Homebirth with platelets looking on the low side. WWYD?

[bohoec]

I had a low platelet count with DC1 (120 ish, so not low enough or dangerous enough to require a transfusion)

I've been planning a homebirth with DC2 but my bloods have come back and my platelets have dropped again. This time to 140ish. The bottom of average is 150. My midwife is a bit non committal about it and she's said I could carry on planning a homebirth and just 'see how it goes'.

The thing is, I'll have no way of knowing what my platelet count is, so if I opt for a homebirth and it has dropped again and I hemmorhage I will be in a high risk place if I'm at home.

Everything else about this pregnancy and my previous labour has been low risk and 'normal'

Should I go with the midwife or go with my instinct that a homebirth in these circumstances is too risky.? WWYD?

Can you go back and discuss it with your mw? Or have your levels checked again nearer the time?
If you're worried about being at home then it's probably not the best place for you because you'll be anxious and not able to relax.
Usually mws are super cautious though so if she's ok with it I'd find that reassuring.
Do you have special reasons for choosing a hb?
Good luck making your decision

Risk of haemorrhage don't increase until your platelets get an awful lot lower... Around 60. 140 isn't a concern for anything, just a flag to check platelets every four weeks. How many weeks are you?

Thanks both.

No special reason to want a hb other than I'm signed up to the low intervention = happy mother = more chance of a 'natural' birth school of thought around childbirth. And it would be quite magic to have a baby at home in my opinion, plus my toddler could come home and meet the baby and see us in her own environment rather than an unfamiliar clinical place.

I had no complications with my first labour, it was quick and I was out of hospital the same day so a hb is a really appealing option to me and my DP.

I think I was a bit spooked by the platelets situ last time because the midwives seemed much more concerned than my mw has been this time. Looking back perhaps they were more cautious because it was my first.

It's just a niggle in my mind that won't shift.

I'm 35 weeks, and my first was 2 weeks 6 days early so another blood test in four weeks might be too late! I can't imagine they'd drop by another 50+ in the next few weeks though?

Sorry, just rambling now! Thanks for your thoughts!

I think that is fine. Mine was below 100 and I only lost 100mls blood! No one can guarantee you won't haemorrhage though even with a higher platlet count. It's a risk I would take happily.

Thanks Nannyplum

Aww I hope you get your lovely home birth, seems the platelet level is more of a flag than a worry?

140 Isn't considered particularly low..mine are just under 100 so checking weekly but will only become an issue in delivery if they drop below 80..I would think you will be unlikely to drop so much in 5 weeks they might just want to give you another blood test nearer the time to check..

Nah you'll be fine then. They won't drop to scary levels by the time you deliver (barring rare liver disorders which will have other symptoms).

Platelets recycle very quickly so you need a more recent result.

If you stick with the HB idea then you need to maximise your iron levels so you don't have double trouble with your blood.

If you go into hospital with low platlets the difference in your birth will likely be.

1. A cannula
2. A group and save sent to the lab incase blood is needed quickly.
3. The availability of a drip to reduce bleeding will be there just in case or used just in case depending on the levels at the time.

A group and save lasts 72 hours so technically you could go in and give one every three days so there was a current one if you were transferred in.