Apr 08, 2014 11:10 AM EDT By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Taking low-dose aspirin daily during pregnancy may prevent preeclampsia, a serious condition that can lead to preterm birth and other complications, Fox News reported.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently approved the prescription of low-dose aspirin for pregnant women with a high risk for developing preeclampsia, a disorder characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Aspirin is usually not recommended during birth because it can contribute to maternal and fetal bleeding. However, a low-dose of the medication is sometimes prescribed for pregnant women with certain health conditions.

The Task Force said new research supports the claim that low-dose aspirin does not pose a significant threat to a mother or the fetus.

"Preeclampsia can cause serious health problems for both expectant mothers and their babies," Task Force member Dr. Jessica Herzstein said in a statement released Monday. "The good news is that pregnant women who are at high risk for developing preeclampsia can take a low dosage of aspirin daily to help to prevent the condition. This can result in better health outcomes for both the mother and the baby."

The Task Force said that women who have had the disorder during previous pregnancies should take a pill of 81 milligrams - often called "baby aspirin" - each day after the 12^th week of pregnancy.

Research suggests that women who develop preeclampsia during pregnancy are at higher risk for elevated blood pressure after pregnancy.

"Once preeclampsia happens, we don't really have any kind of great treatment other than delivering the baby and sometimes we try bed rest," Dr. Jacques Moritz, director of gynecology at Mount Sinai Roosevelt, told CBS News. 

The condition affects about 4 percent of pregnant women in the United States, Fox News reported.

"It is actually one of the more common conditions that lead to complications in the mother and baby," Michael L. LeFevre, chairman of the federal task force told Fox News.

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