Pregnancy, pre-eclampsia and Aspirin..? Help...decision to be made.

[fourlittlefeet]

My consultant has just suggested that taking a very small dose of aspirin may help prevent pre-eclampsia developing in this pregnancy (I am 18 wks and last time had severe PE, though as yet have no signs in this one).

I'm concerned as everything about pregnancy and aspirin seems to point to it causing miscarriage...

Has anyone had experience of this?

I'd talk through your concerns with your consultant and find out why its been prescribed.

FWIW I know people pescribed baby asprin as part of their IVF treatment so it can't be completely contraindicated in pregnancy.

its to increase blood flow in and around the placenta as PE is caused by clots in the placenta. I've done a bit of googling and it seems the thinking is sound but quite new. Thing is, I'd rather have PE and a baby than no PE and something go wrong with the placenta. Consultant has told me everything pretty much and its my choice. I will go to my GP for a second opinion too, was just wondering if anyone else had made this decision.

I decided not to take it and didn't get pe again, altho realise that is totally not scientific! I don't remember being told it would increase risk of miscarriage though? did your consultant say that? how did the stats balance up?

no, that was me over googling

Stats are that it can reduce PE in around 10% of cases, but its newish thinking and there were Lancet articles about it not necessarily helping/making a difference.

I had PE last pregnancy and BP is still high. I have been advised by consultant to take aspirin as soon as I find out I'm pregnant. I was reluctant but have since done some research and it is often taken to help prevent miscarriage. As I have had two miscarriages I have decided that I will take it (if I ever manage to get PG again!)

The amount is thatyou will be tkaing is far less than an ordinary dose of Asprin.

I had HELLP/severe pre-eclampsia and have had a pre conceptual counsellign appt with a consultant who specialises in PE. He advised that Asprin is a good idea. It may not prevent PE but it is, inmy opinion worth a try and will not harm your baby.

i have pre-existing hypertension & took (low dose) asprin in my 2nd pregnancy, until 36 weeks i think. i didn't develop PE in either pregnancy which given my risk factors (hypertension, diabetes) is frankly miraculous! i would give it a go if i were you, i suspect that if asprin does increase the risk of miscarriage it'll be in the 1st trimester & you're well past that now.

thanks; its good to hear from others in a similar situation. I did read about it being prescribed after miscarriages. I was just a bit scared when I looked up aspirin in pregnancy and saw that it could adversely affect your pregnancy. It is an extremely small dose however it will be every day for the next few months.

it was this article that started me doubting!

I was advised the same thing fourlittlefeet although through a private consultant appointment who told me to make an appt with my NHS consultant to discuss it.

Apparently, she said that the evidence showed that it did no harm at all and that it might help. She did also say though that pre-eclampsia occurs less in second pregnancies.

fantastic that it worked for you hoxtonchick! don't suppose that was from the royal london too? (my previous alias was BefnalBub)

would love to know your decision when you make it wheely...

Will let you know - although will be in a while. Am only 10 weeks ish (although didn't mean to out myself last night with this thread but was so not with it I clearly did - oh well) and not seeing MW until 30th who I will then need to persuade I need to see a consultant etc.

My gut feeling is that if a second consultant says to take it, I will. Although I didn't have bad pre-eclampsia in myself my dd had IUGR which was showing from 20 weeks. I only started showing classic signs once dd had stopped growing at about 36 weeks (up until then she'd been growing slowly).

Good luck !

no, the homerton. had 1st at st mary's. i would really recommend the homerton (esp for a high risk pg) if you're not happy at the london.

I had severe PE with ds and my consultant has recommended taking low dose aspirin in a second pg, starting at 11+6. I have seen other people advised differently about when to start, eg from beginning of pg. I will definitely be following my consultant's advice as he is an expert in the field of PE and I trust him to know more about it than me, no matter how much research I try to do! Like others have said, it is a much lower dose than normal aspirin which is contra-indicated during pg.

For me, PE was a horrible experience and I would do anything that gave me a chance of avoiding it and SCBU again.

Good luck!

I did consider the homerton, but the aftercare there is nearly as bad as the royal, who apparently are doing as much as they can to train the midwives to be 'kind'!!!

I think I probably will take it, am picking up my prescription today, as you say the consultants have a lot more experience...its just that we have a lot more to lose

aftercare is ropey anywhere in london... best to hightail it out of there ime.

there speaks the voice of wisdom! hence not wanting PE, was in there for 5 blardy days last time (and three on antinatal ward).

Was also told by consultant to take aspirin in my next pregnancy because of pe.

Congrats wheelbug. I remember you replying to my post on the preg board (about a year ago now - scarey) when I first found out my ds had IUGR. Good luck x

hopefully if you take the asprin you won't get PE & can bugger off out of there asap .