I'm being monitored for low levels of platelets

[mslucy]

Apparently mine have dropped but not to scarily low levels yet.

I have to give more blood on fri then go to doc next wed. The m/w told me that it was not in any way life threatening, though obviously it has made me very worried.

Have done some basic research (ie looked at the internet) and it seems this is not uncommon.

It puts me at greater risk of bleeding (and less of a clot - fewer platelets make blood clot less easily).

m/w couldn't really answer any of my questions - eg is there anything I can do dietwise to improve the levels or will I be given medication?

I'm 31 weeks pg and feel right as rain, so I'd be surprised if there is anything massively wrong with me.

Anyone had any experience of this?

Hi Mslucy, I don't have much info but didn't want you to go unanswered! Maybe someone else will spot this. I had low platelets as part of pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome, so quite a different situation to you. My lowest level was about 60 at 29 weeks but they went back up a bit after that so you might find yours go back up spontaneously. I wasn't given any advice on diet etc or given medication, so can't advise you on that - I do know that if they fall very low you might need a blood transfusion, but sounds like you are a long way off that!

Good luck!

I had low platelets in my last pregnancy, they tried to use it as an excuse to stop my homebirth. I had bloods done twice a week and we agreed that as long as it didn't drop below 100 (I think, it was 2.5 years ago!) I would stay home, if it went lower I'd go in.

It is quite common, and there is nothing you can do to boost them, so just relax and chill.

I had my HB, including a physiological third stage (no injection to expell placenta), and, ironically, bled less than I did at my hospital birth where there was no concern about my platelet levels!

thank you for all your words of support. I've done quite a bit of research on the subject and am less paranoid about the whole thing now.

I have another blood test this afternoon then see the doc on Wed.

They were 104 at last count (down from something like 127).

I am just going to take extra care with diet and try not to be too manic in my behaviour and just hope for the best.

From what I can recall 104 is fine, my friend is a consultant aneathsetist (I can't spell, sorry!) and she said 80 was probably ok, but no lower for my HB, if they went lower then hospital delivery with a bag of matched platlets on hand was the best idea.

Good luck!

104 is fine

I'm booked in for a hospital birth, so it all sounds like a bit of a storm in a tea-cup.
Seriously, every test I've had in this pregnancy has just made me worried senseless for sod all reason - starting to understand why people turn into lentil weaving hippies!

his article might be helpful.

www.midwifery.org.uk/platelets.htm

If they've found your platelets are o nthe low side they probably just want to monitor them to make sure they don't get too low. All the best.

Thanks for that - I think I found it the other day!

Had a blood test today and no one seemed that bothered - just classic testing for the sake of testing hospital stuff.