Has anybody taken aspirin throughout pregnancy?

[BigBaboonBum]

Hi everyone, I’ve been taking aspirin the majority of my pregnancy and now being prescribed it at 13 weeks.
My BMI is 40.7, I’ve lost 15lbs so far this pregnancy. Is aspirin really needed? I’ve been looking in medical journals and I’m so worried about the effects it can have on the brain.

I wanted to know if anybody has taken aspirin throughout the entirety of their pregnancies before, and how are your children? I’ve read it could cause attention disorders and in some cases a lower IQ etc. Would you say this to be the truth? Putting aside the fact it’s your child and you’ll be inclined to say everything is hunkydory! I’m just very worried.
I know that the pros outweigh the cons in a lot of situations but I’m healthy other than being on the tubsy side, They don’t seem to have any reason other than my weight which is worrying.

Any help would be appreciated,thank you

Rather depends why you’re taking it. I took it, and clexane right through my pregnancy with no ill effects. I’ve not read of any problem with it. Where did you see it?

I’d love to see some links to what you’ve read to suggest aspirin causes lower IQ. I’ve never heard anything about that. I took it every day on consultant’s advice and neither I or DS have suffered any ill effects from it.

I'm 37wks pregnant and have taken aspirin daily throughout due to BMI (a little lower than yours) Total no brainer when it could prevent a deadly blood clot. I've seen zero credible evidence of the risks you've mentioned but even if they were true, I'd far rather a live baby with a slightly lower IQ than miscarry or stillborn.

Also I was extremely physically fit myself but being obese is not 'healthy' unfortunately. Even with a low heart rate, 5 x a week gym sessions, regular running and a recent 5st loss, the risks of a BMI of 40 are still there.

I wasn’t reading them online so no links I’m afraid, I was raiding my friends medical journals. Although he told me that these are all independent studies and showed me a few crazy ones which made me think a lot of people just really wanted an article. Either way I’m now worried. I might scour online for some now as I may have more luck here, maybe some happier studies
@MaryShelley1818 of course I wasn’t implying I’d rather my baby die... I was asking about the effects as I’m worried about them.

@AnUtterIdiot I’ve been taking the aspirin since I conceived, I haven’t stopped taking it - I’m just looking for information.
It also worries me that I’ve been taking it for the first 12 weeks when not many others seem to! I was advised it due to a previous miscarriage, but now I’m prescribed it due to weight

I did and nobody mentioned any of those side effects.

@MaryShelley1818 I said healthy other than being overweight, but yes I appreciate my BMI isn’t healthy as I said. I just wanted some information on the effects on the baby from aspirin is all

I took baby aspirin from 12 weeks onwards due to low Papp-A. My lo is 2 now and scarily intelligent.

I took it as I was 40. Not overweight no ill effects.

Some anecdotes are not going to help you here OP! If you've been prescribed aspirin by an experienced obstetrician, I would just go with it.

Thank you! I appreciate the replies. I just found something online which said a study indicated a 2 point higher IQ in children exposed to aspirin during pregnancy... which means no change as it’s only 2 points so it’s essentially the same. Online seems a better place to find happier studies

Hi I'm pregnant with twins and got told to start taking this from 18 weeks (was meant to be 12 but the midwife didn't tell me!) BMI was 30 at booking in. I was told it's to prevent pre eclampsia

@WhatKatyDidnt I’m definitely still going with it, currently week 13 is taking it. It was just information on the effects I was after rather than whether or not I should take it. Just keeping my anxious brain occupied no doubt

I've never read anything about ante-natal aspirin being linked with child's IQ. However, there is plenty of evidence linking IUGR and premature birth with poorer outcomes. (IUGR and prem birth are common in cases of early pre-eclampsia.)

I've gained a ton of weight and they tried to put me on it at the start of third trimester (sitting on my ass alot loads of working hours and eating all the wrong things!)

I can not take anti inflammatory drugs as I'm allergic and reading the leaflet of the asprin was enough to put me off. I contacted my GP who is a very good doctor with years and years of experience.
Told him my situation and my podge gain. He said that the asprin can help prevent tiny blood clots which could possibly cause disruption. I've no history of blood clots it's my first so I don't have any experience of pre eclampsia. Agreed that they are happy for me not to take them as an allergic reaction would be much worse than the possible preventative benefits of asprin.

To answer your question - I've not took any and I'm not in any ill health and due in a couple of weeks. They wanted me to take it until 36 weeks as there is a risk of excessive bleeding and complications towards labour.

I would say if you are worried please speak with your gp like I did or consultant. But I've no I'll health or anything wrong with my baby for not taking it!
Alot of the overweight procedures are box ticking formalities that they have to go through. I was prescribed it with them knowing I was allergic so they could tick the box to say they've passed it out.
I've been perfectly fine and hate that I've gained weight so suddenly because as soon as you tip the scale they treat you like shit :/

Quoting me on 'box ticking' is pathetic as they potentially put mine and baby's life at risk to sign off a sheet. So yeah hope you feel better for that one 🖒

I took aspirin for most of 1st pregnancy, due to essential hypertension. Ds is nearly 2 and no questions over his attention or intelligence thus far, in fact he has really good focus for a two year old.
19weeks with no. 2 and taking aspirin again. No issues for me thus far.

I took aspirin through both my pregnancies (& clexane towards the end & 6 weeks after). My eldest has just done really well in 11+ and got into 3 selective schools! Hasn't done them any harm! Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy

OP - Aspirin is a unique drug that acts in different ways based on the dosage. The standard adult dosage used for pain relief crosses the placental barrier and has been found to be linked to some intellectual disabilities in children based on a small research study done in the 80s. Pregnant women are strongly advised to avoid aspirin and Tylenol/ibuprofen for these reasons, and no larger controlled studies have been done as far as I know (for obvious reasons).

The dosage prescribed in pregnancy is a baby aspirin of 75mg only per day. This - I was told by my obgyn - does not cross the placental barrier and only serves essentially as a blood thinner. It is prescribed to obese women, women at risk of eclampsia, or as in my case women who’ve had previous unexplained losses so as to maintain and boost blood flow to the placenta. So the ill effects you read about in the paper journals are not related to the actual dosage you are being prescribed now. Hope that helps put your mind at ease and I wish you a smooth and easy pregnancy!