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As Maya Rivers prepares to welcome her second child this October, she has revealed that a rare blood condition will prevent her from receiving an epidural during labor. The star of the hit series This Is Us recently halted her tour to focus on her family and health, including the well-being of her baby. In a candid conversation with Today Parents, Rivers shared her diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), an autoimmune disorder that results in a significantly reduced platelet count.
At 38, Rivers explained that her platelet levels are “too low for an epidural,” recalling that she also experienced an unmedicated birth with her first child, now 17 months old. “It was tough, but I’m ready to face it again,” she said. “I wish medication was a possibility; just knowing it was an option would be great. However, we’ll move forward like we did last time.”
Rivers and her husband, musician Jake Thompson, celebrated the arrival of their first son in February 2021, after three years of marriage. Initially, she intended to have a home birth, but as labor progressed, she had to be transported to a hospital. The pain led her to consider an epidural; however, upon arrival, she learned her platelets had dropped drastically, making medication unfeasible. “I guess it was a good thing in hindsight,” she remarked, “because I wanted to go unmedicated, but during labor, that option wasn’t viable for me.”
Dr. Emily Carter, head of Maternal Fetal Medicine at a leading health institution, explained that a very low platelet count can pose risks when administering an epidural, potentially causing spinal cord injury. Additionally, ITP can lead to maternal bleeding, which can also endanger the fetus due to the antibodies affecting the baby’s platelet count.
During the delivery of her first son, after three hours of pushing, Rivers faced a sudden drop in the baby’s heart rate, prompting her doctor to use a vacuum to expedite the delivery. “It was surreal; one moment all seemed well, and the next, everything changed. I pushed like never before, and in an instant, he was here,” she shared, reflecting on the bewildering experience.
Last week, Rivers updated her followers on her condition, assuring them, “I’m doing well. Just need to keep monitoring my blood and platelet levels during this pregnancy. They are low, but that’s always been the case for me. Overall, everything is good.”
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Summary: Maya Rivers is preparing for an unmedicated birth due to her rare blood disorder, ITP, which prevents her from receiving an epidural. Having faced similar challenges during her first delivery, she remains optimistic about her upcoming labor experience.