Low platelet and abnormal liver function result

[Pingu1985]

I am now 35 weeks, nearly 36 weeks. Since 8 weeks pregnant I have always had a low platelet count results. The first results were 147, then at 28 weeks they were 127. Iron levels and HB levels have all been fine though.

I was told I also had a low papp a of 0.36 half way through so I was put on aspirin, and I have been having to go for extra growth scans at the hospital.

My blood pressure has always been normal, and even the last BP that was taken was low-ish 95/65.

I have recently had this virus that everyone has been catching recently, but even after I got over that, I've still felt exhausted, like ridiculously exhausted. People have kept telling me, including midwife, that it's normal to become exhausted later on in pregnancy, which I know, but this was stupid! I have kept falling asleep at work, hitting head on desk kind of tired, and literally no energy to do anything whatsoever, No housework, I just want to sleepp all the time.

So I pushed and pushed for the docs to do more bloods. I have been feeling sick and getting a lot of headaches too.

Anyway, I got my results today from the bloods and they have said my platelet count has dropped again to 117 and abnormal liver function has flagged up too.

I am just wondering what all this means and if I should be worried? :/

It could be something very serious called HELLP syndrome.
You need to speak to your health care provider.

Hmmm. I have tapped that into Google and I thought the symptoms are very very similar, but I don't have the high blood pressure , that's what is confusing me. :/ I have a scan on Tuesday, so I am going to mention it to them there and also see if they can pull up my blood results that I've had done today. :/

Hi Pingu, PP has given you good advice. Absence of high blood pressure does not exclude HELLP syndrome, I'd advise you to keep an eye on your blood pressure and if it increases or you feel unwell or rather, worse than you say you already do, have abdominal pain, headaches or vomiting, go to your doctor's or to A&E!

Poor liver function test results sounds like an inflamed gallbladder which is very common late on in pregnancy

I've come across it a few times but further tests are needed. Have you been having any pain under your ribs?

Ask for a full blood work and keep doing your kick counts every day

Hi, thanks. My blood pressure has always been ok, and I'm not getting any pain in tummy or upper ab. But I have been feeling queesy and getting headaches a lot recently. Not so queesy this week, that was more last week when I felt fatigued, but this week the headaches have got worse.

I really need to jump on one of those bp machines at docs, obv, bp can change all the time. :/

I didn't realise that even with absence of the high blood pressure doesn't necessarily rule out hellp. :/ hmmm will mention all this to docs on Tuesday when we go for scan at hospital. Might even ask to speak with midwife while there tbh.

Thanks

Ok, so went to an appt today which was nothing to do with my pregnancy, but was cheeky enough to ask them for a copy of my latest blood test results. :)

So I'm just wondering if anyone would know/had experience of this before , for the Liver function test, is it the Albumin and the Alk Phosphatase results they are looking at? I have them here in front of me.

Also my platelets have dropped from 117 on 7th of April (when I pushed nurse to do more bloods), to 94 on the "retests" on 15th April.

They've dropped the same in one week as they have in the last 6 months of being pregnant!!!! Jeez!

Now I'm getting worried. I have my 36weeks growth scan tomorrow and I have a funny feeling they gonna keep me in for observations maybe.

Albumin and alk pros are always abnormal in pregnancy. With pre eclampsia and HELLP you have raised ALT. If you have had low platelets since early preg you probably have thrombocytopenia.
If you ALT is below 40 and it's the Alk pros and albumin you are looking at them it doesn't sound like PET or HELLP, but you do need to be seen to review your platelets as it could mean you are unable to have an epidural/spinal

Ahh, ok, that's made me feel better then. Thanks Mummyme87.

Yeah, ALT is 20, All Phos was 151. Albumin was 25.

Platelets have been since 7weeks pregnant, gone from 147 down to 94. I was told that anything below 100 usually has the midwives flappin. 😂 Glad it doesn't appear as serious as I initially thought. Phew!!!

I wasn't intending on an epidural this time round. It didn't do me any favours last time except slow down Labour!!!

Doctor themselves haven't been in touch yet, so I'll just mention it when I'm at my scan tomorrow to see if they need anymore bloods. :)

Yes under 100 needs investigated. My trust we do epidural/spinal if over 70 but not everywhere will do that. It affects use of spinal so if you needed a procedure in theatre it may be a general anaesthetic. Probably need very very regular bloods to monitor platelet count

Are you a midwife/nurse Mummyme87? You are very knowledgeable.

Me, my mum and my partner have all wondered when midwives/hospitals started doing all these tests and stuff for like platelets and low papp a, coz I don't remember having all these with my last pregnancy in 2006.

When I gave birth back then, I lost a lot a lot of blood, but there was no mention about low platelets, back then. It was a traumatic labour tbh.

But I'm probably more healthy this time round than I was back then, yet this time seems to have had a lot of different things crop up that I've needed extra tests or scans for

Yes midwife.
Platelets are routine with a full blood count which is the test that checks your haemoglobin and has been for years just never mentioned unless it's a problem.
Papp-a is new in the last few years as part of the Down syndrome screening

If you didn't have low platelets last time you may have developed gestational thrombocytopenia this time

Ahh, I see. Probably flagged up this time then as I have only been diagnosed with sarcoidosis 3 years ago too. Apparently that affects platelets the consultant said.

Spoke with them after the scan and they are sending me for repeat FBC, for ITP blood test - check autoantibodies, platelet function, and have an anaesthetic alert or something on my record. :/

Crazy thing was, the head circumference looks HUGE! And now I'm like, OMG! how on earth am I gonna deliver this bambino?!

I'm not that worried now about the result - today totally put my mind at ease speaking with the consultant at the hospital.

Just can't wait to see the little chubby chops!