Aspirin can help blood pressure during pregnancy

A DAILY dose of aspirin in pregnancy could help prevent complications in women with, or at risk of, high blood pressure, the health watchdog in Britain said.

High blood pressure in pregnancy can be dangerous and is linked to the condition pre-eclampsia.

It is more common in first-time pregnancies and can lead to premature birth, stillbirth and babies being smaller than average.

Mothers are also at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure later in life, which is linked to heart disease and strokes.

Around 20 women die each year from conditions linked to high blood pressure while up to 5% of first-time mothers will develop pre-eclampsia.

Between 10% and 15% of pregnant women will suffer high blood pressure during pregnancy while a small number will have it before they become pregnant.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) recommends women with high blood pressure at moderate to high risk of pre-eclampsia take a low dose (75mg) of aspirin.

This should be taken every day from the 12th week of pregnancy until birth.

Nice warns against giving drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers, which can increase the risk of congenital abnormalities if taken during pregnancy.

Ultrasounds should also be used to assess a range of issues, including whether the baby is growing normally and the volume of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby.

Restricting salt intake, or taking dietary supplements, will not help prevent high blood pressure in pregnancy.