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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Risk factors for aspirin

33 replies

Gingernut1989 · 25/04/2025 15:40

I am pregnant with my third baby and just had a phone call to be told that because it has been over 10 years since my last pregnancy , my previous babies were apparently small for gestational age and my mum had pre eclampsia that I need to be taking aspirin daily.

I am 34 years old and 19 weeks pregnant. Blood pressure has always been fine at every check-up and I never had pre-eclampsia or pre-term births before. I am a healthy weight always have been. First born was 7lb 2oz 3 days early and second born was 6lb 12oz at 41 weeks. I asked how imperative this was and was told it is vitally important that I take it because I have moderate risk factors and I could have a still born if I do not.

Has anyone else had to take this when they themselves have never had pre eclampsia?

OP posts:
Original poster
Gingernut1989 · 26/04/2025 00:53

I'm just hoping if i get it tomorrow it'll be OK. Now I've got myself worried I'm starting too late so gone the opposite way !

OP posts:
mummybearsurrey · 26/04/2025 01:12

13 years ago I took aspirin in my pregnancy because my mum had PE with us.
it was a new thing so I was told to stop at 36w.

I suffered PE at full term. Induced. Stressful birth. Stressful first few months.

2nd child - 9y ago - I started aspirin and took it all the way through. No PE.

was it the aspirin or the 20kgs weight difference….. will never know!

Blue2020 · 26/04/2025 04:57

Gingernut1989 · 25/04/2025 22:50

That's interesting if it becomes like folic acid. It doesn't make you birth huge babies does it like the opposite of having a small for gestational age ? Haha or is that just me thinking daft ?

I think asprin is relatively safe in pregnancy, that much so it’s just like you said becoming a default in many cases.

I had preeclampsia in my first pregnancy, had DS at 35 weeks. In this pregnancy I took it from 13 weeks until 37 weeks of pregnancy. No preeclampsia this time. DD has just been born 7lb4oz. She measured around ~57th percentile on scans, but she’s actually somewhere between 25-50th percentile. HV said she’s 25th but the weight fluctuates around birth/just after so will see at 6weeks pp where she is.

heffalumpwoozle · 26/04/2025 07:37

I'm taking it with my first pregnancy simply because my cousin and mum both had preeclampsia.

It's really not a big deal to take aspirin for a few months. What harm do you think it's going to do?

heffalumpwoozle · 26/04/2025 07:43

Honest1988 · 25/04/2025 22:46

My LG is 1 year old now I was told to take Aspirin and never did. I told my midwife I done all my research and would not be forced into taking unneccesary medication just because I sit in a certain category. I had a perfect birth no issues whatsoever. Currently pregnant with my second and again when offered won't be taking it. Your Body Your Decision. I reccommend following The Naked Doula on instagram lots of helpful info reg any pregnancy related questions x

I doubt that anyone was trying to force you to take anything?

It's simply a recommendation based on medical evidence and research. You can take it or leave it, as can anyone who is pregnant, with any advice or interventions.

Everyone makes their choice and there's absolutely no need to demonise optional medication. Plenty of research shows that it helps with preeclampsia risk.

AliBaliBee1234 · 26/04/2025 08:19

I took asprin throughout because of a high risk pregnancy and it was the only pregnancy i've had that was successful. It improves the blood supply from the placenta.

I'm not aware there are any negative effects.

Dyra · 26/04/2025 10:39

CrispAppleStrudels · 25/04/2025 22:32

I was advised to take asprin in my first pregnancy. It was following my 12week scan where they identified that i had high pressure in one of my uterine arteries. I had no issues in that pregnancy except for high BP on the day I went into labour. Baby was born SGA though.

For DD2, despite all the above and being 3yrs older (37), I was not advised to take it. So I didn't and I did go on to develop preeclampsia. I personally wish I had just taken it anyway without being told to as having preeclampsia in pregnancy is now linked to increase risk of heart issues later in life, so it would have been good to avoid that. But obviously too late for that now.

I was on 19 different tablets a day at the point of giving birth to control my BP so you definitely don't want to end up like me!

The consultant who discharged me said that she thinks asprin in pregnancy will eventually become like folic acid - everyone will be advised to take a low dose and those with more risk factors will take a higher dose.

The consultant who discharged me said that she thinks aspirin in pregnancy will eventually become like folic acid - everyone will be advised to take a low dose and those with more risk factors will take a higher dose.

My midwife said something much to the same effect with my second. I hope it does. While I still developed pre-eclampsia in both pregnancies, I dread to think how severe it could have been without the aspirin.

OP, it's not too late. It'll help from the moment you start taking it. I don't think it makes giant babies though. Mine were large for gestational age, but I think that has more to do genetics than anything. They would have been about the same size as my sister's kids if they'd gone to 40+ weeks.

mummybearsurrey · 26/04/2025 14:08

And btw both my babies were on the smaller side of average - ie not huge and not tiny!!

I havent read of any downsides re use of aspirin in pregnancy yet but the risk of pre eclampsia was such that I thought it was well worth doing.

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