Why Mandy Moore Won’t Be Getting an Epidural

When it comes time to welcome baby number two in October, Mandy Moore won’t be asking for an epidural.

The This is Us star will have an unmedicated birth due to a rare autoimmune disorder known as immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, ITP is a blood disorder characterized by a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood. Platelets are cells in the blood that help stop bleeding, and a decrease in platelets can cause easy bruising, bleeding gums and internal bleeding.

In Moore’s case, her regularly low platelet count means placing an epidural could cause injury around the spinal cord. The actress told TODAY parents that for this reason, she would have to have an unmedicated birth, as she had done with her 17-month-old son, Gus.

“It was awful. But I can do it one more time. I can climb that mountain again,” Moore told TODAY. “I wish medication was an option—just the idea of it being on the table is so nice. But we’ll just push forth like we did last time.”

On July 28, Moore shared an ITP update with her followers on Instagram. “I am fine. I just have to continue to get my blood checked—my platelet levels checked—throughout pregnancy. They’re low, but they’ve always been low,” Moore explained in her Instagram story. “But I’m all good. Everything’s good.”

The beloved actress and singer first announced that she and her husband, Taylor Goldsmith, were expecting their second baby boy on June 3. The couple revealed the news on Instagram with a sweet picture of their one-year-old son August wearing a big brother shirt.

“One incredibly seminal chapter of my life just ended, and the next one, as a mother of two, is about to start…and are we ever so deeply grateful and excited,” Moore shared in the caption. “Baby Boy Goldsmith #2 coming this fall! Tour is gonna be slightly different than I expected, but I can’t wait, and Gus is gonna be the BEST big brother!! Xo”

Since her pregnancy announcement, Moore has made the decision to end her tour early to focus on her health and has drawn attention to the need for all moms-to-be to take a minute to rest. “It’s hard to slow down. It’s difficult to feel like you’re letting yourself or anyone else down. It’s disappointing to admit you can’t do it all sometimes,” Moore shared in an Instagram post. “But it’s also empowering to give yourself permission to be human and take a breath. We all need it. To prioritize rest over hustle.”