Bounty

Taking a small amount of aspirin each day could help pregnant women with, or at risk of, high blood pressure, according to the UK's health watchdog.

The condition can be harmful for babies and mothers and is linked to pre-eclampsia.

Most common in first-time pregnancies, it can lead to stillbirth, premature birth and babies being born smaller than average.

Mothers are also more at risk of developing high blood pressure later in life, which is can cause strokes and heart disease.

Every year around 20 women die from conditions linked to high blood pressure, and up to 5% of first-time mothers will develop pre-eclampsia.

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

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has recommended that 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, according to the guideline for the NHS in England and Wales.

Aspirin is not routinely given to pregnant women and Nice hopes the advice will ensure consistent standards across the country.

Copyright Press Association 2010