HB Midwife Pushing for stretch & sweep- VENT

So I am on a public gov-funded homebirthing program, and over the last trimester my blood platelets have dropped. The hospital Ob who engages with the HB midwives and HB program would like my platelets to be over 100 in order for her to give me the green light for the homebirth.
However my platelets are now 105, having dropped from 109 and 118 at the last 2 blood tests. Everything else is within the perfectly normal range - blood pressure, blood sugar, baby's position perfect and all else.
I have research natural methods for increasing platelets - through diet etc, and most of the foods recommended I eat plenty of anyway - spinach, kale, alfalfa, garlic etc. I have been having spirulina smoothies and eating plenty of healthy foods.

The risk is that I am more inclined to bleed heavily, however I have already agreed to a managed 3rd stage (drug induced delivery of placenta), provided the cord blood has stopped pulsating, in order to diminish the chance of heavy bleeding. This has consoled the Ob and midwife somewhat, however my midwife is now pushing for a stretch and sweep in order to get things moving, so I can have my HB out the way before another blood test is required. I declined one today (I am 39 weeks), but she is keen to do one for me next Tues (39+4). My midwife is great, and I can tell that she desperately wants me to have my homebirth and avoid the hassle of going to hospital (3rd time lucky!), but at the same time, the main reason I opted for HB in the first place is to avoid uneccessary intervention - which I feel the S&S is. I am very big on letting mother nature do her thing!!

If I refuse the S&S, I face the difficult prospect of being declined for a HB (and subsequently water birth- gggrrr) if I do not go into labour spontaneously before my next blood test is required (if platelet count is lower still). Then of course, if I have the S & S, there is a chance that it will do nothing or very little anyway - depending on how ready my body is to birth. I am yet to reach 40 weeks gestation - with DS1 labour started spontaneously at 38 weeks, and again at 39+5 with DS2. So going on past history, there is a good chance things will happen naturally next week.

Just a bit upset about this situation, and feeling cornered to either intervene or face hospital. Preferably I would like to avoid both! :lol: Annoyed about blood platelets not cooperating too. Why do I feel like homebirth is so out of reach for me??? Grrrr. Thanks for listening to my vent. It's just a shame to get this far complication-free and to be dealing with this pressure now.

:hug:
Not fair, not cool. I hope that your vent has allowed you to let go of all those frustrations.

You sound as if you are doing everything right and have a great chance of having a wonderful birth at home. I really hope that those around you pushing the rules and highlighting those lines in the sand get a grip, take stock and listen to you a bit more.

All the best for the next week. Hope you find inner peace amongst all this and get the birth YOU want and deserve.

ETA: was thinking that maybe something like Chinese Medicine could work some magic with the platelets??

That's really frustrating!
Sounds like you and your midwife are in a bit of a tricky situation. Have you talked to her about how you're feeling? If only to clear the air before you go into labour next week :)
Hope it all goes smoothly for you this time

Thanks guys. :) Have decided I must boycott the stretch and sweep and be as open as possible about what I want - otherwise I fear I will regret it.

If this means I end up in hospital because of low platelets then I suppose that's what I have to do. Just not sure exactly what they can do for me in hospital that cannot be done at home? I am already having a managed (drug induced) 3rd stage for delivery of placenta, plus will accept blood transfusion if required. (Heaven forbid!), which is exactly what they offer in hospital if you bleed heavily. So I really can't see where else things would be different.... Last time I went to hospital they only complicated things for me by pushing all sorts of uneccessary drugs which I reacted badly to.

How are you going JB?

Been thinking of you. Hope it has been a smooth week with everything!

Hope everything is going well, JB. The whole point of a homebirth is less intervention so things can unfold naturally. Low platelets *may* increase the risk of bleeding more, slightly - but they don't mean that you *will*. A S&S is really interference that could set off the cascade, natural induction is still induction and often leads to problems. The manipulation and coercion here is wrong wrong wrong - maternity services are bound to support women's choice - which means if a woman gestates to 44 weeks and the homebirth service cut off says she must be in hospital if she goes over 42 weeks, but the mum still wants her homebirth - then guess what, they are bound to support HER CHOICE. If you still want a homebirth with (slightly) low platelets while you are doing everything possible to build up your blood, then they should advise you of the pros and cons, and make a note that you have been counselled, chose to continue with the homebirth, and that they are duty bound to continue to support you.

A herbal tea of Nettle, Red Clover, Alfalfa, Red Raspberry Leaf and Dandelion can also be excellent to build up the blood.