Low platelets

[rhetoricfem]

Hi

Comments

[lilgreeneyedgrl]

A friend of mine had low platelets, I think around 75000. She had a vaginal birth without an epidural with no problems. Is that an option?

[lilgreeneyedgrl]

To clarify, she wanted an epidural very badly and had no interest in natural childbirth, but decided it was a better option than general anesthesia.

[rhetoricfem]

If they'll allow me to try, I'd give it a shot! There'll be almost 19 months between our two little ones, so I should be healed well enough.

I think they're also concerned with the fact that the HELLP Syndrome kept me in the hospital for over a week last time, and I spent a lot of time getting blood transfusions. That was in a different state, so while they have my documented history, and this pregnancy has been mostly problem-free, I think they're also trying to play it safe.

Thanks for the encouraging info! :)

[smldada9801]

If my understanding of the platetlet/epidural issue is right, the concern is that if someone had an epidural with low platelets there could be problems with clotting which can lead to leaking the cerebral/spinal fluid - which can have a host of nasty side effects. I've had friends who have had this happen and had to go back for "blood patches" in their spines.

So the better option is that instead of a needle stick we'll create a large abdominal incision?

If it were me in that position, I think I'd want to try the VBAC, even without the epidural option on the table.

[fleckerbug]

I personally wouldn't want an epidural with a VBAC (which I hope to have) because I'd be a lot less likely to feel a uterine rupture with a VBAC, labor could end up harder and longer with an epidural and I might be on more of a clock with a VBAC, and when you're having a VBAC they can't augment labor the same as is often necessary with an epidural.

I would be concerned about your low platelets since that's part of HELLP syndrome. What do your doctors think?