Can Baby Aspirin Help You Have a Healthier Pregnancy?

Some studies suggest this medicine cabinet staple could help prevent miscarriage and preeclampsia.

An image of a pregnancy test on a patterned background.
Getty Images (1). Art: Jillian Sellers.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has recommended the use of low-dose baby aspirin (81 mg/day) for some pregnant people with preeclampsia to help prevent complications, but some research also suggests that baby aspirin may also help prevent pregnancy loss.

The study suggested that taking baby aspirin before conception and continuing to take it once pregnant was linked to more successful pregnancies. Researchers weren't completely sure why the baby aspirin may help reduce miscarriage but theorized it could be because of increased blood flow that can help support the placenta and pregnancy.

What Is Baby Aspirin?

"Baby aspirin" is the term that's sometimes used to refer to low-dose aspirin. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that's available over-the-counter and by prescription. Low-dose aspirin ranges from 60 to 150 milligrams (mg) but is most commonly 81 milligrams.

So does that mean you should start taking it if you're expecting a baby or trying to get pregnant? We break down the research.

Baby Aspirin May Decrease Miscarriage Risk, Study Suggests

A 2021 study from the National Institutes of Health published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that taking low-dose aspirin while trying to conceive and throughout pregnancy might benefit those who previously experienced miscarriages.

Here’s a breakdown of the study:

  • Researchers studied 1,227 women aged 18–40 who had at least one prior miscarriage.
  • The women who took 81 milligrams of low-dose aspirin five to seven days per week had more pregnancies, live births, and fewer miscarriages.
  • Taking the aspirin at least four days a week also seemed to have the same effect.

Another study found that low-dose aspirin given between 6 weeks and 13 weeks gestation helped prevent premature birth and reduced the likelihood of fetal death.

What accounts for these benefits of baby aspirin during pregnancy? Experts don't know for sure, but it's possible that the aspirin could counteract blood clotting or inflammation, which could be an underlying cause of miscarriage in some people.

Baby Aspirin Might Prevent Preeclampsia

Taking baby aspirin during pregnancy has also been shown to prevent preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening complication characterized by high blood pressure. The ACOG notes that people at high risk for preeclampsia decreased their chances of developing the condition by taking low-dose aspirin every day after their first trimester.

The ACOG recommends that pregnant people who are at high risk of preeclampsia take low-dose "baby" aspirin starting at 12 weeks. People with a history of preeclampsia, pregnancy with multiples, chronic hypertension, or diabetes may be considered high risk.

The ACOG also says low-dose aspirin should be considered for pregnant people who have more than one of several moderate risk factors for preeclampsia. These moderate risk factors include maternal age over 35, obesity, family history of preeclampsia, first pregnancies, and certain sociodemographic factors (such as race and socioeconomic status).

Low-dose aspirin also might be recommended if you conceive by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Talk to your health care provider to see if you might benefit from baby aspirin during pregnancy.

Is Baby Aspirin Safe During Pregnancy?

The ACOG states that low-dose aspirin doesn't negatively affect the pregnant person or fetus, but higher doses can be dangerous and ineffective. There is no evidence that shows that the use of low-dose aspirin during pregnancy increases the risk of pregnancy complications or congenital disorders, nor is there evidence that it has long-term effects on children exposed to aspirin in utero.

Of course, you should always check with a health care provider before taking baby aspirin or any other medication while expecting. They'll determine if the medication is safe and beneficial for you.

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Sources
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  1. Low-Dose Aspirin Use During Pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2018. 

  2. Low Does Aspirin. Mother To Baby Fact Sheets. 2022.

  3. The Effect of Preconception-Initiated Low-Dose Aspirin on Human Chorionic Gonadotropin–Detected Pregnancy, Pregnancy Loss, and Live Birth. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2021.

  4. Low-dose aspirin for the prevention of preterm delivery in nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy (ASPIRIN): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet. 2020.

  5. Use of Aspirin During Pregnancy to Prevent Preeclampsia. JAMA. 2021.

  6. Low-Dose Aspirin Use for the Prevention of Preeclampsia and Related Morbidity and Mortality. American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2021.

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