low platelets in blood twice, now got consultant appointment - what to expect?

[NinjaChipmunk]

I'm 18 weeks pg with dc2. My bloods from my booking in scan came back with low platelets (cut off is 150 million I think and mine came back at 125 million so low but not too bad) I had them retested at my 16 week appointment. My mw called me on Monday to say they had come back low again (didn't get a chance to find out how low, was at work so not thinking straight!) and that she has made me a consultant appointment for this coming Friday to sicuss what needs to be 'put in place' (her words).
Has anyone else had low platelets and if so what was done for you? Did it affect how you gave birth at all? I want to use our local midwife led unit again as it was really good last time. Any advice/ experiences appreciated!

I had this with both my pregnancies. Seems a while ago now so I may have some of my facts mixed up but I think the deal was I was told that if it slipped below 100 then I wouldn't be allowed an epidural (so not an issue if at a midwife led unit anyway) and I think I was also told I needed a managed third stage (injection) but can't remember the logic behind that.

I have birth both times at a midwife led unit with platelets lower than yours and all was ok.

Good luck.

Thanks bogey that sounds pretty straightforward. I had a managed 3rd stage last time as frankly by that time I was knackered and didn't want to labour for any longer than neccessary!
Did your platelets go back to normal after the birth? Did they even check?

I often wonder about that. No one ever checked after I had given birth so I have no idea whether it was a pregnancy related condition or just something that I have all the time. It was all pretty straightforward. I had to meet the consultant and then they made me meet the anesthetist too so that he could talk me through under what circs I would not be allowed an epidural (I guess they wanted to manage my expectations in case I did need one). And that was pretty much it. Oh yes, both times, as soon as I went into labour, they did a blood test when I arrived at hospital. I guess this is in case of emergencies (e.g. EMCS) so they know what type of pain relief you could have.

I had low platelets and wasn't allowed to go in the birthing unit but that maybe down to individual hospital. I was told I couldn't have an epidural as mine were below 90 while I was in labour. I did have mine checked after I gave birth but I just went to the doctors for a blood test & requested the results at my 6week check up.

Throughout my pregnancy I had to have blood tests every week to check whether the level was dropping, it dropped gradually but never anything serious. I was told if it went very low I'd have a platelet transfusion but that never happened. After pregnancy mine was back up to 160 which doctor said was acceptable.

Good luck, hope everything goes well with your pregnancy & birth x

Thanks poppy I wonder why you couldn't use the birthing unit? Thankfully ours is in the same bit of the hospital as the maternity unit so will see what they say. Good to hear it went back up though.

That's good news that it's gone back up - fingers crossed!

The birthing unit is in my hospital too but they said I had to be in the main delivery suite in case I needed the transfusion. The only thing they did was check my bloods every couple of hours through labour & again after I gave birth. I got told it was just pregnancy related.

All hospitals are different though so I'd just check with your midwife or consultant about the birthing unit.

The delivery suite was fine for me & I had brilliant midwives, although it was my 1st so I didn't know any different.