Low dose aspirin - when to take?

[Diorissimo1985]

Also posted this in Conception in the hope of some advice please.

I have had two consecutive miscarriages this year so far, and already have one DD who we conceived with no problems. GP and gynae aren't really sure why I've had two miscarriages back to back - could be really bad luck or possibly linked to my rheumatoid arthritis and the autoimmune condition is the cause of the miscarriages. I'm awaiting referrals to rheumatology but I don't feel this will lead anywhere productive and I need to have three losses to get a referral to the RMC... so I feel at a bit of dead end.

I aware some women who have suffered recurrent miscarriage have taken low dose aspirin and gone on to have successful pregnancies. I asked my GP about this today and she was pretty clueless about it and said if I want to buy some over the counter it wouldn't do any harm. She wouldn't really give any more guidance. I also asked the same question to my gynaecologist and she said it might be worth doing but only from around 8 weeks. I never got to 8 weeks with either miscarriage so I feel that is too late to make any difference.

So, ladies who have taken aspirin in pregnancy - what made you decide to take it and crucially when did you start? I am currently about 3 or 4 dpo so I hope to decide what to do soon.

Thanks so much in advance.

[Diorissimo1985]

Hopeful bump

[Pea1984]

I’m certainly not qualified to offer advice but I can tell you my experience. I had a mmc in 2018 and struggled to get pregnant since until March this year. I had just been referred to the fertility clinic but fell pregnant before my first appointment. For no real reason, other than bad circulation, I was convinced the miscarriage was caused by a blood flow problem but who knows? I had researched lots and decided to start taking aspirin 75mg as soon as I found out I was pregnant and so far so good (now 15 weeks). I mentioned it to the midwife at my booking in appointment and she said it was a wonder drug for some people and certainly won’t do any harm. I hope that helps a little.

[ExtraPineapple]

I was advised to take it from the time I got a positive test. I'd had two consecutive miscarriages (no successful pregnancies) and am now 29 weeks :) I've been told to continue until 36 weeks. Good luck

[Diorissimo1985]

Thank you both - so that’s two votes for starting to take it from when you get a bfp!

[fool11]

I started at 8w, recommended by a consultant, ivf baby. I take 75mg in the evening. Had MMC 2y ago. They recommend a low dosage for all 40+y old. My GP and also midwife didn’t have a clue...currently nearly 35w..Good luck.

[WeeDinah]

Iv had 8 MC in total, I'm now 31 weeks with my precious little boy. The midwife and doctor told me at 8 weeks that I had to start taking aspirin but not until i reached 12 weeks in my pregnancy. I actually tried to get back off it about 17 weeks as I was getting really bad stomach pains but the doctor said I had to take it until the end of pregnancy and he prescribed me with omeprazole and iv had no pains since. I dont know if this helps but I was strictly instructed not to do so before I reached the 12th week.

[Aria2015]

I took from TTC all the way through. I'd read that it helps increase bloodflow to the uterus. I have read about women taking it from BFP also though. My midwife and consultant have both said to take it at night, before bed though. I was just taking it in the day with my vitamins but they said that studies have shown it to be more affective when taken before bed so I switched to that once they told me. So whenever you choose to start taking it from, I'd definitely take it at night. Good luck!

[user1500241218]

We have had IVF treatment and l was recommended aspirin because of this and due to low Papp A. I take 150mg each day with my vitamins. I am now 36 weeks. Not sure whether it's helped with healthy pregnancy but worth a try as it hasn't done any harm. Good luck!

[bee222]

I was under the cate of the recurring miscarriage clinic. My consultant and gp both said to start taking it as soon as I get a positive test. When I had my booking in appointment my midwife said she would have told me to start taking it immediately if I wasn’t already. The consultant said there has never been a peer reviewed study that proves it works, but it it won’t harm trying. I’m currently 15 weeks and so far everything is going well.

[LittleMissSunshine2020]

I seem to be a little different to the other posters. I have a low risk clotting condition and was advised to start taking 75mg aspirin when TTC following a chemical pregnancy. I fell pregnant in my next cycle and was told to increase the dosage to 150mg after 10 weeks (I think).

[RunnerGirl123]

My gynae consultant told me to start taking from day of BFP. I also take it in the evening between dinner and bedtime.

So sorry to hear about your losses. Wishing you all the best for the future.

[Diorissimo1985]

Thanks all - really appreciate it. I bought some 75mg aspirin this morning and I plan to take it as soon as I get a bfp (fx) .... I seem to fall pregnant very easily but can’t seem to hang on to them

[futuredreams]

I've been prescribed them from 12 weeks now. I had three previous miscarriages. I also took progesterone pessaries from BFP to 16 weeks. And I'm now 21 weeks with my first baby. Good luck with everything. Xxxx

[Diorissimo1985]

Thanks @futuredreams so sorry that you’ve suffered multiple losses. Did you find out a reason? Were you prescribed the progesterone or did you ask for it?

[chubbyhotchoc]

I took it after ovulation

[futuredreams]

@diorissimo1985 thanks. It was tough going. No I met with a consultant who ran a number of tests. I think maybe 9 blood tests and an exam and nothing showed anything wrong. At the time a new study had been done I think it's called the prism study where they tested progesterone on women who have had miscarriages and although it didn't show a markable difference to people who had one it showed a big spike in women who have had multiple that it worked.

I would float the idea with your GP to see if it might be a possibility for you. I wish I had known about it after my second. The hospital will only refer for tests after three but it's worth asking about the progesterone alone. Xxx

[Elouera]

Sorry for your loss. I've just had my 3rd MC, no kids and awaiting seeing the recurrent MC clinic. I was prescribed 75mg aspirin in my last pregnancy once I had the BFP. I'm over 40, this one is IVF and BMI in overweight category. I've since been told by 2, separate consultants that aspirin only starts from 12 weeks. That is, unless you've had detailed blood tests to prove you have a clotting disorder that is preventing implantation. Apparently the aspirin is to help prevent high blood pressure (pre-eclampia) in older/overweight pregnant ladies, more than anything else. The only clause is IF you have a proven clotting issue.

[Smurf123]

I had 3 mmc prior to my ds who is now 2 . I went private with ds pregnancy as I still hadn't been seen by rmc and was a nervous wreck. Consultant said to take it straight away from positive test. My gp had done all the blood tests and they didn't show the clotting disorder but consultant says the test is really unreliable and ideally should be done when pregnant (but they won't do it then) as otherwise the results are skewed.
I took 75mg aspiring as soon as I found out about 5 weeks until the weekend before I had ds - about 36 weeks.
Placenta was starting to fail ds movements were reduced and ds was born after induction at exactly 37 weeks weighing only 5lb 2 .. he obviously hadn't grown in a while. He did need some nicu care for a week but he's now a thriving 2.5 year old. Consultant did say at my 6 week post partum check though that she thinks the 75mg aspirin did it's Job getting the pregnancy as far as it got but that next time she would recommend I take 150mg.
I was 27 and a slim size 6/8 when pregnant with ds so no reason otherwise for the aspirin other than that they say it certainly wouldn't hurt and might (did) help

[Diorissimo1985]

Thank you both. I haven’t had the blood clotting test yet. To be honest I suspect I have natural killer cells (not tested or proven - just a weird gut feeling I have) so I’m not even sure aspirin would help me, but I’m willing to try anything to be honest x

[Angel2702]

I used to start taking baby aspirin from start of 2ww.

[chubbyhotchoc]

@Diorissimo1985 I've read a bit about natural killer cells and there may be something in it. When I was ttc seven years ago I had 5 miscarriages and then fell pregnant with my dd in February. Didn't ttc until last year and had another miscarriage around the time of year I'd lost the others. I then didn't get pregnant again until this February -same time of year as my dd. From what I've read with natural killer cells they cycle and you just need to hit the right time.

[Pinkpaintlover]

I also took once had bfp. Progesterone is def a cause of some miscarriages. Worth asking about as stated earlier.
Hopefully this will help you and you’ll have good news soon

[Diorissimo1985]

@chubbyhotchoc that’s very interesting! Had no idea about that