anyone's ITP get better during pregnancy?

I'm currently 16 weeks pregnant and my platelets are the highest they've been since 2006... 133,000! Almost normal!

With the other autoimmune disease I used to have (Ulcerative colitis - I had my colon removed and have had an ostomy for almost 10 years), I was always told that approximately 1/3 of women will have active disease go into remission when becoming pregnant.

Is this true for ITP as well? There is just so much less information out there on ITP than there is on UC, so I haven't found anything on that subject. Did anyone have the experience of having their ITP improve during their pregnancy?

Bride2010--

I am currently 8 weeks pregnant and am experiencing something similar... two weeks ago my platelets were 24 (pretty standard for me) and they jumped up to 37, 000 completely on their OWN which has never in 6 years happened to me!

Not in quite as good of shape as you are, but I'll take what I can get.

Elizabeth,

congratulations on your pregnancy and glad to hear you are improving
I'm now 26 weeks (whoo!) and my platelets are still hanging out in the 120s. Pre-pregnancy, I'd been in the 80s for about two years. I don't know how much ITP my OB has seen over the years, but she did acknowledge that the natural immune system suppression that occurs in pregnancy is the reason that some autoimmune diseases improve during pregnancy, and that could be what's happening with me. It sort of fits with the course my ITP has taken over the years... my platelets have hit their lowest points when I've been sick with serious infections like e. coli and my immune system is fighting in full-force.

I hope your counts continue to go up and you get the enjoy your pregnancy without that to worry about.

Hi,

I just gave birth to a healthy baby boy last December. I was diagnosed with ITP since May 2010 and have been on Predisalone for about 6 months until my platelet count stabilizes at 60-80.

My count improved during pregnancy (120) in March 2011 despite being reminded that it may drop further and I may have to be prepared to get back to taking Prednisalone to keep the count up. Thank God, I felt fine, had quite a normal pregnancy and carried my baby full term. Both haematologist and OB Gyn decided to supplement me with 15 mg of Prednisalone for 1 and a half week before I was induced and count went up to 176 before delivery. Delivery went well, without any complication (although we took all precaution just incase I need to be c-sectioned) I even took epidural for pain killer.

Now I'm back in the hospital, 2 months post delivery due to platelet count that dropped to 15. Can't think of any specific reason why it happened, could be due to stress of taking care of new baby. It's been quite a hectic month lately as both my son are suffering form whooping cough and so trips to the paeds were quite routine. I had a cold about 3-4 days prior to being admitted so viral might also be part of it. Whatever the reason, my count is back to 61 after 2 days of high dose methyl prednosalone given through IV. It so sad that I had to wean my son off breast feeding since I'm under medication and I still have a lot of milk supply

All I can say is, considering the pregnancy and delivery that was quite normal, I'm just thankful that it didn't effect my baby. I anticipate that it might recur at some point although I certainly didn't expect it this soon. Nonetheless, it did and I'm trying to manage it the best way possible coz I am really emotional from being away too long from my new born baby.

All the best in your pregnancy and delivery, but do not forget to keep checking your platelet level after delivery, u don't want it to catch you off guard!