Taking any medications during pregnancy can lead you to experience anxiety and question the safety of these medications. Aspirin and folic acid have been studied and generally have a good track record when used properly during pregnancy. Both aspirin and folic acid are routinely used during pregnancy, with aspirin recommended for certain conditions and folic acid for general pregnancy.
Low Doses of Aspirin and Folic Acid During Pregnancy
Nutritional requirements during pregnancy are altered, and you will need to modify your diet accordingly. The extra calories needed during this time are about 300 additional calories per day, equivalent to the calories in a turkey sandwich. Overeating during pregnancy will lead to the same result as overeating prior to pregnancy--weight gain. Along with increased calorie needs, certain nutrient requirements will also increase during pregnancy. A prenatal vitamin is recommended since it contains the higher nutrient levels. During your pregnancy, additional iron will also be needed by your body to produce the extra blood needed, so a folic acid supplement is also recommended.
Aspirin During Pregnancy
Aspirin is a medication that belongs to a class of drugs called salicylates. These medications have anti-inflammatory properties and are routinely used to reduce inflammation due to injuries. Aspirin will also irreversibly bind to an enzyme that allows platelets in blood to stick together and form clots. This is the reason why aspirin is given during a heart attack thought to be caused by small blood clots in the circulatory system. During pregnancy, medications that have anti-inflammatory effects should be avoided unless you are directed to take them by a physician since these medications may cause harm to the fetus by interfering with normal blood circulation or affect bleeding during delivery. Aspirin is used during pregnancy in women who have had recurrent miscarriages when they have been diagnosed with clotting abnormalities.
Folic Acid During Pregnancy
Folic acid is an essential vitamin that helps cells divide, repair themselves or multiply. A deficiency of folic acid when you are not pregnant can cause severe anemia. When you become pregnant, folic acid is fundamental in the formation of the nervous system, and a deficiency can lead to neural tube defects such as spina bifida. This condition is characterized as improper closure of the nervous system in the lower spine. Daily intake of 400 micrograms of folic acid is recommended to try and prevent neural tube defects. Ideally, this supplementation should be started prior to pregnancy. Women who have had a child affected by a neural tube defect should take 4 milligrams of folic acid to reduce the risk of recurrence by 70 percent.
Combining Aspirin and Folic Acid During Pregnancy
Taking any medication, vitamin or over-the-counter product during pregnancy should first be discussed with your physician. The combination of aspirin and folic acid during pregnancy is given according to your diagnosis under supervision due to the toxic effects of these medications. Aspirin toxicity can lead to respiratory problems, vomiting, dehydration, seizures and failure of the cardiovascular system. Folic acid toxicity can interfere with the actions of vitamin B12 and cause anemia, with reports of seizures even occurring in some patients taking anticonvulsant medications.
References
- "Williams Obstetrics"; FG Cunningham; 2010
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologysts Nutrition During Pregnancy
- "Basic & Clinical Pharmacology"; Daniel Furst; 2009
- National Institutes of Health Aspirin
- National Institutes of Health Folate
