Low dose aspirin for TTC next time?

[Cafeaulait27]

Hi all, I’ve just had my first pregnancy and miscarriage ☹️ In fact I’m actually miscarrying today, right now, after bleeding for 2 Weeks and a scan on Thursday that said there was no heartbeat.

My poor little baby should’ve been 9 weeks but was only measuring 6 weeks and no heartbeat, despite seeing one on a previous scan.

I’m sort of relieved it’s happening now so I hope when I have my second scan on Monday that the tissue will have all gone.

Anyway I’ve been trying to regain some control by researching how I can reduce my risk of miscarrying again, as I know that nhs won’t do anything after just one. I have pcos and thought my chances of conceiving were less, but I thought once I got pregnant I had as much chance as anyone else.

I wondered if anyone knows much or has taken baby aspirin/low dose aspirin? Usually 75-150mg per day until 36 weeks, apparently it helps thin the blood so it can reach the baby quicker, as some women have ‘sticky blood’ which restricts blood flow and can cause miscarriage.

I feel it’s unlikely my doctor will advise me to take it as they will say there’s no reason to, but I have read in an online nhs leaflet that there are no known risks to mother or baby of taking it.

I’m wondering if I jus started taking it when we start trying again, or maybe once we get a BFP, it might help? I can’t see any harm in it... what do you guys think?

Would be great to hear from any of you that have done this.

I’m also going to see a private fertility specialist next week so hoping he can shed some light or maybe even prescribe me some. Apparently sticky blood can be tested for easily via a blood test but I know nhs won’t be interested, so maybe I could ask the private specialist to arrange this.

Thanks all xx

I am so sorry for what is happening to you, I know it is devastating :(

I have lost 5 pregnancies in the last 18 months, between 6 and 14 weeks; one was actually interrupted because my baby was very ill (at 14w). I had a missed miscarriage also like the one you are having now...

After all these losses, a blood clotting disorder was diagnosed (+other unrelated issues), for which a treatment exists (heparin+aspirin from the 1st positive test until week 35 approximately).

I asked my Dr whether I should start the treatment after ovulation. He was actually not in favour of it, saying that this could impair implantation... i am not sure i agree with him but honestly, i trust him deeply. I have to let go at some point....

Aspirin and heparin should be taken if there is proof of chronic inflamation and/or blood clotting disease. Starting to take aspirin now would probably not help you to conceive (unless you have a diagnosis).

So many reasons can explain your recent loss unfortunately, from a bad egg (genetic mutations /NOT linked to any genetic disease form you, just bad luck/ that would be too severe for the embryo to stay alive) to blood clotting disorders, thyroid disease, uterine inflamation, age etc.

I totally understand your frustration. When we ended the life of our baby girl at 14w, we wanted some answers, but we got none.... only a year later, Drs think that the blood clotting shit was the problem.

There is no harm going to a private gynecologist. She/He may accept to run some blood tests, or not, it will be up to her/him (I wish I would have pushed my consultants more after the 1st loss). She/He may also advise you to try again, if you are strong enough. Unfortunately, there i no good or bad advise here, just listen to your feeling :)

Take good care of yourself :)

xx

S.

Thank you, and I’m so sorry for your losses. Now knowing what happens during a miscarriage, I’m terrified of having another one. I hope you are looking after yourself ❤️

Are you trying again now?

Well, I wasn’t thinking that aspirin would be a conception aid, but that it’s probably best to start taking it straight away after conception, but I can see what your doctor might mean about implantation from a possible clotting point of view?

I really hope you’re ok and that you have some good news soon xxx

So sorry to hear what you've been going through.

I had three miscarriages this year and am now 19 weeks. I spoke to my GP straight after getting my BFP this time and she said taking aspirin 'wouldn't hurt', so I did. Then a week later I had a thromboelastogram test with the recurrent miscarriage clinic (at St Mary's Paddington), which showed increased clotting factors, so they actually increased the aspirin dose to 150mg. This was all done privately because the NHS was going to be six months wait at lease. It wasn't too expensive though and I would definitely discuss with your fertility specialist.

Generally speaking the advice is not to take aspirin unless you have a proven reason to do so (although I didn't when I started!), and also not to start until you get a bfp. Best of luck!!

@Ally19 thank you Ally this is really helpful.

I’m so sorry for all your losses, but so pleased that you are now 19 weeks! ❤️ I’m sure you must be really anxious but excited.

I hope you don’t mind me asking, but were all your losses quite early? And did you ever get them tested? This sounds awful but I have put our little baby in the fridge, as I called our triage this afternoon and asked if it can be tested even though I haven’t had recurrent ones. I said I’d even be happy to pay for it.

Hope you’re ok xx

Very sorry to hear about your loss.
I can’t advise on your specific situation but I was prescribed baby aspirin in my last pregnancy due to having pre-eclampsia in the previous one. All was fine.

Thank you @tinierclanger and so glad everything worked out for you xxx

I miscarried between 6-8 weeks, all natural. Unfortunately I didn't manage to collect any tissue for testing, so never had that conversation. Worth asking the EPU or your private fertility specialist if they can do any testing.

It's horrible not knowing. Even worse is that don't think the NHS would do testing for a single loss because they argue that it's so common there's no need until you've had three. Which I find barbaric and awful even though I understand the logic!

20 week scan tomorrow - fingers crossed all will be ok although I still have trouble believing it will be! Xx

@Ally19 yes I totally get it from a budgeting perspective- they just don’t have the money for it. But it makes you wonder, if they investigated after one miscarriage how many miscarriages could be prevented, potentially saving money on extra scans and d&cs? I don’t know but I wish they could investigate after the first ☹️

Best of luck to you tomorrow - please let me know how it goes xxx

@Cafeaulait27 yeah it is horrible, and I think part of me will always regret not getting tested sooner.

Luckily, the scan went perfectly and baby gave us a wave!

Hope you get some answers soon xx

@Ally19 that’s great!! So pleased for you xxx