38 weeks, low platelets and stressed

[Tryingandhoping2020]

Midwife appt yesterday, she did a blood test to check for pre-eclampsia markers because I’ve been having quite frequent headaches. Results came back fine for pre-eclampsia, but midwife called me and said that I had low platelets (130ish down from 230ish at booking appointment). She booked me in for another appointment in a week to repeat the test and see if they’d dropped again, said if they drop below 100 would have to be on labour ward to monitor for excessive bleeding and no option for epidural. Found all this a bit stressful and got about 4 hours sleep last night thinking over all the possibilities, but had calmed down a bit today knowing that it was going to be monitored and I’d be under the right care etc.
Now text from midwife, she’s spoken to a consultant and she’s said no need to repeat the test unless I have high BP or protein in urine. I asked if it could still be repeated as I’d rather know if they’re low as will affect my decisions in labour and should affect my care — midwife said no, they can only run urgent tests due to the blood bottle shortage.

Does anyone have any experiences with low platelets at the end of pregnancy? I’m feeling like my care has kind of been abandoned due to a consultant who has never met me overriding my midwife by email I know the nhs is stretched but I’m not feeling like my well-being is at the heart of the decision making here.

I feel for you OP. My platelets are only 143 at the moment so I "shouldn't worry yet" but I would feel exactly the same as you. I already feel like my care is pretty much non existent and I'm just an NHS number on a computer screen.

Is there any way you can go private for a repeat test?

@Tryingandhoping2020 I know how stressful this can be, I went through something similar! At my 34 week appointment my platelets came back 124 (down from 183 at booking). Midwife told me not to be overly concerned about it, but of course explained all the scary "what ifs". I had a repeat test at 37 weeks and the platelets are back to 150, which is within normal limits! Huge sigh of relief! 😮‍💨
To be unable to have an epidural your platelets must be below 80 and even then, they can do a transfusion to bring them up if they feel it's the best for you. But it sounds very unlikely that this is the case with you. Also, they say to monitor every 4 weeks for results between 100-140. You'll probably go into labour within that timeframe and then they'll test you anyway, I believe.
I'd say to try and not to worry but I know that it's easier said than done! I wish you all the best! ❤️

Thank you @UKmumtobe and @eloiseislost ❤️ It helps to hear other experiences of this. I was feeling calm and ready for labour, but this has been such a curve ball at the last minute that it’s totally messed with my head! Sadly it does feel like the NHS see you as just a number at the moment I would consider paying for a private blood test but the results don’t come back as quickly and I could go into labour in the meantime 🤷🏼‍♀️

Bumping this for any more experiences?

Hi, I am only 9 weeks but had by booking appointment blood results with a platelet count of 26 repeat test at 28! Previous pregnancies were low at around 100 but never this low!

I only discovered I had low platelets when in labour with my daughter. Mine were down at 20! I had a platelet transfusion but because of this I could not have an epidural. I ended up needed an emergency section & because of the low platelets I unfortunately had to have a general anaesthetic. I also had high blood pressure & was told I had something called hellp syndrome. I’m now pregnant again with my second child & just a constant worry that it will happen again although mine are ok at the minute.