What would you do would you take the Aspirin?
So a bit of history my first pregnancy was smooth no issues at all until birth when during labour I got an acute kidney injury they believe from the baby kicking me and I had a medium sized hemmorage during birth. Nothing has changed since then and have been under a kidney consultant just to monitor things and things look back to normal (will monitor through pregnancy). During my first midwife appointment at 8 weeks she said I was very low risk pregnancy and I could stop folic acid at 12 weeks and I did NOT have to take aspirin. Well my 16 week appointment happened yesterday but I had it at 18 weeks due to her being on leave and I asked was the consultant appointment after my 20 week scan because of my kidneys so she looked through my file and found a letter from a consultant from 1.5 years ago saying I should take aspirin if pregnant due to a Very slightly raised BMI (same as first pregnancy but never told to take it first time and had 0 issues) so she said "oh you need to take aspirin for high blood pressure from 12 weeks" I said I've never had high blood pressure she then proceeded to take my blood pressure and it was in fact low not even in normal range and she just said oh yeah it's low not high. Looking at the NHS online they say aspirin can damage your kidneys and not only that they say it's not effective after 16 weeks and I hemmoraged at my last birth. With all of that information would you take the Aspirin?
Reminder I was only told at 18 nearly 19 weeks to take it.
The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.
Learn more about our guidelines.
I’d get a second opinion just to be cautious (which is what I did). The baby aspirin they prescribe is a lower dose amount than normal so are linked to less risks than the normal dose, it may or may not help lower risk of developing preeclampsia (they offer it when your BMI is above 30 at your booking appointment or if you are flagged as having other risks). For peace of mind I’d call your GP or midwife and explain your circumstances and see what advice they give.
This is the confusing part it was never mentioned at my booking appointment she said I was low risk and there was no need to prescribe aspirin. If I hadn't asked what the consultant appointment was for after my 20 weeks scan she would never of found this old letter and said about the aspirin. If it's in effective after 16 weeks and I'm nearly 19 weeks I don't want to thin my blood when I hemmoraged before and I have low blood pressure not high blood pressure. My experience this time around with the NHS has unfortunately been quite different and left more questions and confusion than reassurance this pregnancy as this isn't the first contradictory thing they've said
I would absolutely get a second opinion especially if your BP is low 🙈
From my understanding aspirin is advised from 12-36 weeks to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia..
I’m 36 expecting my 1st child and my BMI is above 30 so I was advised at booking to start aspirin at 12 weeks as I was considered moderate risk due to age & BMI…
I was very sceptical so I looked into it.. I work in a hospital so I can check my BP at anytime but have always had normal BP actually runs on the lower side of normal.
I did start taking it at 13 weeks and have had no issues to date - now 17 weeks but my advice would be if you don’t feel comfortable taking it don’t… speak to the Dr or consultant again
can I ask if you’re thinking of continuing with aspirin?
I would ask your community midwife if you can & see what they advise? Did they do your BP again with it being low to check it was a reliable reading?
that was the community midwife who said all of this. No but every time I've ever had a blood pressure reading in this pregnancy and in general it's always on the low side or low so it's normal my mum and maternal grandmother also for their whole lives had low blood pressure I've been told before it's genetic on my maternal line
Sorry I didn’t realise, that’s really tricky then. Have you any appointments coming up soon that you could ask them?
not until the 20 weeks scan in 2 weeks. It's just strange if I hadn't of asked she wouldn't of seen this old note from a consultant about Aspirin and nothing at all would of been mentioned
yes.. as I’ve not had issues or side effects since I’ve been taking them and its because its said to reduce the risk of developing pre-eclampsia therefore I’m happy to continue.
Also the recommendations advice aspirin be taken for chronic kidney disease does not mention anything about acute kidney injury… chronic is a long term condition acute is short term therefore you most likely don’t need to take aspirin but I would definitely speak to the consultant..
https://www.esht.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/0925.pdf
Download the Peanut App
