Getting ready for baby #4

There aren't too many pregnancy posts since the new discussion boards have been set up, so I thought I would post in hopes of getting more pregnancy discussion going.

I have getting ready to deliver my 4th baby. We have a c-section scheduled for April 24th!!

I first found out I had low platelets late in labor with my first baby (around 50K). They jumped back up shortly after delivery (which ended up c-section with general anth.).

Baby number two we watched my counts and tried IVIG & steriods during the 3rd trimester when my counts started dropping a lot. Still the lowest count was only around 40K. The meds didn't seem to do much so they suggested another c-section with general anth. after a platelet transfusion.

Baby #3 we skipped the IVIG since it didn't seem to work the first time, is super expensive, and super time consuming (especially when there are two little ones at home to take care of). We still did the steriods at the end and a brave anth. gave me a spinal when my platelets took a sudden up turn on the day of my scheduled c-section (to 67K). I am convinced based on the results that prayer has been the most "effective" treatment for me so far.

We did have a miscarriage in March of 2009. It was very early in the pregnancy and my platelets were about 115K.

Now we are about to deliver! My most recent count was 77K!! I was excited about this count since I have graphed all of my pregnancy platelet counts and would have expected to be down to at least 65K by this time in the pregnancy. I would like to have a spinal again, but I don't know if my counts will be high enough. I think some anth. require a count of 100K and I certainly don't want to be too risky.

Best wishes to all of you pregnant with ITP!!

- Sabrina

Hi Sabrina, the very best of luck with baby number 4! I also had a miscarriage. it was at week 23 and because of my itp, its very sad but u have to keep going. u never forget but it gets a bit easier to cope with with time. I would love to try get preg again but my counts are only in the twenties and prednisone doesnt work for me, ivig gives me real bad headaches. doc wants to try some of the other drugs next but insists on me not getting preg while on them, or at least until we see if i respond. Did your docs ever discourage u from getting pregnant? am interested to know. so broody but dont wanna get pregnant and risk losing again with such low platelets. Again all the very best! if u ever want to talk i am here!

Redchilli -

I didn't even know I had any platelet concerns until I was in labor with my first, so of course the doctors didn't have a chance to discourage me before that. Luckily, my platelets always seem to bounce back to normal or nearly normal levels after preganancy (130K to 200K)and even during pregnancy have never really been below 40K. So, neither my OB or my hemo have discouraged me from getting pregnant. I have had some concern from family members who worry about me.

I'm so sorry to hear about your miscarriage. It is certainly a difficult thing, and at 23 weeks I'm sure it was even more difficult for you. I hope that you are able to get your counts up and have a successful pregnancy soon. I know that there are others that have done this with counts much much lower than mine.

- Sabrina

Thanks for posting, Sabrina! I was diagnosed when my baby was 8 months old (no issues when pregnant). I'm now considering a second child but my count is very low and unstable without treatment although after a year of this things might be settling down, fingers crossed. You're right - there's not a lot of traffic here but hopefully there'll be posts here and there. I read a number of stories of pregnant woman dealing with low counts and doing okay in the end. keep in touch! Giselle

thanks sabrina!