did anyone else have low platlettes while pregnant??

[veganwitch]

i just got my bloodwork back and my platlette count is low. i asked the midwife if there was anything i could do and she said just to keep taking my pre-natal vitamins.

im freaking out. they are at 98 and if they go below 70 i will have to deliver in a hospital and not the birth centre. im more scared of the hospital than i am of hemorraging.

[Bridget Burke]

1. Do you have a doctor?

Midwives are great but physicians have their uses. If you're not using an ob/gyn, surely you have a "regular" physician.

You really need to get some serious medical advice. And, if you really need to deliver in a hospital, be glad for the opportunity. Your health & the health of your baby are more important than being "natural".

[veganwitch]

2. midwives has just as much training

as ob/gyns.

[Misinformed01]

3. You are already getting bad information

Here is a website that outlines the college requirements to become a midwife:

http://www.naturalhealers.com/qa/midwifery.html

That is not even close to the training that an ob/gyn receives.

As far as "just keep taking your prenatal vitamins..."....if you are so comfortable with this advice, (and I damn sure wouldn't be) then why are you asking about it on DU?

I don't know from your screenname if you are a wiccan and vegan...but, there comes a time when you have to realize that modern medicine is useful. I LOVE all that natural herbal stuff (drives my husband nuts) but, I know when it's time to go to the doctor.

[SoCalDem]

4. Without knowing "how pregnant" you are..

it's hard to give "advice"..

First of all, remember this.. Your child has to live with the decisions that you make now...for his/her entire life..

A regular schedule of prenatal checkups at a doctor or clinic, chould not interfere with your choice to use a midwife..

In fact it could make it easier..

By having a "regular" medical history, you can make a truly educated choice and not wait until you are in the actual act of childbirth, to realize that there might be a problem..

Assuming that you are young and healthy, it should be no problem, but what if there is??

I was 24, in perfect health and damned near died from a massive complication at 7 1/2 months..

I am not telling you this to scare you, just to remind you that this is a few months out of your whole life, but it's the foundation of your child's entire life..

Play it safe..

[Maine-i-acs]

5. You need more tests!

At a minimum - have a good track of your blood pressure, and get a "Liver function test"

There is a serious problem called HELLP that some pregnant women get. (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver function, Low Platelets).

Also look carefully into the platelet thing. Some people develop antibodies to "Phospholipids" while pregnant. Phospholipids are present in platelets, as well as the linings of blood vessels including the placenta. Get an Autoimmune profile of some kind to check that.

Please tell your midwife that you would like some further work-up of this clinical finding. Low platelet counts are not to be brushed off!

The consequences of not doing anything could be pretty severe for both of you. Considering the potential risks, having some more blood tests is a no-brainer.

And please give us some followup in this thread!