salicylates and Postpartum-Hemorrhage

6.6% of all Australian patients attending an antenatal clinic were found to be taking salicylate preparations regularly, most commonly in powder form and almost always as self-medication. In this group of salicylate takers there was an increased incidence of anaemia, anti-partum and post-partum haemorrhage, prolonged gestation, complicated deliveries, and perinatal mortality compared with non-takers. These findings suggest that regular salicylate consumption has detrimental effects in pregnancy. Routine antenatal urinary screening for salicylate in pregnancy is recommended.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Anemia; Female; Fetal Death; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Obstetric Labor Complications; Parity; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic; Pregnancy, Prolonged; Prospective Studies; Salicylates; Self Medication; Time Factors; Uterine Hemorrhage

Topics: Acetates; Animals; Aspirin; Cortisone; Depression, Chemical; Female; Fetal Death; Gestational Age; Labor, Obstetric; Male; Phenobarbital; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Pregnancy; Rats; Salicylates; Sodium Salicylate; Time Factors