ITP is a blood disorder in which you have fewer than average platelets.
Platelets are the part of your blood that help stop bleeding when you get a cut or injury.
In more severe cases, there may be gastrointestinal bleeding,very heavy periods, orrarelybleeding inside the skull.
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TheGenetics Home Referenceestimates that ITP affects approximately 4 out of 100,000 children and 3 out of 100,000 adults.
Like many people with ITP, Elana has a family history of the condition.
But it was only when she and her husband started to have children that it really affected her life.
Some of my family members have it too.
Fortunately, in all of our cases, its usually mild.
It mostly shows up asbruises, especially on my legs, which can be awkward.
Doctors explained to me that its common for people with ITP tosee their platelet levels dropsignificantly duringpregnancy.
ITP can also get worse with subsequent pregnancies.
My first pregnancy in 2014 was relatively smooth sailing.
Every three to four weeks, my ob-gyn would check my platelets.
My baseline is typically 130,000 to 140,000.
During my first pregnancy, my levels didnt drop below 95,000.
I still planned around the condition.
ITP also affected my birth plans.
A big concern with ITP and pregnancy is thepotential for increased risksaround giving an epidural.
Individual anesthesiologists have their own comfort levels too, as I found out.
For example, some wont give the epidural if the platelet count is under 100,000 platelets per microliter.
With my first delivery, my platelet levels stayed relatively stable.
Two and a half years later, in 2017, I waspregnantwith my second child.
My platelet levels dipped lower this time, most notably right before the delivery.
The baby was a bit late, so my medical team decided to induce me.
They managed to put the port in just in time.
As I started to push, my babys heart rate dropped.
I saw my baby briefly before she was whisked off to the neonatal intensive care unit.
My platelets were less stable than they had been in my previous two pregnancies.
And at 13 weeks, I had a largesubchorionic hemorrhage: bleeding between the placenta and uterine wall.
I thought it was amiscarriageand raced to the hospital.
Thankfully, the baby kept getting stronger every week, but I had to take it easy.
In the 33rd week, I felt contractions.
Unfortunately, there were more complications.
Fortunately, when I woke up, he was there with my husband, perfectly healthy.
But in the back of my mind, I was getting more concerned with each one.
My husband and I have decided that three children is the perfect number for us.
After each of my pregnancies, my platelet levels went back up to my usual baseline.
I can handle a few bruises!
Conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
