Low Platelets, Low Iron

SueLovesRyan · September 2010

Hello Everyone!

This is my first post on 3rd Tri!

So I got my results back from my Glucose Screening Test and they were normal. However, My iron and platelets were low. I am now taking an addition Iron supplement. My Doc said there is nothing to do to raise platelets, we would just continue to monitor them. Anyone else have this issue? My Platelets were 104

sefl1980 · September 2010

I have the same issue. My platelets are just a bit higher, but not by much. My Ob check my blood twice a month to make sure my platelets do not continue to drop. You may need to see a specialist if they continue to fall. My doc said as long as they do not fall below 70 then everything should be ok. Worse case scenario we might need a platelet infusion.

Sorry to hear you have the same things to worry about! Hopefully your numbers will stay up and we won't have to worry to much!

LittleDucky · September 2010

Someone posted something similar on the December board a couple days ago, so I will copy and paste my response from there (edited to be a little more on point) with a little more added.

I have a low platelet count but it is because of a chronic condition. I have ITP (idiopathic/immune thrombocytopenia purpura), which means my body produces antibodies that destroy my platelets. I've been seeing my hematologist throughout my pregnancy and my platelet count seems to be hovering right around 60.

Having a platelet count of 104 is definitely a safe level (my hematologist won't treat me unless my count goes below 50 or if I have bleeding symptoms), but your doctor will want to watch it because low platelets can be caused by a variety of things and can show up with preeclampsia and HELPP syndrome. However, it is also common for platelets to drop during pregnancy and then go back to normal after pregnancy.

I really would try to not worry (I know - easier said that done!) since most commonly low platelets during pregnancy are nothing to worry about. You can google gestational thrombocytopenia (the medical term for low platelets during pregnancy) and find more info if you are interested, but try not to get freaked out! There is always information about the scary unusual things when probably you have something that is not scary at all.

PP - even if your count drops to 70, you should be fine as long as the platelets you have are clotting okay. There are different things they can do to bring your platelet count up, but it depends on what is causing them to be low. For example, a platelet transfusion would not help me at all since my immune system would just destroy the transfused platelets. But if I take prednisone for a few days before I deliver, it should bring the count up.

One thing to be aware of is that some anesthesiologists won't do an epidural with a count below 100 because there is an increased risk of bleeding in the spine. My hematologist says that as long as my count is 50, that is fine for a c-section or vaginal delivery and it is fine for an epidural, too, but that if the other doctors (OBs or anesthesiologists) want a higher count, we can use prednisone to get my count up to whatever level the anesthesiologist wants.

It's good that your doctor is checking your count every couple of weeks and hopefully your count stays stable where it is or even goes up, but know that even if it drops a little you will be fine. Good luck!

jim7496 · September 2010

Mine have been low too. The Dr's feel it is the same as PP's-ITP. So I'm actually going to be induced next week probably because they don't want my platelets to keep dropping and then turn into an emergency situation. But everyone is different. Trust your doctors and call them if you have questions.

SueLovesRyan · September 2010

Thanks everyone! Very helpful information.

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