Prescribed aspirin by consultant

[Zing6]

Hi all,

I had an appointment with a consultant for having a high BMI at booking appointment and anyway long story short I've lost over half a stone, maybe more as I was very sick from 6-12 weeks. I can still now only eat very small meals and still sick once a day - I don't eat junk food all day long, my diet is ok - I mean it could always be better but it's okay IMO! My BMI is now just 0.9 over their cut off for referring me to the consultant - but they don't care about my weight now, they always go by the booking in figures apparently ugh.

So, my consultant yesterday made me out to be about 80 stone and the unhealthiest person on the planet who's ever been pregnant and told me I was at risk of all sorts, blood clots, pre-eclampsia, a big baby, a small baby, infections, drugs not working as well as they should in labour etc etc (I'm a size 14/16 and physically pretty fit and active). She even told me that "the heartbeat will probably be hard to find today because of your high bmi and it's still early on but I will try my best" - I laughed in disbelief and said the sonographer found it easily 4 weeks ago... So she tried and found it first time clear as a bell, what a miracle rolls eyes. I felt like sh*t when I got to work and had a little emotional breakdown feeling like a giant elephant but then pulled myself together and decided she was just extremely rude in the way she gave me her advice and the way she spoke to me.

ANYWAY, she's prescribed me one aspirin daily 75mg and practically told me off saying I should have been taking it from the moment I found out I was pregnant.... I've seen plenty of midwives and doctors since then and no one else has ever mentioned it and I'm 17 weeks now!!? Which I said, she looked at me like I'd just spat in her face while she told me this is standard procedure!

Yes I am overweight for my height but I'm a shortie and my BMI has ever told a good story even when I was skinny!!! I don't currently and have never had high blood pressure and I've never suffered a miscarriage and my understanding is that if you have a history of either then that's why they prescribe you it? I'm seeing my community midwife for the first time in 5 days so I am going to speak to her about it all before I start taking it.

I've been booked in for 3 additional growth scans too - which I'm calling a win as I get to see baby 3 more times.

I'm not adverse to taking doctors advice and will take it happily if it's necessary and will do more good than harm. I suffer with headaches anyway and have also just read that you shouldn't take aspirin with a headache? She told me it won't harm the baby at all but I have read some contradictions since yesterday AND the pharmacist told me he will dispense them to me but he whole heartedly doesn't agree with the way they seem to dish them out to pregnant women, so any personal experiences and opinions are appreciated! It's my first baby and I feel like I'm being corralled into decisions and limited in terms of birth plans already as I'm now not allowed to birth in a midwife led unit because of my high BMI ughhh!

:-(

Fanwithoutaguard I really appreciate you sharing your experience... that’s kind of where I was at at the beginning of this thread, all different opinions and wanted to try and do some more research. I think for me the possibility of all of the associated risks the consultant listed off, outweighs the possibility of a longer pregnancy. But I’d be interested to know more about what implications a longer pregnancy can cause? First time pregnancy over here!

Yeah for sure easternedge. I’m not gonna lie, it baffles me how I could be called morbidly obese though it honestly does and I’m not delusional or have rose tinted glasses on I know I’m over weight and of course weight is an emotive subject. But that’s bmi for you, athletes can be called morbidly obese if you go by bmi. My other half is classed as obese and he’s slim but has big solid legs from football and cycling. I’m not saying I’m not obese but it is a warped system and they really should just use it as a guide and use their eyes to look at a person, ask them how active they are, what they eat etc and then do a bit of judging lol. I will have a look for that pdf thank you!

Reading a few leaflets now. Really interesting and helpful thanks for the info!!

Aspirin in a low dose is safe during pregnancy and can reduce the risk of a number of issues. I took it till 34 weeks in my second pregnancy after having pre eclampsia in my first.

With regards to the way the consultant spoke to you, she should not have made you feel bad but she does have to explain the risks. In the nicest possible way, you sound very defensive about your weight. Being a G cup or short on its own does not make you obese. And I say that as someone who tried to convince herself for years that a lot of my weight was muscle because I do a lot of sports and weight training! It's also not to do with dress size really. I'm 5'8 and when I was a 14 my bmi was 29 so almost obese, and I really didn't look healthy. I was convinced I looked fine but I think because as a population so many people are overweight or obese we lose track of what's healthy.

Anyway it sounds like you are having a healthy pregnancy so congrats and enjoy it, and if there are things that you would like to use like the pool etc, hopefully you can still do that if other risk factors are low.

Oh and in terms of pre eclampsia risk, if you it's your first pregnancy that automatically means you are more likely to get it than someone who has already had a baby and not had it if that makes sense? So any other pre existing factors like high blood pressure/bmi are taken into account too.

Thanks guys, not defensive I know what I look like and how I feel, just my opinion about bmi tool and how it’s so structured around that and not an individual. And clearly p*ssed about the way she spoke to me more than anything haha as you can all probably tell. Everyone’s different with different opinions. I think my question about aspirin is answered anyway so I’m glad that’s more clear in my mind :-D I did see a grid earlier today that said if you have two or more of one column then you should take it or one of the other then you should take it. I’ll try and attach.

Hi Zing

We appear to be very similar in size, I was prescribed aspirin last year whilst pregnant with my first and referred to consultant led care. After my first appointment with the consultant he was happy for me to be moved back to Midwife led care and not be under the consultants, the midwife didn't agree with this and sent me back, I just ended up going back and forth all through my pregnancy tbh as I didn't really know any better lol! Anyway back to the point, I never took the aspirin as neither Midwife or consultant could give me a good explanation as to why I needed it, probably cos they couldn't agree what level of care I needed in hindsight lol! Maybe ask for some more information and go from there, im sorry you had a bad experience, they are not all like that and I know cos I saw bloody loads haha xx

Here

Thanks for your message pinklittle. That’s kind of how I felt, what with the midwife saying I’d see a consult once then be given back to her and then the consultant saying no way you’re mine now lol!!!! I don’t think I can get in touch with them now so it would have to wait until 26 weeks which I don’t want to be not taking it if I should be so I think I will start it xx

Yeah I got shown that grid too when I got prescribed it in my second pregnancy.
Despite the aspirin I actually did go on to develop pre eclampsia again, but it was post natal and milder so in my limited experience it did do something.

I know what you mean about bmi not being an exact tool, but I think for the population as a whole it's probably reasonably accurate in predicting risk. I'd hope that if an athlete turned up with a bmi of 38 they'd take that into account but you never know!

Yeah just do what's right for you chic :) good luck :) my little one is 6 months old today it's going too quick so enjoy the ride :) x

Anything over 30 bmi wise really is considered higher risk but some trusts go on 35. Mine was 38 at booking in and i am on aspirin and have been since bfp. I had a stillborn, no cause of death, and that was the advice from his post mortem for future pregnancies.

My understanding now though is anyone with a high bmi is recommended to take it so depending on trust it is either over 30 or 35. The same with the high dose folic acid.

Ive had no problems taking it and 20+3 today with a very healthy looking baby. Good luck.

Also I saw different consultants every time so hopefully you'll not have to see that one again and can have a more positive appointment.

Good luck to you all too! Yes my hospital goes on 35 so I’m still almost 1 point over according to bmi. I’m pleased I’m getting the extra monitoring - who wouldn’t be. I’m so sorry for your loss rarfy... so devastating but I’m glad you are having a good pregnancy so far. All good my end too no worries so far xxx

Hahaha I hope not too but if I do at least I know what to expect lol!!!

I completely understand where you are coming from. It is infantilising and unhelpful.
I lost almost 3st before becoming pregnant, I'm vegetarian, so have a reasonable diet but have my issues. The MW today asked me what my triggers are with food etc. I thought she was actually asking me genuinely to explain why I struggle with my weight, so I responded "anxiety disorders". She didn't even flinch and just talked over me about how bad pasta sauce is and how I should stop eating it. I don't even eat bloody pasta.

I'm also on aspirin btw, the main issue I have had is vomiting blood if I take it in the evening. It seems absolutely nobody gives a shit about this though and MW keeps saying its not the aspirin

Oh no Daisy, maybe we’reseeing the same consultant hahaha. My booking in midwife was really nice but I doubt I will see her again as my community midwife is more local to me but I’ve heard they’re lovely so fingers crossed. I wonder why it makes you vomit blood if you take it in the evenings?! I’m still being sick in the mornings so maybe I should take it in the day! Info overload lol!

My gums bleed loads when i brush on an evening not long after taking. Barely ever in the morning.

I bruise a lot too but like a peach now on aspirin. My thoughts were it makes a healthy flow of blood to the placenta so im happy enough taking. Wouldnt fancy a blood clot either so even better lol.

Thank you. Glad things are going well. Hope you get a better consultant next time and yes good to see more of baby

If you're a size 16 you're not fit. You can tell yourself you are, but you're not.

And I never understand when people say 'I'm overweight but I'm short' ... BMI is proportional to your height...

I actually think people can be fit at a size sixteen ... think Ashley graham ... Serena Williams also must be a 14 ish? No?

And how exactly does your comment relate to the op or this thread?

Sorry but that’s ludicrous, lemonysnicket. You can be fit whatever size you are. Thin people can be unfit and large people can be fit. And easternedge is right, irrelevant to my conversation. The whole thread was about aspirin and asking People’s thoughts and experiences and also having a bit of a rant which in hindsight wasn’t the greatest response from me but hey we all do it - I’m assuming that’s what you’re commenting on. If you feel that strongly maybe start your own thread about how all people over a size 8-10 must be unfit if that’s your prerogative here :-)

"She only prescribed me four weeks worth" you do realise you can buy aspirin over the counter for pennies? If your consultant wants you to take it then take it, but do us all a favour and buy it, don't expect it on a prescription .