Honestly, no woman should d!e during pregnancy or while giving birth.
For many women with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), pregnancy is not a smooth journey, it is a serious battle
For them it’s beyond morning sickness or swollen feet.
They experience painful crises that can strike without warning, serious tiredness that makes standing feel like climbing a hill, and severe anemia that drains life from both mother and baby.
Despite all these , there is hope for women with SCD as they still record safe and successful pregnancies when they get the right care, early enough.
In this post I have broken it down to ; the causes, symptoms, risks, and how women can still have safe pregnancies.
Open comment for details 👇
For many women with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), pregnancy is not a smooth journey, it is a serious battle
For them it’s beyond morning sickness or swollen feet.
They experience painful crises that can strike without warning, serious tiredness that makes standing feel like climbing a hill, and severe anemia that drains life from both mother and baby.
Despite all these , there is hope for women with SCD as they still record safe and successful pregnancies when they get the right care, early enough.
In this post I have broken it down to ; the causes, symptoms, risks, and how women can still have safe pregnancies.
Open comment for details 👇
🩸 What is Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)?
SCD is a genetic blood disorder that makes red blood cells:
-Rigid and sticky
-Shaped like a sickle (crescent moon)
-Block blood flow, causing pain and damage
-Break down too early, leading to anemia
These unwanted changes makes the body struggle to carry oxygen and in pregnancy, that shortage affects two lives at once.
SCD is a genetic blood disorder that makes red blood cells:
-Rigid and sticky
-Shaped like a sickle (crescent moon)
-Block blood flow, causing pain and damage
-Break down too early, leading to anemia
These unwanted changes makes the body struggle to carry oxygen and in pregnancy, that shortage affects two lives at once.
How Pregnancy Affects Sickle Cell
Pregnancy makes the body work overtime because of the higher demand.
If you already have SCD, it can:
-Increase pain crises (because of higher oxygen demand)
-Raise infection risk (immunity drops in pregnancy)
-Increase blood clots and blood pressure issues
-Make anemia worse
So, it's not that pregnancy “causes” SCD problems, it only magnifies them.
Pregnancy makes the body work overtime because of the higher demand.
If you already have SCD, it can:
-Increase pain crises (because of higher oxygen demand)
-Raise infection risk (immunity drops in pregnancy)
-Increase blood clots and blood pressure issues
-Make anemia worse
So, it's not that pregnancy “causes” SCD problems, it only magnifies them.
⚠️ Common Symptoms to Watch For
Women with SCD in pregnancy may notice:
-Frequent pain crises
-Dizziness and breathlessness
-Swelling of hands and feet
-Repeated infections (UTIs, pneumonia)
-Severe tiredness and pale skin
Dear pregies, don't ignore these because they can escalate fast.
Women with SCD in pregnancy may notice:
-Frequent pain crises
-Dizziness and breathlessness
-Swelling of hands and feet
-Repeated infections (UTIs, pneumonia)
-Severe tiredness and pale skin
Dear pregies, don't ignore these because they can escalate fast.
🏷️Why Pregnancy is Of Major Concern
Because of how the body reacts, women with SCD are more likely to develop:
-Severe anemia
-Preeclampsia (high BP in pregnancy)
-Frequent hospital admissions
-Stroke or heart strain
-Blood clots and pulmonary embolis
These complications can be life-threatening but with early antenatal care, they can be managed.
Because of how the body reacts, women with SCD are more likely to develop:
-Severe anemia
-Preeclampsia (high BP in pregnancy)
-Frequent hospital admissions
-Stroke or heart strain
-Blood clots and pulmonary embolis
These complications can be life-threatening but with early antenatal care, they can be managed.
🏷️The Baby’s Risk
SCD affects not just the mother but also the unborn child.
Possible complications include:
-Low birth weight
-Preterm delivery
-Fetal distress
-Stillbirth (in severe cases)
-Risk of inheriting the sickle cell gene
That’s why genetic counseling and genotype testing are necessary before pregnancy.
SCD affects not just the mother but also the unborn child.
Possible complications include:
-Low birth weight
-Preterm delivery
-Fetal distress
-Stillbirth (in severe cases)
-Risk of inheriting the sickle cell gene
That’s why genetic counseling and genotype testing are necessary before pregnancy.
🏷️ How to Stay Safe
Before and during pregnancy:
-See a hematologist and an obstetrician regularly
-Check genotype compatibility with your partner
-Take folic acid and prescribed supplements
-Stay hydrated and eat well
-Keep up with required vaccinations
-Treat infections early
-Monitor blood levels, kidney & liver function
Before and during pregnancy:
-See a hematologist and an obstetrician regularly
-Check genotype compatibility with your partner
-Take folic acid and prescribed supplements
-Stay hydrated and eat well
-Keep up with required vaccinations
-Treat infections early
-Monitor blood levels, kidney & liver function
💊 Managing Pain Safely
Pain crises may worsen, but they can be controlled when you:
-Drink lots of fluids
-Avoid stress, cold, and overexertion
-Rest often
-Take only pain relievers recommended by your doctor
-Oxygen therapy may help in severe cases
Pain crises may worsen, but they can be controlled when you:
-Drink lots of fluids
-Avoid stress, cold, and overexertion
-Rest often
-Take only pain relievers recommended by your doctor
-Oxygen therapy may help in severe cases
🧠 Mental & Emotional Health
Let’s not forget the emotional side. Pregnancy with SCD can be scary and exhausting.
Talk to your healthcare team about how you’re feeling.
And don’t hesitate to ask for help, both physically or emotionally.
Did you learn anything here?
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Let’s not forget the emotional side. Pregnancy with SCD can be scary and exhausting.
Talk to your healthcare team about how you’re feeling.
And don’t hesitate to ask for help, both physically or emotionally.
Did you learn anything here?
Kindly retweet
Follow me @celebritypharm for more
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