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low platelet count?

Ok, I don't even know how to spell it, but they drew blood again today b/c I had a low platelet count from when they ran the GD bloodwork? Anyone have any insight? They think it was just a fluke....

Sarah edd 9.5.09

I've been trying to answer you, but having problems with my ISP! It's thrombocytopenia - OK, sorry to sound like a know it all, but I'm a lab tech, so I guess I should know how to spell it! If they were thinking it might have been a fluke, maybe the blood clotted a little last time before they got it good and mixed with the anticoagulant. It happens, and definitely will make the count lower. But on the other hand, low platelet count does occassionally occur during pregnancy, and they will want to confirm it because it can put you at a greater risk or be an indicator of complications such as DIC, bleeding, HELLP syndrome, etc. Not to scare you because it is fairly common for pregnancy to lower platelet count, so they will just have the heads up for those kinds of things. Also, if you have a low platelet count at the time of delivery, they won't give you an epidural. Sorry if I ruined your day by telling you that. The epidural is just more risky and has a greater chance of causing complications when combined with a low platelet count, but I've seen them give them with low end of normal range platelets, so it probably depends on how low you really are. Hope that answers your questions!

Yeah, that scared me. Would you say it is worth calling them to find out what the count was? I guess I could ask them at the next appt if there really isn't anything they do to "treat" it. Thanks for the info!!!

I don't know if there's anything they can do to raise it knowing this early? I know if the count gets low enough, they'll give a transfusion of platelets, but I've only once seen that with a pregnant woman, and it was because she developed DIC. Normally, low platelet count in pregnancy doesn't get to that level of low, and most of the time, it's discovered with the lab work they do at delivery. It wouldn't hurt to ask to make sure it's for sure low and if there is anything you can do, especially if you're wanting an epidural! But I hope it was just a fluke the first time and you won't even have to worry about it!

I was told i have low platelets around 16 weeks... getting my 2nd test this week to test again...if low again doc says i will have to go on supplements and discussed the possible complications....not too worried about it right now... did find online that you should eat lots of berries as that helps increase the count...don't know if it is true or not but what can it hurt?

lurking: I had low platelet throughout my pregnancy and still had the epi at delivery (before we knew it would end up with csection) my ob never even told me it was low until my PP appt. Then she told me to go to my PCP to follow up. I am 18 weeks PP and have to go have blood drawn every four weeks, it is slowly going up. I think the lowest it got was 18,000 and normal is 150,000-400,000. It is now at 130,000. Hopefully it continues to go up so I don't have to go to a hematologist. But I wanted to let you know that I still got my epi and my count was pretty low....and I was high risk having been put on bed rest for low amnio fluid...HTH

oops, i meant my lowest count was 118,000, sorry about that

well I must stop and say I understand this 100%. i have the same thing and they called it "ITP" I do not know the right name so I am hoping that we are talking about the same thing.

This is my second baby and I also had it with my first. This time around the smallest number i have had was 102,000. I am also have a c-section so that means I will have a Epi. I know that it is all a very scary thing to find out you have something like this. ten years ago when I had my dd they told me I could not have anything for pain. Then I ended up have to have the c-section ( heart beat drop - baby) But after deliver the platelets were back to the normal count. So I wish you luck. Please let us know what you find out.

Thanks for the responses. I'll let you know what I find out next visit!

Sarah

Well mine have gone up and down even before pregnancy. I had to have my tonsil surgery cancelled cuz they were low and if they were to do the surg I might not stop bleeding. But, then 3 days later they checked it again and it was ok so they did the surg. I don't know why mine are crazy, but they are. So my first ob appt they were low again and he just said we would keep an eye on them but I would have to see my pcp after delivery to figure out why they are low. I had them checked probablly two other times and he said they were lower but he didn't seem too concerned, until my bp started going up and I had persistent swelling because he said all of those together were 3 out of the 4 signs of preeclamsia. The 4th is protein in urine which I didn't end up having, thank goodness but now since then ( which was only a little over a week ago) they checked it last week at the hospital and today ( haven't gotten the results back yet for today) and he said he will probablly continue to check it every week now. I don't really now what they can do about it though...???

If you continue to have low platelet counts, have the doctor to check for ITP. I had the same problem.

I am so glad to see someone else say those three latter's that I hate so much. It has got to the point that I can not pay the price to have them checked ever app. so my OB checks them every other for now. I know has it gets closer to 9-25 she will have to check them but she also know that I can not pay for it every time. Good luck with yours.

babymomma_x2--- 118 is not that low. Most hospitals have a cut off number that they will not do an epidural if your levels are below. Most will not do it below 90. Mine are currently 82--THAT'S low. Anything over 100 is fine and they'll give you an epidural.