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!

:-(

Wow viwues, no need for the rude remark thank you. Up until yesterday I didn’t have a clue about aspirin in pregnancy, I didn’t know if it was normal aspirin or a different measure to what you can get over the counter. She didn’t tell me I could buy it over the counter and handed me the prescription which I assumed would be a load for the whole pregnancy. It wasn’t it was one box and I instantly asked if it was the same I can buy in big packs from the supermarket and the answer was yes. I’m not some sort of scrounger who Wants everything for nothing.

Blimey some of you lot are very judgemental - I wasn’t expecting that, thought this was a judgement free zone to help each other. Don’t think I’ll bother asking for advice on here next time
Thanks to those who have helped and supported but I’ll not be commenting again, I think I have my answer anyway, thank you xxx

well sorry if you took offence, but it is one of the things that really pisses me off about the way people use the NHS, by redeeming expensive prescriptions for cheap over the counter medications. I know in itself it won't solve the NHS funding problems, but it is indicative of the way people see it as a free resource funded by magic.

My BMI was 30 at booking in. They acted like they were going to have to hire a JCB for specialist lifting gear. like you though I saw the positive in being consultant-led and felt quite lucky to be receiving such good care.

Fwiw Sophie Ellis-baxter had pre-eclampsia 3(4?) Times... Nobody ever called her tubby!

@easternedge, it was quite thorough but it wasn't given to me until 16 weeks and not accompanied by any other support. I also don't think it mentions aspirin? To me it read like a list of risks but then also said you can't do much once you're pregnant - seemed a bit pointless!

@zing6 I'm sure it's online somewhere, but prepare for it to make you feel worse! And I think pretty much every consultant could do with some training on people skills! That said, the one who did my ECV was wonderful!

I've got a bmi of 44. Yoyo dieter my whole life and I know I'm fat and I'm miserable about it.
But I was under the impression the aspirin makes the blood easier to pump through the placenta so feeds baby better and keeps them healthier.