TOPIC:

Thanks to the forum and it's members for providing wealth of information. Had to post here as ITP-Pregnancy forum section seems to be inactive for last 8 months. Sorry, if I am wrong.
First pregnancy:
-Found for the first time, ITP around 30th week of pregnancy
-Because of religious beliefs, I cannot accept iVig and platelet transfusion
-During labor, count was 50K and was able to deliver natuarlly
-Platelet never returned to normal. Fluctuated between 50k to 100k
-Baby is healthy, and wonderful
-Seen by hematologist. Found nothing. He suggested that it should not stop for trying to have second baby. So we tried.

Second Pregnancy with Twins:

-TWINS!! Good news turned out to be a concern as count is at 60k around 10th week
- I cannot accept iVig and platelet transfusion
-With twins, OB said the risk is double
-Started researching to see natural ways or alternative methods to boost or at least maintain around 70k of count
-Started taking a glass of green leafy vegetable juice along with beets and carrot every day. Not sure if it would help but something to try.

Note: Please don't judge me because of my religious beliefs. This is personal, and well-thought made decision as directed by my conscience.
Questions:

1. This forum has a lot of positive results when probiotics were taken. Did anyone who is pregnant here has a story with probiotics and ITP?
2. Since I cannot accept iVig, would C-Section, if needed with twins, what can be the lowest count from experiences that I can go and be still safe
3. From experiences, are there any other natural methods that were successfully tried?

Thanks for taking time to read.

Sorry I have no knowledge of ITP while pregnant. I do know when I had my knee replacement the anesthesiologist was very happy my count taken before surgery was over 80,000 & that 80,000+ was what was needed for a spinal.

Are you seeing an OB who is a high risk OB? If so what does he/she say about the questions you have asked here?

Good luck!

Thanks for the response.
OB is good as he helped us with our first baby, but not sure if he has "high risk" experience. Will check on it.
He said basically food/diet cannot help ITP. We either have to go for steroids or iVig.
When i encountered good success stories with probiotics, I just had a hope of food/diet helping with count.

I feel bad no one has responded to you - maybe if you put this in the Treatment - General or the General ITP Discussion section someone may respond.

I take probiotics but haven't seen that it helped my count. I love tomatoes, onion and garlic and have not given them up, they are 3 that aren't good for platelets [can't remember why] can't say eating them has messed with my count.

You know if our body is making antibodies that attach to our platelets and then where blood is cleaned those antibodies are detected & the platelets destroyed I can't see how changing a diet could help that [just my opinion].

Now at 26th week, count is at 58K, a drop from 60K of 10th week in pregnancy.

My regime since 10th week until now:

-Started probiotics at 10th week. 15 Bil once per day. Not sure if it has helped with platelets, but digestion wise it did.
-Every day a glass of Beets+Carrots+Kale+Spinach smoothie.
-Pomgranate every other day. Unfortunately, it's out of season now and can't find in local market.

Maternal Fetal Specialist wanted to start Prednisone at 21st week. But we asked them to wait until next test to see if diet could fix it. After the test at 26th week, count is almost steady at around 60K. While OB/GYN is happy to see that, he is suspecting they could fall as we approach the due date as babies grow fast and so are rapid changes with body.
So, we decided to start Prednisone at 10mg each day for next 3 weeks, and test count after 1 week of stopping prednisone. This is to see how body responds to Prednisone and how platelets stay, if there is any increase. We are glad to wait to take prednisone until now as babies are now at a low risk of having side effects.
We are walking a thin line here as our options of treatment are none other than Prednisone. Hope for the best.

I hope all goes well for you

neohadoop wrote:

...
1. This forum has a lot of positive results when probiotics were taken.
...

Some folks respond strongly to steroids and others, nothing at all. Some folks respond strongly to IVIG and others, nothing at all. As you can see, ITP is not homogeneous from person to person. With that, there is no reason to suspect something else, like Probiotics, will universally help with ITP.

If Probiotics helps then one would expect it is because of 'gut' immune system health. There does seem to be evidence that Candida/Fungal infections (who live in the gut) may contribute to worsening ITP.
pdsa.org/discussion-group/5-newly-diagnosed-a-frequently-asked-questions/30333-wife-low-platelets.html?start=30#67265

So, I would suggest to avoid any large dose of Biotin (aka vitamin B7) supplements! Also, unflavored (no sugar) Yogurt with active Lactobacillus could help.

For diet in general. If one researches the contents of a multi-vitamin you'll find that the purpose of many of them is immune system health. Probably best to make sure one is getting all of those.

Update on 31st week of twin pregnancy:
Things are changing rapidly with body.
-After Prednisone for 21 days@10mg - platelet count slightly increased to 65K
-Doctor is now optimistic that we can ramp it up as we approach 34th week with a dose of 60mg
-Prednisone increased the gestational diabetes, with glucose levels shooting upto 200 after 2-hours of a meal
-Next challenge is how to balance the Prednisone 60mg with insuling to control gestational diabetes
-On the diet front, we stopped Beets and Carrots or any specific B12 rich foods. Keeping it to minimum and regular. Continuing a green smoothie everyday. Also probiotics everyday.

Curious. What is the thinking on B12 ?