What causes thrombocytopenia during pregnancy?

Thrombocytopenia during pregnancy does not affect the health of mother and baby much but should be monitored regularly by a doctor to ensure the platelet count is not too low.

Thrombocytopenia or low platelet disorders are a common blood disorder in pregnancy. The cause of this condition can be due to changes in the mother's body during pregnancy or due to some medical conditions that you have. To help you get more information about this disorder, aFamilyToday Health has compiled some helpful information through the following shares.

What is thrombocytopenia?

Thrombocytopenia is a continuous decrease in the number of platelets in the blood. Platelets are blood cells that play an important role in blood clotting. Normally, platelet counts will range from 150,000 to 400,000 platelets per microlit (μL) of blood. If the number falls below 150,000 per microliter of blood, it is considered thrombocytopenia.

Mild thrombocytopenia does not affect the health of mother and baby much. However, if the number of urine drops too low, the condition can lead to a number of dangerous complications .

Is pregnancy thrombocytopenia common?

Thrombocytopenia is the second most common blood disorder in pregnancy, after anemia. About 8-10% of pregnant women suffer from this condition. According to experts, thrombocytopenia will be classified into 3 levels:

Mild: platelet count> 100,000

Average: platelet count from 50,000 to 100,000

Severe: platelet count <50,000.

Most pregnant women only have mild thrombocytopenia, if your platelet count is below 80,000, you need to consult your doctor.

The cause of thrombocytopenia during pregnancy

The causes of thrombocytopenia in pregnant women often come from both inside and outside:

1.Gestational thrombocytopenia (75%)

This is a quite random condition, about 8% of pregnant women have thrombocytopenia in pregnancy. The general characteristics of this condition are:

There are no symptoms

Mild to moderate thrombocytopenia with a platelet count more than 70,000

Common in the third trimester and usually detected through prenatal screening

Platelet counts return to normal within 2 to 12 weeks after birth.

Risk:

Pregnancy thrombocytopenia does not affect the health of mother and baby. You should only have periodic monitoring without any treatment.

2. Immune thrombocytopenic hemorrhage (ITP)

It is difficult to distinguish from a fetal thrombocytopenia, and it can be experienced before pregnancy. ITP is an autoimmune disorder caused by the development of anti-platelet immunoglobulin G antibodies. The main features of the disease are:

No symptoms or a history of bruising, mucosal bleeding, bleeding or bleeding gums.

Appears before conception and continues after pregnancy.

Need to be closely monitored during labor and childbirth.

Risk:

Babies whose mothers have immune thrombocytopenic bleeding usually do not have many health problems. Some may have a low platelet count but are very rare. However, the baby's platelet count should be monitored for a few days after birth.

Mothers are at risk of spontaneous bleeding if their platelet count drops below 20,000. As a result, pregnant women with platelet counts below 20,000 need immediate treatment.

3. Preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome

Pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome are the second most common reasons for thrombocytopenia in pregnancy. The main characteristics of this condition are:

Platelet count less than 100,000

Usually occurs between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy

Common symptoms are abdominal pain, pain in the upper right and epigastric region

Proteinuria and high blood pressure.

Risk:

The fetus grows and develops abnormally

Babies are at risk for thrombocytopenia

The mother needs a platelet transfusion if bleeding occurs

HELLP syndrome is more common in women having many children.

HELLP syndrome is a serious condition that needs treatment.

In addition to the three main reasons mentioned above, there are other reasons such as:

4. Acute fatty liver pregnancy (AFLP):

Gestational acute fatty liver is a rare disorder, with about 10,000-15,000 pregnancies only one. The cause is usually an abnormality in intracellular fatty acid oxidation. Common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, pain in the upper right side, irritability, and impaired bile flow.

5. Nutritional deficiencies:

Severe vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency not only reduces platelet count, but also affects red and white blood cell counts. However, very rare pregnant women with thrombocytopenia due to this cause because most pregnant women are supplemented with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects in the fetus.

6. Medicines

Certain medicines, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, can affect platelet formation and production.

Does thrombocytopenia during pregnancy cause any effect?

If thrombocytopenia is detected before pregnancy or during the first 3 months of pregnancy, your doctor will monitor and check if the condition affects the health of you and your baby.

If thrombocytopenia is detected in a later stage, your doctor will check if you have pre-eclampsia or HELLP syndrome.

What is the treatment for thrombocytopenia during pregnancy?

Treatment depends on the severity and usually focuses on addressing the cause. Mild cases do not require treatment, but only require regular monitoring. Serious causes such as preeclampsia, HELLP need to comply with the prescription of the doctor:

Corticosteroids: rapidly increases the number of platelets and reduces the risk of bleeding.

Immunotherapy increases the platelet count.

Blood transfusion.

Some remedies are rarely indicated:

Gargle with aminocaproic acid for excessive bleeding from gums.

Surgery.

Risks may be encountered during childbirth

If pregnant mothers have thrombocytopenia during pregnancy, at birth you may face some of the following risks:

Too much blood loss during childbirth.

Babies may experience internal bleeding.

You can't get an epidural because you're at risk of an epidural.

How to increase platelet count naturally?

Here are some things you can try to increase your platelet count:

Eat colorful fruits and vegetables like oranges, kiwis, tomatoes, and green vegetables

Drink beetroot and carrot juice

Eat foods rich in vitamin C like spinach, lemons, bell peppers, and broccoli

Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like eggs, flaxseed oil, tuna, and salmon

Eat whole grains that contain phytoestrogens and vitamin E

Eat foods like walnuts, carrots, peanuts, black sesame seeds, lean meats and milk ...

The causes of thrombocytopenia during pregnancy can be difficult to accurately diagnose. However, this situation does not affect the baby much, so pregnant mothers do not need to worry too much. If you have any questions, you should see your doctor to get answers.