Ann,

Usually in an immediate postpartum mom, those numbers mean SEVERE HELLP
Syndrome, which is life threatening.  Liver enlargement, sometimes with
rupture, seizures, kidney failure, DIC, loss of vision, lots of nasty
problems.  Hopefully, she is being seen by a perinatologist who is up to
snuff on HELLP.  If not, please STRONGLY suggest it to her!  There are
other reasons for a rapidly decreasing platelet count, none of them good.
Her current level of 15,000 is incompatible with life.  She can not afford
to have any break in the skin because she would not be able to clot off even a
small tear.  I had a platelet count of 27,000 once and my nurse failed to
realize the complications and gave me an IM injection.  I had a bruise the
size of a large dinner plate that lasted over 6 months, not to mention bleeding
from the injection site for hours.

Denny






--- Denny Rice, RN, IBCLC

--- Dallas, Texas, USA

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