Things not going as planned- low platelet count.

[megame]

I'm getting a little bummed/freaked.

I've been itchy and I've developed red spots above my ankles so my doctor wanted to test my liver function. That test came back normal but I have low platelets 970 I think. Turns out they won't let you have an epi below 1000 ansin 38 weeks now.

I was really depending on it as imterrible at dealing with pain. My plan was to hold out as long as I could and now I maynot have a choice. It sucks because I don't really even like or have I been practicing how to practice pain coping, and the little guys not showing any signs of coming-my doc checked my cervixyesteray and it's still closed and not very soft- i think he said medium. Though ive been getting cramps and shocks probably from babys head running into it, definitely not what I would assume contractions to feel like but they makeme glad epis exist.

It started a few weeks ago with low iron, then it was positive gbs andnow this not to mention all my other blood counts are right below the low border as well. And it's making me worry about baby though he's beenactive- just sucks and makes me paranoid.

Any advice or suggestions? Will probably cross post.

[cristeen]

What did the doctor recommend for a low platelet count? What have you been doing for the anemia and has it helped?

[megame]

I don't think there's anything I can do about low platelets-they're retesting me next week. I didn't see anything on the Internet either. I've been taking an iron supplement opposite my prenatals/ calcium with oj for the iron.

[ElliesMomma]

they can give you other pain relief besides epidural. stadol, i believe, which is a narcotic (i think). it will dull the pain but not leave you completely immobilized like the epidural. it was all explained in lamaze class, and it sounded like those "other" forms of pain relief were better than the epi. because they had fewer detrimental side effects.

i'd suggest that you try to revamp your perspective on this... perhaps it is actually a *blessing* to be denied the epidural, and you can find an incredible strength within to birth your baby drug free.

my own story (quickly) was that i planned to have an epidural on birth #1 but got to the hospital too late. so had to do it "all natural". yes it hurt. but truly it wasn't that bad. and my first thought after DD was born was "i could do that again." indeed i just did. my son was also born drug free-- it hurt, make no mistake. but your body is capable of incredible things.

i just pray for your sake that you can go "on your own" versus being induced, as induction is said to be much more painful, in no small part b/c your body doesn't release it's own pain reliever brain chemicals like it does with natural labor.

[seedling]

I struggle with low platelet counts with each pregnancy. I've found that I can really turn them around and have them rise when I'm really diligent with taking alfalfa tablets (I take three each day, you could do more if your stomach will tolerate) and drinking nettle tea. You can find both of these at any health food store. If you do a search on alfalfa and Lisa Goldstein, you'll find some info. There seems to be contradicting information on the web regarding alfalfa but I've taken it successfully with two of my pregnancies per the instructions of my midwife. I know it works for me because with this pregnancy I was trying to skimp and take just one supplement per day to save money. When I had my bloodwork done, my counts were low. They ordered a retest for a few weeks later and in that time I upped my intake to three per day and when I had the retest, my counts had gone up from 118 to 127.