Aspirin in pregnancy

Should I take aspirin during pregnancy? – this question torments most expectant mothers, because in conditions when a woman is carrying a child, most of the usual medications can harm the fetus. The situation is further complicated by the fact that we are used to treating literally everything with this drug, from toothache to inflammatory processes.

[1], [2], [3]

Can you take aspirin during pregnancy?

Scientists from different countries have conducted more than one study in search of an answer to the question of whether aspirin is harmful during pregnancy. It should be noted that there is no clear answer to this question, because everything depends on each individual case, but almost all doctors are strongly against taking this drug without urgent need, since it can harm the unborn child.

Possible consequences of taking aspirin during pregnancy at normal doses:

• Miscarriage.
• Negative impact on the process of formation of the organs of the future child and, as a consequence, the development of heart and lung diseases.
• Post-term pregnancy.
• Negative impact on fetal growth.
• Placental abruption.
• Bleeding during childbirth.
• General complications of pregnancy and the health of the expectant mother.

Despite the fact that we are used to taking an aspirin tablet for almost any illness, we must remember that it is a strong and far from perfect drug that can cause various pathologies and diseases even in a healthy person:

• Renal and cardiac failure.
• Quincke's edema.
• Reye's syndrome.
• Inflammation of the stomach.
• Diarrhea.
• Skin rash.
• Bronchial spasms.
• Bleeding, etc.

[ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ]

Aspirin in early pregnancy

The fact that aspirin is contraindicated during pregnancy is, in general, obvious. But it must be said that it has a particularly harmful effect on the fetus in the early stages of pregnancy.

Using aspirin in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, when the organs of the future child are being formed, threatens the appearance of all sorts of fetal defects:

• Diaphragmatic hernia.
• Development of pulmonary hypertension.
• Problems with the interventricular septum of the myocardium (underdevelopment and defects).

It should be said that the harm from taking aspirin is obvious not only in the early stages of pregnancy, it can also cause a serious blow in the last months. Thus, the use of the drug in the third trimester of pregnancy threatens the expectant mother with bleeding during childbirth (due to the ability to clot blood) and hemorrhages in the newborn.

[ 7 ], [ 8 ]

Aspirin and Termination of Pregnancy

Unfortunately, the problem of terminating pregnancy at home is relevant in all countries. Women whose future motherhood is undesirable resort to various folk remedies, one of which is taking aspirin. Indeed, this drug has such an aggressive composition that the risk of miscarriage increases several times even in the case of a normal dosage for a healthy person.

Doctors have proven that the use of medications based on acetylsalicylic acid increases the risk of miscarriage by 80%, which is another stone in the balance against the use of aspirin during pregnancy.

[ 9 ], [ 10 ], [ 11 ], [ 12 ], [ 13 ], [ 14 ], [ 15 ]

Taking Aspirin During Pregnancy: Instructions

As mentioned earlier, taking aspirin during pregnancy is a dangerous procedure not only for the future baby, but also for the mother. However, there are cases in which the use of the drug in small doses is not only not harmful, but even beneficial for the health of the pregnant woman and the preservation of her fetus:

• With antiphospholipid syndrome - increased blood clotting, which provoked miscarriages in the past (prescribed to take ¼ tablet once every 24 hours). By the way, in order to avoid the use of dangerous drugs, doctors advise turning to folk remedies and eating healthy foods that thin the blood (carrots, kiwi, cranberries, beets).
• In case of varicose veins, aspirin is indicated in the same dosage. It should be noted that today there are completely safe drugs to prevent the consequences of this disease (for example, "Curantil").
• In preeclampsia - a severe form of late toxicosis, which is associated with high blood pressure.
• For rheumatic diseases.

It should be noted that no matter how serious the disease is, aspirin during pregnancy can only be prescribed by a doctor and always in tiny doses!

Remember that when you are preparing to become a mother, you are responsible not only for your health, but also for the life of your future child, so think twice before taking aspirin during pregnancy, even if you are suffering from severe pain.