Low Platelets During Pregnancy
Having low blood platelets during pregnancy is the second most common type of blood disorder after anaemia.
Between 5-8% of women will be diagnosed with a low blood platelet count, or thrombocytopenia, during pregnancy.
Very rarely can this be a problem during pregnancy or birth but it is a good idea to be prepared for the potential impact if you are told your platelet levels are low.
What Are Platelets?
Platelets are plate shaped cells that circulate in your blood, helping it to clot when needed.
If a blood vessel in your body is injured, it sends a signal which activates platelets to travel to the damaged area. When the platelets reach the injured blood vessel, they grow tentacles to help them make …show more content…
Having more than 400 million is a condition called thrombocytosis. If you have less than 150 million it is known as thrombocytopenia.
Most care providers recommend women have a full blood count done at some stage during pregnancy. This will routinely check for platelets levels.
What Causes Low Platelets?
The three most common causes of low platelets in pregnancy are immune thrombocytopenia, preeclampsia and gestational thrombocytopenia.
Immune thrombocytopenia
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune condition occurring before pregnancy. Your immune system attacks the body’s platelets, and usually occurs after a viral infection occurring during childhood.
It is most likely ITP is diagnosed well before you become pregnant, but sometimes will be picked up with early pregnancy blood tests. Treatment is usually steroids if platelet levels drop below a certain level. There is also an increased chance of your baby having low platelets with ITP.
There are a number of symptoms of immune thrombocytopenia:
• Bruising easily or having many bruises
• A rash appearing on the lower legs, which is actually bleeding under the skin
• Blood in urine or …show more content…
Low platelets can indicate a more severe form of preeclampsia, known as HELLP syndrome, often seen in the third trimester.
HELLP syndrome is a serious condition and will usually mean your baby needs to be born immediately. Your baby’s platelet levels will be normal and a few weeks birth your platelets will also return to the normal range.
You should be aware of the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia if you are pregnant.
Gestational Thrombocytopenia
The most common cause of low platelets during pregnancy is gestational thrombocytopenia, which occurs in about 5-8% of normal pregnancies during the third trimester.
It is not known exactly why this occurs but it is thought to be a result of the increased blood volume as your pregnancy progresses to full term. During the last trimester, your blood plasma will have increased by almost 50%.
As the plasma increases, the platelets are effectively diluted, meaning there are less platelets per milliliter of blood. The blood platelets can still perform their job and will return to normal levels after your baby is born.
Other causes of low platelets can be:
• Certain medications, such as blood thinners
• Kidney infections
• Excessive intake of alcohol
• Certain types of
Having low blood platelets during pregnancy is the second most common type of blood disorder after anaemia.
Between 5-8% of women will be diagnosed with a low blood platelet count, or thrombocytopenia, during pregnancy.
Very rarely can this be a problem during pregnancy or birth but it is a good idea to be prepared for the potential impact if you are told your platelet levels are low.
What Are Platelets?
Platelets are plate shaped cells that circulate in your blood, helping it to clot when needed.
If a blood vessel in your body is injured, it sends a signal which activates platelets to travel to the damaged area. When the platelets reach the injured blood vessel, they grow tentacles to help them make …show more content…
Having more than 400 million is a condition called thrombocytosis. If you have less than 150 million it is known as thrombocytopenia.
Most care providers recommend women have a full blood count done at some stage during pregnancy. This will routinely check for platelets levels.
What Causes Low Platelets?
The three most common causes of low platelets in pregnancy are immune thrombocytopenia, preeclampsia and gestational thrombocytopenia.
Immune thrombocytopenia
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune condition occurring before pregnancy. Your immune system attacks the body’s platelets, and usually occurs after a viral infection occurring during childhood.
It is most likely ITP is diagnosed well before you become pregnant, but sometimes will be picked up with early pregnancy blood tests. Treatment is usually steroids if platelet levels drop below a certain level. There is also an increased chance of your baby having low platelets with ITP.
There are a number of symptoms of immune thrombocytopenia:
• Bruising easily or having many bruises
• A rash appearing on the lower legs, which is actually bleeding under the skin
• Blood in urine or …show more content…
Low platelets can indicate a more severe form of preeclampsia, known as HELLP syndrome, often seen in the third trimester.
HELLP syndrome is a serious condition and will usually mean your baby needs to be born immediately. Your baby’s platelet levels will be normal and a few weeks birth your platelets will also return to the normal range.
You should be aware of the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia if you are pregnant.
Gestational Thrombocytopenia
The most common cause of low platelets during pregnancy is gestational thrombocytopenia, which occurs in about 5-8% of normal pregnancies during the third trimester.
It is not known exactly why this occurs but it is thought to be a result of the increased blood volume as your pregnancy progresses to full term. During the last trimester, your blood plasma will have increased by almost 50%.
As the plasma increases, the platelets are effectively diluted, meaning there are less platelets per milliliter of blood. The blood platelets can still perform their job and will return to normal levels after your baby is born.
Other causes of low platelets can be:
• Certain medications, such as blood thinners
• Kidney infections
• Excessive intake of alcohol
• Certain types of