Aspirin during pregnancy ...must I take this?

[Jazmin222]

I’m 13 weeks pregnant after IVF abroad. My midwife has recommended 75mg aspirin a day from week 12 to prevent pre-eclampsia. My risk factors being first time pregnancy and being over 40. Are others following this medical advice? I feel great atm, blood pressure is lower than normal (105/60) and so few pregnancy symptoms. Whilst I’m normally a massive rule follower - and would always follow medical advice - I don’t want to take anything that will cross the placenta and my instinct is saying there’s no need. My clinic abroad said they don’t normally do this but I should follow NHS advice as they are monitoring me more closely - can anyone else advise what decision they took please?

[Cook7786]

Interested to hear the response. At my 16 weeks midwife app a few days ago she asked if I was under consultation and taking aspiring because of the IVF. I hadn’t heard of this before. She called someone but nothing came of it?!

Congrats btw x

[Jazmin222 in reply to Cook7786]

Thank you! It’s suddenly feeling real and exciting now! Congrats to you as well .... your just a little ahead of me!! I’ll see what others think on here.... x

[dreams28]

Hi congrats on your pregnancy. I took asprin from transfer 75mg. My abroad clinic advised it. I was 36 and then 39/40 during these pregnancies. It gave me piece of mind and the dose is so low I was under the impression it does not harm baby. All the best in making your decision.

[Jazmin222 in reply to dreams28]

Thanks for your advice - that’s interesting you got this advice abroad too. It’s obviously a precaution of some sort.

[CLDxxx]

Hey lovely.

I take 75mg as I’m on blood pressure meds (mines high) and was told not to stop taking it unless advised otherwise. I totally get why you’re questioning but think if you’ve been advised to then you should take it but no harm getting a 2nd opinion at your drs xxx

[Jazmin222 in reply to CLDxxx]

Hi Sweetie,

Thanks I know following doctors advice is always the way to go - I guess the risks of preeclampsia are not worthy it!! I will get some today.... seems to be a bit of a theme emerging on this post!xxx

[CLDxxx in reply to Jazmin222]

Ah yes it’s interesting to read others reasons for it! Xxx

[Shinyhalo1]

Hi,

I fell pregnant on my second round of IVF at 38. Everything went perfectly until week 12 when I started to bleed. They couldn’t find why and I went on to bleed for about 3-4 weeks on and off. At my 20 weeks scan I was advised my placenta is low lying which could have been why I bled. But the midwife asked why I wasn’t under a consultant?? No one had mentioned anything about this not my doctor, nor my midwife. But apparently if you are having an iVF baby you should see a consultant at least once.

Anyway I went to see the consultant who isn’t too worried about me to be honest, he’s rescheduled another scan for 36 weeks and advised me to take 75mg aspirin each day but that’s because I have diabetes in my family and to decrease my chance of pre-eclampsia. If my placenta hasn’t moved by week 36 I’ll be booking in for a C-Section. He also advised that I probably shouldn’t go over my due date as the risk of still birth is much higher for IVf babies (which I didn’t know and shocked me a bit). It was good to see him to be fair and I feel very safe and well taking the aspirin but at the time I wasn’t happy about putting meds in to my system.

From my experience and being on this chat room there’s lots of advice given at all different times of your pregnancy which can be confusing; but all we can do is trust in our advisors 😘

[Jazmin222 in reply to Shinyhalo1]

Gosh that bleeding at 12 weeks must have been scary! I’ve also been told they won’t let me go over my due date ... the midwife said that was due to age .... but the still birth is something I hadn’t realised either! I feel I probably should follow advice as they wouldn’t deliberately set out to cause harm - I’ve just been so pleased to stop all the IVF meds and really feel good right now - with my own body taking over! 😊 I have a consultant in this country (who did the scans) so I might ping him an email as he’s so knowledgeable on everything! Or probably just do as I’m told!!! Thanks x

[Hidden]

I have been told that over 40 you take aspirin throughout the pregnancy, better safe than sorry I guess when something has been so long fought for - massive congrats for your pregnancy x

[Jazmin222 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Daisy! I know you’re right and it has been a struggle to get here ... so not worth introducing any further risks!xx

[ttcemmie]

Hi Jazmin. Congrats on the pregnancy!!! Just from my own experience: I was pregnant last year and had a missed miscarriage. With this round of IVF, my clinic have prescribed me aspirin as well as some sort of injectable aspirin-like drug to thin the blood. The explanation they have given me was that this will make it easier for oxygen and nutrients to get to the baby. I am very happy to take this if I get pregnant! However, if NHS are worried about pre-eclampsia, that's even more serious!

[Jazmin222 in reply to ttcemmie]

I’m so sorry to hear about your missed miscarriage and really hope this time all goes well!! I hadn’t heard of the oxygen/nutrients reason that’s really interesting. I think the midwife said something about blood getting ‘stickier’ in pregnancy and aspirin will help thin the blood. I know someone that developed full blown HELLP syndrome and her liver ruptured due to thrombosis/high blood pressure ... which was almost life threatening at the time ....so I know it’s not something to treat lightly! I think I’ve been convinced this morning ..... thank you all for the knowledge shared! X

[Emmaxxx]

I am taking it and have been since before IVF. I would take it. It’s better than running the risk of anything happening x

[Mystic9]

Your risk factors for pre eclampsia are being first pregnancy and being 40 or over, not the ivf. Anyone with more than one risk factor should be offered low dose aspirin from 12 weeks, there is good evidence to support that it lowers the chance of pre eclampsia (which usually develops towards the end of pregnancy). The risks of pre eclampsia far outweigh any small potential risk of aspirin so follow your midwife or doctor's advice.

Different nhs trusts will have their own guidelines on whether women with ivf pregnancy need to see a consultant or stay midwife led care. National guidance generally says to treat as normal, unless there are other risk factors (BMI, age, multiple pregnancy, low lying placenta, pre existing medical conditions).

Same goes for induction of labour, please ask for the latest evidence to support decision making around inducing labour at term, as ivf as a single risk factor shouldn't be a reason (but age over 40 is). I am a midwife and find that doctors vary in their advice about induction, and as new research is published guidance will change. If you are ever unsure have a read on NICE and RCOG which are national bodies, to see what the current research states.

Hope this explanation helps a few people.

X

[Jazmin222 in reply to Mystic9]

This is so helpful for clarifying the facts from the myths! My first midwife appointment there was so much to get through you find yourself a bit bamboozled!! (I was equally unclear on the screening tests and told to read a leaflet!) Really so useful .... thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping us al! 😊👍

[Afrohair]

I know it’s worrying you but low dose aspirin is not enough to damage your baby it can only help with blood flow people take them for blood clotting and so it flows correctly around your body so it’s really not damaging your baby at all or your placenta

[Vicky-01]

I was advised to take asprin at my 8 week booking in appointment and continued to take it until birth.

[Sazzysah]

Hi

I am over 40 and I was given the same advice due to risk factors I took aspirin throughout my pregnancy . Baby is healthy and the aspirin didn’t cause me any issues. Good luck with your pregnancy.

[londonrc]

My midwife and obstetrician advised that I take 150mg of aspirin. Again over 40 and risk of pre- eclampsia which sounds to scary to think about.

I was on 75mg anyway as my ivf clinic had advised it too. Compared to all the drugs we have been taking for ivf and it worked a small dose of aspirin won’t hurt. I would listen to the medical professionals looking after you to be safe. All the best!

[Bluelady-sing]

Should we all do this ?75mgs of asprin

[Jazmin222]

Thanks Londonrc, whilst I didn’t want to take it initially, I did - and when I had an appointment with an obstetrician (around 16 weeks) she immediately doubled it to 150mg - so I’m doing the same as you!! Baby looked very healthy - everything normal at 21 weeks - so it was the right advice to follow!! (I’ve also had to take antiobios for a UTI I didn’t know I had so I’m getting used to taking medication even when pregnant and when I must!)

[Jazmin222]

Hi Bluelady-sing, I think it’s only if you are at risk of preeclampsia (not linked to ivf per se) just if you fall into specific risk category: ie over 40, have a family history of preeclampsia, if its a multiple pregnancy, existing high blood pressure, etc. (see advice from Mystic9 above on this thread - she’s a midwife and knows!)