Aspirin in Pregnancy — Is It Safe?
Last reviewed: · Source: US FDA drug label database
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Low-dose aspirin (75mg) is sometimes prescribed in pregnancy for specific conditions — but standard pain-relief doses should be avoided.
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- Low-dose aspirin (75mg/day) is actively prescribed in pregnancy for women at high risk of pre-eclampsia, usually from 12 weeks.
- If your doctor or midwife has prescribed low-dose aspirin, you should continue taking it as directed.
- Standard pain-relief doses of aspirin (300mg+) should be avoided throughout pregnancy for the same ductus-arteriosus and fetal risks as ibuprofen.
- Never start or stop low-dose aspirin in pregnancy without your doctor's guidance — the decision depends on your individual risk factors.
Is it safe to take Aspirin with Pregnancy?
Aspirin in pregnancy is complex. Standard pain-relief doses (300mg+) should be avoided throughout pregnancy for the same reasons as ibuprofen — NSAID effects on the fetus and ductus arteriosus. However, low-dose aspirin (75mg/day) is actively prescribed for women at high risk of pre-eclampsia, starting from 12 weeks. If your doctor or midwife has prescribed low-dose aspirin, continue taking it. Do not self-medicate with standard aspirin for pain.
How do Aspirin and Pregnancy interact?
At analgesic doses, aspirin has the same prostaglandin-inhibiting effects as other NSAIDs with the same fetal risks. At low doses (75mg), the antiplatelet effect is predominantly used to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction in high-risk pregnancies. Low-dose aspirin has been shown to significantly reduce pre-eclampsia risk when started before 16 weeks in high-risk women.
Data sourced from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug label database: NICE guideline NG133 — hypertension in pregnancy; OpenFDA aspirin drug label.
Interaction severity
Rated moderate: the dose makes all the difference — low-dose aspirin (75mg) is specifically prescribed in pregnancy for pre-eclampsia prevention and is safe to continue, while standard pain-relief doses carry the same NSAID-related fetal risks as ibuprofen and should be avoided.
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Women prescribed low-dose aspirin for pre-eclampsia prevention should continue taking it as directed. Women wanting aspirin for pain relief in pregnancy should use paracetamol instead. Do not take standard aspirin tablets in pregnancy.
What if I've already taken Aspirin and Pregnancy?
If you took standard-dose aspirin for pain in early pregnancy, inform your midwife. If you are prescribed 75mg aspirin — continue taking it as directed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take aspirin in pregnancy?
Standard pain-relief aspirin (300mg+) should be avoided. Low-dose aspirin (75mg) is specifically prescribed for some pregnant women at risk of pre-eclampsia — only take it if prescribed.
My midwife prescribed aspirin 75mg — is it safe?
Yes. Low-dose aspirin is prescribed specifically to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia in high-risk pregnancies. The benefits outweigh the risks when recommended by your midwife or obstetrician.
What dose of aspirin is safe in pregnancy?
Only 75mg (low-dose) aspirin is used in pregnancy, and only when specifically prescribed for pre-eclampsia prevention. Standard aspirin doses for pain are not safe in pregnancy.
Can aspirin cause miscarriage?
Standard-dose aspirin is not recommended in pregnancy due to fetal risks. Low-dose aspirin prescribed for pre-eclampsia prevention does not increase miscarriage risk and is beneficial in high-risk pregnancies.