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Low Dose Aspirin Initiative

Preeclampsia (pre-e-clamp-sia) is a high blood pressure disorder of pregnancy and postpartum that can affect multiple organ systems within your body. Preeclampsia is a sudden rise in blood pressure that happens after the 20th week of pregnancy and can increase the risk of having your baby too early (before 37 weeks). In severe cases, preeclampsia can harm your health by damaging your kidneys and liver and can cause seizures, strokes, or death.

Low-dose, or baby, aspirin has been used during pregnancy mostly to prevent or delay the onset of preeclampsia. Aspirin works by improving blood flow in the placenta, so a pregnant individual can better control their blood pressure. How do you determine if aspirin is right for you? Ask about aspirin at your next appointment if you have any of the following:

  • Had preeclampsia before
  • Pregnant with twins or triplets
  • Have high blood pressure (also known as hypertension)
  • Have diabetes type 1 or type 2
  • Problems with your kidneys
  • Have an autoimmune disease like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
  • Antiphospholipid or anticardiolipin syndrome
  • Your mother or sister had preeclampsia
  • Overweight (BMI 30 or above)
  • Age 35 or older
  • Weigh less than 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) at your birth
  • Have black, African, or Afro-Caribbean ancestry
  • First-time pregnancy
  • The youngest child is 10 years old or older
  • Has a baby that weighed less than 5.4 pounds (2.5 kg) when born

OPQIC, OSDH and the George Kaiser Family Foundation have collaborated on a low-dose aspirin in pregnancy initiative to reduce the incidence and severity of preeclampsia in pregnant Oklahomans.

For more information or resources on low-dose aspirin therapy, please see the resources below.

Low-Dose Aspirin in Pregnancy (live binder)

Contact Information

Contact Information
Joyce Marshall, MPH
Director of Maternal and Child Health Service

Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Maternal and Child Health Service
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406

Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK

Phone: (405) 426-8113