Low white blood cell count and pregnant

[gilly77]

Hi I am 19 weeks pregnant and because I have a low white blood cell count I have regular blood tests every 2 weeks!  I have had this problem for years but Ive not really been "sick" Just the usual common cold and sore throat etc.  Since July my count has varied from 2.7 to my lowest yest of 1.9. Normal count is between 4.0-11.0  Ive been referred now to a Haematologist, which I did see back in 2003 and had a bone marrow sample done ! Everything came back normal?  Now I am really worrying a because its the lowest its ever been and secondly because I am pregnant with my first baby.  I thought being pregnant lowered your immune system but my midwife has now scared me and said no, and that they dont expect your white blood cell count to decrease with pregnancy??? Im such a worrier and now thinkimg the worst.  Has anybody else suffered with a low white blood cell count this low?
I will appreciate any comments to ease my worries :-) xxxx

[slick86]

Hello,
I also suffer from low white blood cell count! I found out since 2006 when I was 20 years old. Lately, I think my symptoms have been getting worse. There is always something wrong with me starting with the fact that every little sickness turns into an infection. I'm always tired and get lymph nodes on my neck all the time. I'm under a physician's care right now but I will be recommended to see a hematologist. All of this worries me because I wish to have a family in the near future and I don't want any of this to affect me. I believe that if you're under the care of a specialist you and your baby should be fine. Hope all goes well!

[gilly77]

Hi

Thank you for your reply it is much appreciated.  I am really anxious  about seeing the haematologists but I know I need to go especially beacause I am pregnant.  I have no obvious symptoms as yet only my blood count indicates otherwise.  It's the Neutrophils thats have been consistently low now my Lymphocytes are showing low readings too? Thank you for your comments :-)

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
Well, pregnancy is a healthy physiological state and will not reduce your immunity. In fact immunity is at its best during pregnancy. However, since your WBC count is low, you need to be extra careful about infections. Since you are pregnant and have low white blood cell count, lupus, folate deficiency and hyper-spleenism needs to be ruled out as this can affect pregnancy. Do discuss this with your doctor and get yourself examined. Take care!