Article- "Pregnancy alert over aspirin"

By JENNY HOPE

www.dailymail.co.uk

"Taking painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen in the first three months of pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects, researchers say.

They discovered that women who use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were more likely to have babies with congenital problems including heart defects.

Although the extra risk was small, the Canadian researchers are calling for more studies, because the over-the-counter drugs are widely used.

In Britain, women who know they are pregnant are advised to avoid these painkillers, because paracetamol is an effective alternative.

Previous research found women taking painkillers of this type are more likely to miscarry, particularly if they took them at the time of conception.

The latest study, published yesterday in the medical journal Birth Defects Research Part B, looked at the effects of the drugs during the first 12 weeks after conception.

A team from St Justine Hospital, Montreal, found the proportion of babies with multiple defects among mothers taking the drugs early in pregnancy was 16 per cent, compared with 14 per cent of those who did not.

Claire Friars, of the baby charity Tommy's, said: "Women should always discuss any current or future medication, including over-the-counter products, with their GP."