TOPIC:

Curious to know out how many mothers out there gave birth naturally, and how many did it through C-section (due to medical reason), while being treated for for ITP during pregnancy / has a history of ITP?

What was the precaution measures taken by the ob at birth - what sort of preparation/consultation was discussed with the hatemo?

80,000 seems to be considered the minimum acceptable counts for delivery for most ob but to mothers out there who has given birth with "low counts", how was the recupperation?

I like to do a normal birth but doctor said I would likely have to go through c-section.

Thanks for input, i like collect ideas to be able to discuss options with my ob.

My daughter has always had chronically rather low platelets. When she dropped below 90 at the end of her second pregnancy, her doctor began to be concerned. I gave her a strong brew of papaya leaf tea, which she drank throughout the day. 3 days later her platelets came in at 160. They have never been this high before. She delivered well, normally, a beautiful baby girl 8 1/2 pounds. She is continuing with her papaya leaf tea. It works for ITP, and all hemorrhagic disorders such as dengue fever and malaria. It may also be an effective co-treatment for cancer www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100309182449.htm.

I had a platelet count around 40 my entire pregnancy. I went into labour on my own. Once admitted I was given 2 units of platets and IVIG. My counts made it to 98, I got an epidural. 12 hours after my water breaking my labor stopped. I was givin the option of a c section or waiting anothe 8 hours, in which case Id need to transfruse platelets and another round of IVIG. I opted for a c section since I wasnt progressing. My son was born healthy and I was given another round of IVIG the next day just to make sure my counts stayed high.

I am currentl 28 weeks pregnant and having low platelet counts this time, I have been on steriods since 13 weeks, and have had 5 rounds of IVIG. Im having a scheduled C section at 36 weeks due to their concern for me. We will do the same as last time, I will go in the day before be transfused, and get IVIG once my count reach 100 - thats what the anasteiologist requires for the spinal--they will proceed with the c section.

Tiger eyes,

Recalling some thread in the past, I was under the impression you just had a newborn but you are already into your 2nd pregnancy now - how fast time flies!! Congraulations!

I am entering my 26th week and unfortunately we just found out 3 weeks ago my cervix has started diluting and Ive been told to have plenty of bedrest throughout my pregnancy. At first we didnt really understand what it meant and went round with scans and measurement, seeking opinion etc and have just settled in with the conidition last week. My recent platelet count was about 120k without treatment and i've not been seeing a hatemotologist-yet as I've been instructed to minimize movement. Of course we will have to see one nearing labour though.

How was your platelet/treatment post-birth for your first pregnancy - did it affect breastfeeding at all? I am very afraid of the instability of my counts and recupperating period needed post-birth, and whether treatment support will deny baby breastmilk. How did you overcome this ?

Thanks

Rgds
steph

la0508,

i've read also from other post about postive effect from papaya leaf tea, maybe i will try this after delivery though..your daughter is blessed, i hope she doesnt have to go through all these drugs, and treatment - they are awful!

With my first I tapered off the steroids really fast. I tried to breast feed however my child had different ideas. He wouldn't latch. With my second (6 weeks) I am exclusively breast feeding and its going well. I spoke with several lactation consultants and made the decision to breast feed even though I'm on steroids currently 40mg. They assured me that minimal amounts pass through the breast milk and with him being in the NICU they really advocate breast milk for the babies. He's gained 4 lbs since birth and doesn't seem to have any effects of the steroids.

Tigereyes,

How are you doing?

Its so beautiful to be able to breastfeed. I have 7 more weeks to go before edd. My platelet fluctuates btwn 100-140k and I've not seen any hatemo. I am glad to learn prednisone is safe for breastfeeding. My cervix has started diluting, bb head has turned downwards but not low yet, so depending on the situation, My gynae suggest platelet transfusion if I manage a natural birth, and high dose of prednisone few days before a scheduled c-section. Hopefully things come easy on me.

Enjoy motherhood once again. Wishing great health above all.

Rgds
Steph

I find it odd that doctors would consider a c-section because someone had low platelets. When I was pregenet with my twins, I had not only an OB but a PERI (doctor for super high risk preg.) they plus my hemo all agreed that a c-section should be the last resort. They all told me that a c-section even though more controled by the doctors,always insures almost twice as much blood loss as a vag. birth. I had three opinions and tons of research done on me. I was flown to a university hospital and on medical bedrest for a month before my deliveries. I went into premature labor, has to be on a mag. IV drip, a weekly shot in my butt, and a turb. pump inserted into my thigh giving me continous meds around the clock. In the end I had to have an emergency c-section, but the doctors didn't like it. They kept grabbing my blood and watching it clot and showing my husband how well it was clotting durinng the delivery. Both twins are fine now. But I had 4 natural deliveries before and I can tell you hands down, vag. birth is so much easier and a lot less painful and less recovery time. I had to wait until the spinal tap was out of my system before I could see or touch my babies, doctors said it would only take a few hours tops. I didn't feel my legs for over 10 hours! Plus you have to get a cathater in you and then pray the nurses don't take it out before your bladder wakes up. I had to get recathatered because they took it out to soon. When I had my other babies naturaly, as soon as the doctor was finished delivering the placenta I was able to walk by myself to the NICU and hold my babies. I didn't have to wait for anything, and I could do what I wanted.

For me I had no option. I was in labor for 3 days with my first. Never dialed past a 5. Baby was in distress. A car took was my only option for a safe delivery. I had minimal bleeding. With my second I went into premature labor. I had a lot of complications. Due to the complications my OB, hema and peri all agreed a c section was the best option. I didn't even get transfused for my second c section. Each doctor is different. My doctors felt that due to my situation a c section was best.

Hi Ladies!
Tigereyes!! Congratulations on baby #2!! SO glad to hear you are both doing well!

I just wanted to pipe in with my 2 cents
belydncrck01 I was told that there is a chance that the low platelet disorder could pass to the baby while in utero. If that is the case to be delivered vaginally can apply too much pressure on the baby's soft skull and can cause brain bleed. Scary!!
I was at about 68 when I delivered my son Jaxon in 2011. We here doing IVIg to boost my platelets and I was scheduled for a c-section but he decided to come 2 weeks early. At 38 week I delivered my 10 pounder via c-section with general anesthesia. Out cold. Not the birth story I dreamed of but the baby arrived healthy and I'm still around to care for him. All in all I couldn't have asked for a better turn out!

Hello to everyone.

I'll share my story.
I've had ITP for over 10 years and only recently after the 4th baby needed treatment for both of us.

Baby 4 was delivered vaginal with my platelet count at 30.
Not ideal and frankly I should have had the IVIG but my doctor was not around, someone missed this note in my file and baby came faster than expected.
I knew no option for epidural since I was so low anyhow. Thankfully it was a quick delivery with water breaking in the morning and she was born by afternoon. I did loose a lot of blood. She was over 10lbs. Very healthy but 30 minutes later she was taken to NICU as her bloodwork showed platelets of 15. We consented and she had 1 unit IVIG. This worked. It was my antibodies in her system and not a problem of her own.

3 weeks later I had to start taking prednisone. I used the 'pump and dump' which was exhausting until I was weened off in 2 months. So basically I fed baby, then took meds around mid of night, then pumped at next feeding time and dumped it (while she had a bottle) then I was back to nursing rest of the day. No idea if needed this extra caution, but it was told to me as an option at the time so I went with it. My doses were quite high at first at 65mg.

I am happy to say she is a very smart and advanced 2 year old now. This has in no way affected her that we can see.

Probably not even a consideration for anyone on this site, but my adament advise is to birth in a hospital (unless it is out of your hands obviously) and carry a copy of your medical needs WITH YOU at all times and not just at the hospital.
Anything can happen and you never know and have no way to prepare.
All my other 3 births have had some type of big/small situation and I was glad to have options available. Even my 'all natural' cousin agrees following her complicated births. No reason to take any risk with the unknown. The birth 'experience' is all about a healthy baby and mom, anything else is gravy.