Baby Aspirin- Can it be bad?

[Anonymous]

I recently completed a succesful IVF cycle at SG. I took aspirin because even though SG has amended their protocol to not include it anymore, one of the other fertility specialists with whom I consulted (CFA) originally suggested it might work for me -- and the SG docs had no real objections. My situation is that I had had symptoms and bloodwork that were suggestive of autoimmune disorders-- although that bloodwork came out negative right before my successful cycle.

My OB, SG, and rheumatologist (so a lot of doctors!) have commented that baby aspirin is no longer part of their protocol but I am getting the feeling they are not really tailoring their answer to ME. Given that I had originally received advice to take it, and how hard it was to conceive I'm hesitant to stop, especially now that I am finally pregnant (9 weeks). In fact, I STOPPED taking it for one day and I had some weird (autoimmune) symptoms (which basically amounted to feeling slightly sick-- not morning sickness-- and could have been a total coincidence).

My question is: is there any harm in continuing to take it?

I hope it's okay to post on this board; I would really like the advice of someone who has "been there done that."

[Anonymous]

Did SG just make that change? I did a cycle there earlier this year and they were still using it. I would check with your OB about continuing it based on what recently happened to you, but from what I understand, it's safe to take up through about 34 weeks of pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP again. Apparently they reviewed the literature this summer and decided against routinely recommending it as it doesn't make a difference.

Thanks for the advice.

[Anonymous]

I'd go with your gut. I took it after a LOT of miscarriages and had a successful pregnancy, and feel in my gut that it was the aspirin. (I also realize that will not be the case for everyone...)

[Anonymous]

15:57 - did you take it all the way through? (and congrats on your baby!)

[Anonymous]

This is the OP. Thank you again for all the advice. I've really had a gut feeling like the aspirin is what finally helped get me pregnant (well, IVF helped too), and I've been worried about stopping (and I'm early, so there's no need yet).

[Anonymous]

I took it through IVF and then through a successful pregnancy. I stopped 1 week before my scheduled c-section. At the time it was part of the protocol. Once I was transferred to the high risk OB she had me continue as a precaution. She said it wouldn't hurt anything and I had some autoimmune problems in the past although was testing negative for everything at the time of the pregnancy.

It's been several years since then and I just found out that I have two clotting disorders. My hematologist told me that if I ever get pregnant again I will need to be on lovenox injections through the pregnancy. He also speculated that the precautionary aspirin that I took during my last pregnancy quite possibly saved my child's life.

If you want to take it just tell your doctors that's what you plan to do. They need to know about it although they may tell you they don't think it's necessary they probably won't object if you feel strongly about it.

[Anonymous]

baby aspirin is safe. the latest study just questioned how many people it worked for vs. not. You may be in the smaller category of "worked for". Thus while they may not generally recommend it, that doesn't mean this blanket conclusion applies to you. I'd do it.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all so much. 13:!7, I really wonder if our scenarios may be similar and I appreciate your sharing the details.

[Anonymous]

I am a patient as SG and am right now in my first IVF cycle. I just did the egg retrieval Sunday morning. I have been taking the baby aspirin for a while now on this protocol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all so much. 13:!7, I really wonder if our scenarios may be similar and I appreciate your sharing the details.

You're very welcome....good luck to your family.

I also forgot to mention that the only reason I found out about the clotting disorder is that a family member developed an unexplained clot. They ran a full panel and she tested positive for a genetic disorder. I went for testing too because I wanted to go back on birth control and my OB recommended it given my family history. Neither of the clotting disorders that I have are autoimmune so they wouldn't have been caught with the panel that the RE runs. My baby got lucky I guess.

Dr. Sherri Hammersly in Shady Grove (the building next to SGF) was the doctor that kept me on the aspirin. She's a maternal fetal medicine specialist. If you've had miscarriages you may want to have a consult with her now. Let them know that you've had miscarriages and that your pregnant again via IVF and they will fit you in asap. She's an expert in clotting disorders as well as an excellent MFM specialist.

[Anonymous]

I had tests for clotting disorders following 2 m/c. My doctor advised taking baby aspirin for the next pregnancy, and I started taking it as soon as I found out I was pregnant. That third pregnancy was successful, and I took the aspirin every day until I delivered. Who knows if it made a difference or not, but my doctor told me that he had lots of women taking it and it did not do any harm, so why not try it. I was not on any other drugs though and got pregnant naturally. The only issue may be that the aspirin interferes with the drugs that they use in IVF, so I'd probably look into that.