When did you start taking aspirin?

[K2012]

Hi
when did you start taking aspirin and for how long? Was it 75mg or 150mg?

Thank you in advance.

At the beginning of mine and it was 150 so two 75g

At around 4 months 150mg but apparently it should have started earlier but nobody realised to tell me.

My trust said 10 weeks but I think the usual NHS guideline is 12 weeks.

2x 75mg in the evening after eating

With my first, when I was told to at my booking appointment. So about 11 weeks. It was 75mg as that was the guidance at the time.

With my second, from BFP. I knew I was going to need to take it as I had had pre-eclampsia with my first. I pre-empted being told to take it, as I find it hard to get into the rhythm of taking regular medication, and wanted to get into the habit of taking it with antenatal vitamins and vitamin D supplement. I took 150mg as that was the new guidance. Still got pre-eclampsia anyway, so... shrug

@K2012 i was pregnant with twins so that’s why I started at the beginning took mine every morning with pregnacare and vit d and folic acid

I started at 12weeks with 150mg

About 14 weeks advised by obstetrician. (I'm 42). 150mg per day.

Was advised not to start taking it earlier.

From 12 weeks - 150mg

Midwife recommended 150mg from 12 weeks until 35 when I went to my booking appointment, said I'd be contacted by GP who would make final decision if I needed to or not. I wasn't contacted. Went to 12 week scan and didn't see anyone other than sonographer, so called the GP and asked if I needed to take.

Got basically an 'oh shit' response. I'd been sat on a list of people to call for over 5 weeks and they just forgot about me. I went out and bought myself some anyway while they sorted their mess out and officially prescribed me some at 14 weeks. Consultants have since advised me to continue taking until birth. If I hadn't been on the ball and called I wouldn't have been prescribed any until 20 week scan, which really pissed the consultant off.

Can I ask what the reason is for taking it?

It's not something I've been advised to take, but reading this thread I am asked at each midwife appointment if I am taking aspirin, and I say no, and they just write that down.

Should I be?

I'd like to know too, @Havanalily1806
I've had my first, who is now a toddler - never took it. I'd like to know for when I have my second!

@Havanalily1806 I'm wondering the same. I have a 1yr old & never took it. Can’t remember ever being told to take it either.

Also wondering the reasoning?
I've had 2 babies and nobody has ever mentioned aspirin

It's supposed to help prevent pre-eclampsia. You are advised to take it if you meet certain criteria.

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/low-dose-aspirin-in-pregnancy-to-prevent-pre-eclampsia#:~:text=You%20should%20start%20taking%20low,aspirin%20with%20food%2C%20every%20evening.

I started taking 150mg at 16 weeks when I had a consultant appt due to high BMI. Apparently I should of started taking it at 12 weeks but no one told me until I saw the consultant later on 🤷🏼‍♀️

@FlyingHighFlyingLow

That's really helpful thank you!

I don't hit the high or moderate risk so that explains why I've never been told to.

Good to know though, I meant to ask at my last appointment and completely forgot

I was told to take it because I had low levels of Papp-a which can be associated with low birth weight. I believe that aspirin is supposed to make it easier for blood to flow through the placenta and therefore potentially offset any degradation in placental function as you progress through your pregnancy. I’m now on my 2nd pregnancy and aspirin was not recommended despite me having extra scans etc. so it’s dependant on which Trust you’re in and there doesn’t seem to be a settled view on whether it helps or not.

Ah - that’s interesting, thanks for sharing. I was advised to take it for a different reason (see prev post).

@Havanalily1806 it's not just pre-eclampsia, there are a range of other reasons to take it, either to do with previous pregnancy problems or health indications. Basically it's sort of related to improving function of the placenta. I've just been advised to start at 14 weeks as my first child was borderline small for gestational age (9th centile).

https://www.esht.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/0925.pdf

Yes, it also says in the link it may also be recommended in other situations, and includes low PAPPA-A. For me it's first baby and family history!

I've been advised to take it due to high BP with both previous pregnancies