- With Mayo Clinic obstetrician and medical editor-in-chief
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
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Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Roger W. Harms, M.D.
"Nothing helps people stay healthy more than the power of real knowledge about health." — Dr. Roger Harms
As medical director of content, Dr. Roger Harms is excited about the potential for Mayo Clinic's health information site to help educate people about their health and provide them the tools and information to live healthier lives.
The Auburn, Neb., native has been with Mayo Clinic since 1981 and is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Harms is a practicing physician and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and his specialty areas include office gynecology, high-risk obstetrics and obstetrical ultrasound.
From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Harms was director for education at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Harms was the 1988 Mayo Medical School Teacher of the Year and served as associate dean for student affairs and academic affairs. He is the co-author of the "Mayo Clinic Model of Education." In 2008, Dr. Harms was presented the Distinguished Educator Award, Mayo Clinic, Rochester.
Dr. Harms is vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and medical editor of the Pregnancy section on this website. In addition, Dr. Harms is editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" book, a month-by-month guide to everything a woman needs to know about having a baby.
"My medical education experience has grown out of a love of teaching, and that is what this site is about," Dr. Harms says. "If any visitor to this site makes a more informed and thus more comfortable decision about his or her health because of the information we provide, we are successful."
Healthy pregnancy (18)
- Allergy medications and pregnancy: What's safe?
- Vaccines during pregnancy: Are they safe?
- Air travel during pregnancy: Is it safe?
- see all in Healthy pregnancy
First trimester (3)
- Implantation bleeding: Normal in early pregnancy?
- Nausea during pregnancy: A good thing?
- Birth control pills: Harmful in early pregnancy?
Second trimester (1)
- Fundal height: An accurate sign of fetal growth?
Third trimester (1)
- Hypnobirthing: How does it work?
Pregnancy problems (8)
- Pregorexia: A legitimate problem during pregnancy?
- Chickenpox and pregnancy: What are the concerns?
- Low amniotic fluid: How is it treated?
- see all in Pregnancy problems
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Question
Aspirin during pregnancy: Is it safe?
Is it safe to take aspirin during pregnancy?
Answer
from Roger W. Harms, M.D.
Low-dose aspirin therapy is sometimes prescribed during pregnancy to help prevent recurrent miscarriage or to treat other conditions. Generally, however, aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) — aren't recommended as pain relievers during pregnancy.
Before birth, a baby receives oxygen through blood from the placenta. At birth, a natural drop in prostaglandin levels in some of the baby's blood vessels drives the baby's circulatory system to reroute blood flow to the lungs. Since aspirin blocks the production of prostaglandins, taking aspirin during pregnancy — especially after 32 weeks — could trigger the baby's blood flow to be rerouted in the uterus. This could cause potentially fatal problems for the baby.
If you need to take a pain reliever during pregnancy, ask your health care provider about the options. He or she may approve occasional use of acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).
Next questionHeadaches during pregnancy: What's the best treatment?
- Tulandi T, et al. Management of couples with recurrent pregnancy loss. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 3, 2010.
- Risser A, et al. NSAID prescribing precautions. American Family Physician. 2009;80:1371.
- James AH, et al. Aspirin and reproductive outcomes. Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey. 2008;63:49.
- Briggs GG, et al. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk. Philadelphia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008.
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