New report says low-dose aspirin could prevent this pregnancy complication

A new guide highlights research showing that low-dose aspirin can decrease the risk of pre-eclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy complication, yet few women — particularly those highly susceptible to the condition — are taking it.

Key Takeaways:

• A March of Dimes guide has been released, instructing doctors on how to best educate patients susceptible to pre-eclampsia about the benefits of taking low-dose aspirin during pregnancy.

• Research indicates a 15% decrease in pre-eclampsia risk (and a 20% decrease in other specified risks) with the use of low-dose aspirin. High dose aspirin is generally not recommended due to various risks from the drug during pregnancy.

The Details:

A report from NBC News stated:

Last week, the March of Dimes, a nonprofit research and advocacy group focused on maternal and infant health... [said] it may be “medically reasonable” for some medical practices to offer all of their pregnant patients the drug.

The move could pave the way for more doctors to recommend low-dose aspirin to all of their pregnant patients, much as they do already with prenatal vitamins.

Pre-eclampsia, a leading cause of death among mothers and babies, affects about 1 in every 25 pregnancies in the U.S. Black mothers and women with high blood pressure or diabetes, or who are 35 or older, among other factors, are at increased risk.

Rates of the disease have climbed 25% in the last two decades in the United States, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation.

Pre-eclampsia is a condition characterized by high blood pressure that could give rise to organ damage and complications like seizures or premature birth.

MOD pointed out that clinical trials examining the use of low-dose aspiring during pregnancy have shown a 15% reduction in pre-eclampsia risk along with a 20% reduction in preterm births and "perinatal mortality — death of a fetus late in pregnancy or a baby in the first week of life."

While some obstetricians praised the new March of Dimes report, declaring that the guide could reduce the rates of pre-eclampsia (given that many doctors are still not recommending low-dose aspirin to their at-risk patients), others are concerned that recommending low-dose aspirin for all expectant mothers might not be the best idea.

The Mayo Clinic notes on its website that distinguishing the difference between low-dose aspirin (often referred to as baby aspirin) and high-dose aspirin (which is risky during pregnancy) is extremely important.:

Your healthcare professional... might suggest that you take low-dose aspirin if you've had several miscarriages or other pregnancy loss, or if you're pregnant with more than one unborn baby....

If you have kidney disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, you may need to take low-dose aspirin during pregnancy. The typical low-dose aspirin you can buy without a prescription is 81 milligrams. Talk with your healthcare professional about the dose of aspirin that's right for your situation.

Taking higher doses of aspirin may have risks depending on the stage of pregnancy....

Both the US Preventive Services Task Force and the pro-abortion American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians have recommended low-dose aspirin for patients at risk of pre-eclampsia.

The Bottom Line:

It is important for pregnant mothers to be vigilant in educating and advocating for themselves if they know they are at risk of pre-eclampsia or have pre-existing conditions. Finding physicians who will listen to women's concerns could mean the difference between life and death — for them and their preborn babies.