I'm just worried that as I haven't been taking it for the last 10 weeks something is going to happen. But nixxy you say you started it at about 10 weeks which makes me feel a bit better. Will get some and try not to panic.

[woody2976]

i took it in second pregnancy cos had pre eclampsia in my first pregnancy think i took it from 12 weeks

[outputgap]

Def don't panic. I take it (am now 38 weeks pregnant) along with other blood thinners. It is indeed the 75 dose.

It's very unlikely you have a blood clotting issue, so actually, you're not likely to need it.

I had some poor Doppler results at 20 weeks with my first, and I the drs told me that aspirin is good in that situation as it helps against pre-eclampsia, which is, of course, a late pregnancy complication.

[Mrsbadger77]

Not so easy to get hold of apparently! Send DH to chemist and they refused to sell it to him because I'm pregnant! I'm hoping if I bring the letter from the consultant in tomorrow they'll sell it to me. Really don't need the hassle of going to the doctors.

[CityMole]

I didn't start mine until 12 weeks, try not to fret. The 75mg "baby aspirin " is routinely given to pregnant women. I'd either go to another pharmacy, or send him back and tell him not to mention your pregnancy.

[outputgap]

Yeah! I send dh, and tell him to say it's for him! Or say you're taking it for ivf... I had a prescription for it, but I like the Boots own brand enteric covered one.

You can get it from the shelf in Boots and then take it to the normal till. That should work fine.

[chestnut20]

Hi I take baby Asprin (75mg) daily due to having a blood clotting issue but also as older and ttc. You can buy them easily from most pound shops, home bargains, wilko etc and no need for prescription just walk in and buy off the shelf as normal. You can only buy 2 packets ( I think) in one transaction but if you want to buy more than the 2 then walk round the shop and buy another 2 etc. Hope this helps

[eurochick]

I took it throughout pregnancy. I did find that pharmacists could be funny about selling sometimes but I always managed to get it in the end. Boots have it on the shelf so you can just chuck it in your basket and pay at the normal tills without getting the third degree.

[Tollygunge]

Hi, I've had 4 miscarriages, two late, and am currently 15 weeks. I've been taking low dose aspirin since I got bfp BUT I was told you can start taking at any point. If for example your bloods at 12 weeks indicated low m omma this might indicate placental probs and they put you on aspirin then. Tbh it seems as though aspirin is used quite often when they have no real idea what else to do. I am also on progesterone and high dose folic acid- again, these seem to be prescribed 'just in case' what hospital are you at? If you can get to London I would def recommend UCH as they are amazing- you can self refer anywhere. I'm going to have to re transfer to my local Hospital before delivery but am so pleased with the level of care from fetal Medicine at UCH. Good luck

[0hCrepe]

I was prescribed it too at appt for 12 week scan. Not entirely sure why! I asked my friend who's a trainee midwife and she said it's because of my age (40) and because of the large age gap between dd and this one. When the consultant prescribed it she said half the women there would be on it.

[Mrsbadger77]

tollygunge so sorry about your losses. How are you feeling in this pregnancy? I am totally anxious. Thank you for your reassurance. I'm in Birmingham so not really an option to be going down to London. Just out of interest what dose of folic acid are you on? I just take pregnacare which has it in ( 400mcg) should I be taking more?

[Tollygunge]

I'm in high dose 5mg folic acid. It can only be prescribed. You Prob don't need to be on it but you could ask? I think it's just to cover bases. I'm doing ok, the first bit was pretty shit but slowly feeling a bit better. Still way to go though. Won't believe it until he's born!

[TheWildOnes]

I took low does aspirin from about 6 weeks until 20 weeks after 2 miscarriages. They usually have them in poundland if that's any help.

[riddles26]

I had a mc in December and was advised by my consultant to take low dose aspirin when I next fall pregnant. He said to take after getting positive result but it can be started at any point in the pregnancy, just shouldn't be taken at the very end.
Eurochick Pharmacists are not allowed to sell it for use in pregnancy as it is not licensed for that purpose. They can lose their registration for selling it in pregnancy so it is not their fault. I went to boots and bought a bottle of 90 tablets from the counter assistant (you won't find the pack size on the shelf). She didn't ask who I was buying it for and I didn't offer any information - if I had been asked, I was ready to say it was for my dad recommended by GP but he pays for prescriptions hence buying over the counter for much less.