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

[annaharvey]

I have not taken asprin during pregnancy but I know people who have taken it. A low dose of it will pose no harm. Its good especially if one has a high risk of miscarriage.

[Teraz]

@Bisquick that’s fantastic news! Many congrats and hope the last few weeks flies by for you.
Bisquick many thanks for getting back. I am 14 weeks and the only plan is to have regular growth scan. I will try to call the hospital today but might not be possible as my husband is having an operation today so won’t have much time.

[MsJuniper]

I’ve taken 150mg aspirin on doctors’ advice since BFP due to recurrent miscarriage (also have the age & weight factors). Currently 21w. Are you sure the articles weren’t related to adult dose?

Really sorry that you were potentially put in danger Hannah but I read Utter’s comment to mean that what seems like box ticking can be helpful for some people and have reason behind it. Obviously they should also be ensuring their advice is safe for the individual.

[Bisquick]

@Teraz - congratulations on the pregnancy. What has your MW or consultant recommended for low PAPP-A? I don’t think researchers quite know what it means yet, but it being flagged is a good thing since it means you’ll be monitored more closely. I had low PAPP-A in my first pregnancy, but in the current pregnancy they didn’t test for it - just directly prescribed baby aspirin since that would have been done in either scenario. There are many women who’ve had low Papp-A and also had no other consequences from it.. so I wouldn’t worry about it excessively but just follow the care plan laid out by your doctor. How far along are you now? I’m nearly 36 weeks and just trying to stay calm and get through the next few weeks!

[Helbelle75]

I took it as i was having ny first baby over 40. No other issues. Dd is 7 months and bright as a button.

[ellesbellesxxx]

Twin pregnancy I was told at 20 weeks to start taking to lower risk of prem birth. I was told to stop taking it at 35 weeks (induced at 36+3)
Both my twins are absolutely fine and obviously I think they are incredibly clever too ;)

[eurochick]

I took it from conception until the day before my CS on the advice of my ivf clinic. It was standard there. My baby was IUGR and prem anyway due to placenta problems but who knows if they would have been worse without the aspirin.

[Teraz]

@Bisquick that was a very important piece of information you relayed there about the adult aspirin and baby aspirin. Thank you.
I am also very sorry for your losses. I have been told I have low Papp A and came across your story last night whilst reading about it. My heart goes out to you. I would appreciate if you have any advice on the low Papp A as I am terrified but understand if you don’t want to.
OP sorry to hijack your thread love. I hope all goes well with your pregnancy

[Jojopugh]

I had to have aspirin to help thinnen the blood travelling through my placenta to the baby as it wasn't working very well and she was little.

Physically she is fine. Still small for your 'average' three year old but she is growing.

Mentally she is a clever little poppet, the conversations we have are like talking to a 5 year old.

However she is a complete nightmare when she wants to be. If I tell her. It to do something she does it, she is hyper a lot of the time, etc. Nothing like my eldest..

I didn't realise there were any links to asprin and a child's disorder. I was more concerned about blood thinning I think.

[Bisquick]

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!

[choccoffeegeek]

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

[Thecomfortador]

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.

[Hannabee123]

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 🖒

[Hannabee123]

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 :/

[WhatKatyDidnt]

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.)

[BigBaboonBum]

@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

[dangle90]

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

[BigBaboonBum]

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

[WhatKatyDidnt]

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.

[0hCrepe]

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

[GlitterRollerSkate]

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