platelets low first trimester?

[Sammieantha86]

Anyone experience this? What was the outcome? Any info that will stop me worrying very welcome xx

I had this when I had my dd 3 and a half months ago, it's really nothing to worry about. I've always had slightly low platelet levels (bruised easily, takes ages for a cut to heal etc) but it's really not a problem in pg. They will just be worried about you losing a lot of blood during labour, I had a cannula put in when I was in hospital as a precaution in case I needed a transfusion and if you need a c-section (or want an epidural) you can't have an epidural if your platelets are below 70 (I think this is the correct number might have been 50 can't really remember!), if you need a c-section they will give a general anaesthetic instead. They'll just monitor you carefully with blood tests to check it doesn't get below whatever their cut off point is 50/70 can't.
When I was 41 weeks mine suddenly dropped to a few above the cut off point so I was induced in case it dropped more (instead of waiting to 42 weeks to induce) as they were worried I would lose a lot of blood in labour, but I had a normal delivery with a small episiotomy and lost a normal amount of blood so all they're worrying was for nothing!!!Try not to get worked up about it if someone would have given me all the info before I was all pregnant and hormonal I think I would have been fine but instead I got myself all worked up and was a nervous wreck the last week of pg which I regret as it's such a special time and low platelets is really nothing to worry about, worst thing that could happen is you will have a blood transfusion after birth to replace lost blood, which obviously isn't what you want but it's nothing dangerous!!!!!!
Best of luck to you, hope everything goes according to plan

Hi Sammi, I've got this too. What is your blood count and how many weeks are you if you don't mind me asking? I'm 21 weeks now- my low platelet count was picked up at my 13 week scan (platelets were about 129,000) but I didn't find out till my 16 week mw appointment (hospital didn't pass results on- grr!) anyway, had another blood test @ 16 weeks to see if it had changed- had gone up to 136,000 (I think the norm is 150,000-200,000 or something?) I've now got to have another one this week (and I suppose every 4 weeks ongoing)

I too am worried (and mw was pretty crap at reassuring or giving me any info) but I have googled it (probably shouldn't as it is never a good idea!) and the general feeling I have is that it is just something that is monitored and there are some potential restrictions as birdbrain mentioned above.

birdbrain thank you for your input- reassuring to me anyway! Can I ask what your platelet count was during labour? Mine is lower than average (or at least it was 4 weeks ago) but still not that low I don't think (I'm thinking if it's above 100,000 then it's ok!)

Its really hard not to worry- I really wish I didn't have this hanging over me, but be rest assured Sammie you're not alone and the docs/medical staff are all very well equipped to deal with these issues.

mumoftwo I'm sorry I can't remember exactly. I was told the whole way they were a bit low but nothing to worry about, then I went in for my 41 week check up to book an induction and told I couldn't go home they were inducing me that afternoon as the level had dropped to the lowest it can safely be, so to be very honest I was in so much of a daze and a hormonal panic I didn't really listen but from what I remember if your platelets are below 70,000 then you're considered at risk. I think mine were at 72,000 the day they induced me, so like I said they put a cannula in incase of an emergency transfusion but I actually barely lost any blood although I did bleed for about 9 weeks after birth! You can check with your midwife at your next appointment exactly what the cut off is but if your levels have gone up from your last appointment I wouldn't worry to much if I was you, mine went down every time!
Platelets are to help blood clotting so low platelets is no risk to your unborn baby they will just worry about you bleeding, but there's nothing you can do to change your platelet levels anyway so just try not to worry to much about it and enjoy all the extra blood tests they will give you
best of luck x
message me againif you need to

thanks birdbrain good to know that even if platelets are low, doesn't mean I'll bleed tons! I just kind of assumed if they were really low then that would happen (which would terrify me!) Doesn't help that my dad had a low platelet condition and had to have an emergency op - unfortunately due to his condition they couldn't control the bleeding and he died. I think that's why I'm even more terrified of having low platelets.... (I have no idea how low his were when he had the op tho)

Blood test today so tomorrow I'll know if they've gone up or down again, as they went up last time I'm crossing my fingers that they'll be ok again.

thanks again for your post and offer to chat again, really appreciate it

wow mum thats tough to lose your dad like that no wonder your so scared! hope your appointment goes well today and they've staye stable or gone up more. Please let me know. Thinking of you x

well platelets seem to be stable atm- 135,000 so not far off the last results. fingers crossed it stays that way throughout the pregnancy! Thanks for your support bird

glad to hear they're okay, hope they stay like that. being pg is such a worry isn't it?!everything seems so much worse when your hormones are all over the place good luck!

too true- it's a rollercoaster of emotion! thanks