low dose aspirin during pregnancy

[elliejjtiny]

I'm 18w pregnant with DC5. Never had pre-eclampsia before but my midwife says I need to take low dose aspirin because my sister had pre-eclampsia with her dc1. This seems really weird advice to me. I've got asthma so not happy about taking aspirin and I'm not convinced that I'm at any more risk of pre-eclampsia this time than with my other dc's. Also, with this being dc5 I know I'm a higher risk of PPH this time so not happy about risking that further by taking aspirin. What do you think?

I'm on low dose asprin too as my sister had eclampsia. I was told that if I end up having a section I have to stop taking it a month before the birth, but that apart from that there is no risk. Ask your doc about when to stop taking it. I was happy to take it because my sister had such a horrendous time and gave birth 3 months early so if taking it reduces the chances of that happening in our family again then fine by me.

I've got to start taking it at 12 weeks in this pregnancy as I had PET with my son and delivered him at 32 weeks.

I've heard if your mother or sister have had it your at more risk of developing it yourself, and it could just be "luck" you've not had it before so to speak.

Do question your midwife further by all means :-) xx

Thanks. I had an emergency C-section with ds4 at 35 weeks so wouldn't have been able to stop taking it a month before. Seeing the midwife again on Friday so I'll ask about it then.

Ask for a consultant opinion. I wouldn't worry about the bleeding too much. I had an EMCS at 35 weeks and had taken my aspirin as usual that morning. My notes said I had lost less than 100ml of blood. My consultant said at my 6 week check that low dose aspirin probably doesn't do that much: if you are at a real risk of clots you need injectable anticoagulants.

Low dose aspirin doesn't increase bleeding risk much - it's quite safe. I also inject Clexane as I have a clotting disorder - purely because aspirin isnt so strong.

It frustrates me that we are told the basics ie "take aspirin for this risk/that risk" but then when you want more info / advice there isn't always time avalibe and then it's often scare tactics too :-s

I have an appointment with an OB consultant tomorrow for this exact reason - because of my age/BMI they want to put me on low dose aspirin. I've never had high blood pressure but it's some new protocol they have. If there's anything specifically you want to ask let me know before 7am tomorrow and I'll sneak it in to the appointment.

I have a strong family history of pre eclampsia both mum and 2 sisters. In my first pregnancy I was advised to take low dose asprin I had no problems myself. I am currently pregnant again and have been told that as I had no problems last time I don't need to take it because the risk is significantly reduced as long as you are pregnant with the same partner. That was consultant obstetrician advice from a specialist maternity hospital.