TOPIC:

hello... I am not new here, but seem to vist when I need some reassurance. I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy two weeks ago. My count at time of delivery, c-section, was 24 (this was with four plate. transfusions before going into surgery) went into hospital with a count of 17. everything went as planned durning delivery. I have had ITP for 7 years now. I got to spend 24 hrs with my son, before the pediatrician checked his counts. His count came back @ 14 he was immediatly transfered to the NICU for an ultrasound of his head to check for bleeding on the brain, ultrasound was clear. they then started IVIG, and plate transfusions. he had a total of three of both, with his counts slowly coming up. he was in NICU for a total of 6 days, and we finally got to bring him home. I can say that those were the most stressfull 6 days of my life. as of last thursday he was up to 74 with out any more treatments. As of tonight he is down to 38 I feel like I am on an endless rollercoaster, between his counts and mine. His are way more devistating to me than what my own are. just looking for some guideness from those who have struggled with their infants going through the treatments and the flucations. also would like to know what you have been told about breast feeding and low counts. I have this gut feeling that since I passed the anit-body to him through birth, that I am still passing the anit-bodies by breastfeeding. I couldn't ever get a straight answer from anyone at the hospital.

Epruitt - From what I have seen here over the years, most babies do just fine and lose the antibodies after a few weeks, then counts go up to normal. As far as I know, antibodies are not passed through breast feeding. It's normal to worry, but chances are he will be just fine.

Congratulations by the way! It's a shame you have to worry so much during this time. Hope, girl!

Thank you Sandi. I talked to my Hematologist who inturn called Dr. George @ OU (from what I am told he is the ITP Guru) who said that yes the antibody could pass through the breast milk, however, chances are the antibodies are disolved in the stomach before the reach the small intestine where thye would be absorbed into the blood. good news there. I still decided to pump and store my milk for the last two weeks. He has had weekly CBC's, last week he was up from 38 to 50, and today he was up from 50 to 123!!! so excited. will repeat again next week. I am going to start giving him the milk I have stored and pray and cross my fingers really hard that the milk has no effect on his counts!

thanks again for the reassurance!! it helps greatly when your a worry like I do about everything. just don't want him to have to go through what I have to.

That's wonderful news! I'm glad that breast feeding won't hurt the baby. Hopefully, his counts are up and will keep going and stay that way!