My platelet count came back last week the same value as before. So, it’s still slightly on the low side, but not getting any lower. The doctors expected it to get much lower in the 3rd trimester, but it hasn’t… praise God! They’ve warned me that there’s always a chance that my platelet count will lower more right before delivery, so they’ll do a quick blood test in the hospital when I arrive. If any emergency arises during delivery (like an emergency C-section or postpartum hemorrhage), I’ll need a platelet transfusion. Chris & I are praying that no such emergency arises and that my platelet count will be within normal range, so that I won’t need platelets. But we’ve also begun to plan a little… we’ve set up a directed donor platelet account with the Red Cross. Essentially, friends\/family can donate platelets, which would be held on reserve for me at Arcadia Methodist just in case I need them. <\/p>\n
If you’re interested in donating platelets, all you have to do is call the American Red Cross Patient Services Dept at 1800-696-1757. You have to setup an appointment at one of their plateletpheresis centers (they’re all over LA and Orange County). Plateletpheresis is a much longer process than donating whole blood and usually takes anywhere from 1 to 2.5 hours. You can learn more about plateletpheresis at:<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.lifeshare.org\/donating\/plateletpheresis.htm<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.givelife2.org\/donor\/apheresis.asp<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here are some eligibility guidelines in the link below. You need to also have not taken any aspirin-containing products for at least 36 hours. They also recommend that you are either a regular blood donor already or you know that you’re not scared of needles since the process takes much longer than a normal blood donation.<\/p>\n