ITP and having children

[neet22]

I don't know if everyone's ITP is aggravated by colds/coughs but mine is. I'm trying for a baby and I'm really worried how others cope with ITP and looking after children when they are unwell? I find winter time really makes my ITP flare up. Are you able to look after children who have colds/coughs without getting too ill yourself?

[scaryteacher]

I make sure I have an annual flu jab, a pneumonia jab, and then just get on with it. Besides having ITP and managing to look after my lad, I also taught full time in a secondary school with all the nasty bugs and germs you get from the 1400+ kids there, and I was fine.

[neet22 in reply to scaryteacher]

Wow that's quite encouraging. So it is do-able! I've been scared that as I might get ill so much I would have to be recovering rather than playing with a kid. But I guess we never know which way it will go. Thx!

[scaryteacher in reply to neet22]

I got ITP when I was pregnant, so had to do the Mum bit and the coping with ITP bit in tandem. My lad is now almost 21!

I slept when the baby slept, and didn't worry too much about the state of the house! I took a berocca vitamin C every day, and it always made me laugh that I was the one still standing in school teaching, whilst my colleagues caught what was going, because they wouldn't have the flu jab, and they had the right amount of platelets too! 

[holcotts]

Yes, my ITP was pregnancy induced too. You can definitely really enjoy being a mum!  But you may get more tired than others so need to give up other things, e.g.  late night socialising and stressful work. I believe my ITPbhas focussed me well and made me concentrate on what's really important. Quality time with my little boy . So it can be good! 

It must also depend on what meds you takebans the side effects. The less the better I think. I stick to anti d every few months x