Pregnancy & Low Platelets

Thrombocytopenia, or low platelet count, could be a pre-existing condition to pregnancy or one that develops during pregnancy. According to the UK Midwifery Archives, 5 to 7 percent of pregnant women suffer from low platelet counts. Often the condition is mild, and normal platelet counts return after birth.

Identification

• Though it's normal for platelet counts to drop slightly during pregnancy, when platelet counts drop below 150,000 platelets per microliter of blood, a pregnant woman may be diagnosed with thrombocytopenia. Sometimes symptoms aren't even noticed until the platelet count falls below 50,000. Normal platelet counts are 150,000 to 400,000 platelets per microliter. The Platelet Disorder Support Association says that a 10 percent drop of platelets is normal during pregnancy, and this small drop doesn't result in thrombocytopenia.

Significance

• Formed in the bone marrow, platelets are small, sticky components of blood. According to the Platelet Disorder Support Association, platelets maintain the integrity of blood vessels. These platelets help to seal cuts and help to heal wounds by forming clots. Without a normal number of platelets, wounds cannot clot as quickly, and excessive bleeding could result.

Symptoms

• For mild cases of low platelet counts in pregnancy, the UK Midwifery Archives states that often an affected pregnant woman won't experience any symptoms. For more serious cases, though, the Platelet Disorder Support Association says that symptoms include spontaneous bruising or petechiae---tiny red dots on skin---caused by broken blood vessels or a leak in the capillary walls.

  Low platelet counts can cause excessive bleeding. Bleeding such as blood blisters on the inside of cheeks, or even blood in urine or stool can occur with low counts. The Platelet Disorder Support Association says that extremely low platelet counts can lead to cerebral hemorrhage, bleeding on the brain.

Causes

• The causes for thrombocytopenia aren't thoroughly understood. Pregnancy-induced thrombocytopenia may be linked to hypertension or preeclampsia in pregnancy when platelet levels fall below 100,000.

  For some women, the low platelets that normally come with pregnancy may bring to light a chronic problem of which the woman may have been previously unaware. Immune thrombocytopenic pupura (ITP) is an auto-immune disease and causes the body to attack one or more of its organ systems. Platelets can become a target, and the body eliminates them through the spleen or liver.

Treatment

• For mild cases, no treatment is necessary, and platelets should return to normal levels after birth. For severe symptoms, the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library recommends bed rest to avoid accidental injury and excessive bleeding. Also, it says that when bleeding is severe, platelets can be transfused.