![]() "I've experienced what feels like one degree of separation between myself and women just like me that have died or almost died from preeclampsia," Noel says. "This topic is very important to me - as a black woman - but also as a black obstetrician-gynecologist in the service of women of color every day," she says. African American women are more likely than white women to develop preeclampsia, and they're more likely to die from it. Noel says for her, telling women about the benefits of prenatal aspirin is personal. They're usually cheap and can be prescribed - they're often covered by insurance - or bought over the counter. In contrast, low-dose aspirin tablets are about 81 mg. Now, this is not like taking aspirin for pain relief - that's a much higher dose, usually 325 mg per pill, and one or two pills every four to six hours. "Things that people worry about - such as bleeding in pregnancy or something called placental abruption, which is early separation of the placenta - have not shown to be increased in women on low-dose aspirin." Nyia Noel, who is Abbott's co-director of the Prenatal Aspirin Project, an initiative at BMC created to increase implementation of the task force's recommendations. "It's been shown to be very safe," says Dr. That guidance described the harms of taking low-dose aspirin in pregnancy as "no greater than small." Prenatal aspirin can cut the risk of preeclampsia by 24%, according to a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence by the USPSTF in 2014. Shots - Health News Why Racial Gaps In Maternal Mortality Persist She is due in November, and so far everything's going well - no signs of hypertension. She did some research, thought about it, and decided to take the aspirin. are about three times those of white women. And as a black woman, Desmukes' risk of dying in childbirth is elevated maternal mortality rates among black women in the U.S. But she also knows the risks of preeclampsia, and how it can be fatal - it's a leading cause of the high maternal mortality rate in the U.S. A nurse by training, she knows any medicine can have side effects and says she prefers a "holistic" approach to her own health. to the baby."ĭesmukes says at first she was hesitant. "Just precautionarily," she says, "to keep the flow of nutrients and oxygen. She's a nurse by training and knows the risks, so she agreed with her OB-GYN that taking a single baby aspirin daily is a good idea. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts commissioned by the federal government.Īs an older mom with a history of preeclampsia, Desmukes is considered at high risk for developing the condition again. It's currently recommended for many pregnant women by two influential groups - the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the U.S. A small amount of daily aspirin, it turns out, can significantly cut the risk of developing preeclampsia in pregnancy. In a past pregnancy, Desmukes, who is now 42, had developed preeclampsia, a potentially serious complication that involves high blood pressure. She knew about daily low-dose aspirin being prescribed to people recovering from a heart attack or stroke. Rita Driggers, Desmukes' OB-GYN in Washington, D.C., recommended low-dose aspirin at her first prenatal appointment this past spring. Because Desmukes had developed preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, her OB-GYN recommended low-dose aspirin at her first prenatal appointment this past spring.īridget Desmukes was surprised when Dr. "The kids are always climbing on things, flipping all the time - it's not dull," she says, laughing. Bridget Desmukes (center) and her husband, Jeffrey, love having a big, active family.
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