Aspirin to prevent preeclampsia

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Hi all,

I’ve just had my first midwife appt at 6+5 and as my mum had preeclampsia with me and it’s my first pregnancy, the midwife has suggested I take daily aspirin from weeks 8 to 34 as a precaution. She did however say that it is unlicensed in pregnancy so emphasised that it is our decision to make.

Has anyone had any experience of this? Will do some reading up but first-hand experiences would be great.

Thank you!

Hi OP, I'm taking daily aspirin as my risk for PE was considered high enough. This is DC4 and I had hypertension with DC1, though the risk was calculated on my bloodwork as well. I'm also in central Europe with very good antenatal care so I trust the doctor's advice, it's very much the norm here to take it.

I'm also to take it until 34 weeks. I'm feeling no different by taking it, tbh I've got to 27 weeks now and not been feeling too bad!

This was not suggested to me, even though like you my mum also had pre eclampsia.

I got pre eclampsia, had to have weekly scans from 28 weeks with a scare at 33 weeks that she need to come out, we managed to monitor until 36 weeks then called it a day and had a c section at 37 weeks as my placenta had began to fail more rapidly.

If I’d been told about the aspirin I would have done it. But yes, it’s your decision to make. It’s a drug, nothing proven to say it’s safe to take in pregnancy- does that for you outweigh the risk of pre eclampsia?

Good luck, sending best wishes for a healthy happy pregnancy and baby!

I was prescribed aspirin for exactly the same reasons as you (although the script said until delivery, not until 34 weeks, and that’s how long I took it for). My BP was never a concern throughout the pregnancy.

I did a lot of googling because aspirin is contraindicated in pregnancy and had a look at a couple of Cochrane reviews - they’re the best source of evidence, really.

My risk factor for pre-eclampsia was BMI. I was advised to take 75mg aspirin once a day from about 12 weeks (late booking appointment) until 34 weeks, which I did. Still developed pre-eclampsia anyway.

Aspirin is commonly used in pregnancy, I was screened by my midwife as well. The NICE guidelines are often worth googling - they give a good summary of the evidence

Very common. I have twins, I was put on low dose aspirin early on as were all the other twin mums I know, as twins increases the risk of pre eclampsia

I’m in exactly the same position - first baby, mum had pre eclampsia. I’ve taken the daily dose of 75mg since 12 weeks (now almost 23 weeks). They’re recommending I take it and so did the consultant I saw so there’s no reason I wouldn’t, they wouldn’t advise it if they didn’t think it was beneficial.

Thank you everyone, really reassuring to hear your takes on it. We have a week or so until we have to decide so will chat to my husband over the next few days. Thank you again, it’s really appreciated xx

I'm on my second pregnancy and am high risk.
Took 75mg if Asprin from 12 weeks until birth with my first and am doing the same now (30 weeks) it didn't cause any problems for me and I didn't get preeclampsia with my first and have no signs of it this time either, although by blood pressure was extremely high after my first birth and I had to stay in hospital for 5 days afterwards and took blood pressure tablets for a while.