There have been many questions on the Sickle Cell Warriors Facebook page regarding being pregnant with sickle cell. Many of the women have shared their experiences with pregnancy, labor and delivery.
The one consistent theme is that each and every person has a different experience. You have to remember that just because Lucy had a rough pregnancy doesn’t mean that you will to. Being pregnant with sickle cell works about the same way being pregnant without sickle cell—you never know what’s going to happen. You could have a smooth, easy pregnancy period, and successful labor. You could have a rocky start, with nausea, vomiting, and pregnancy complications. It really just depends on how your body deals with the pregnancy and the stresses that it places on everybody.
I think that alot of moms to be are super worried about being pregnant—and with just cause. However, having sickle cell doesn’t guarantee you a rocky pregnancy…in fact, some moms have stated that their health was the best that it’s ever been while they were pregnant. One lady said that she never even had a crisis the whole time she was pregnant. While she might be the exception and not the rule, it’s heartening to know that just because you have sickle cell doesn’t automatically mean that you can’t have kids, or that you will have a rough time with pregnancy, labor and delivery.
Now we are going to discuss some of the pertinent facts about pregnancy and sickle cell.
The first thing is that if you are trying to get pregnant, or as soon as you find out that you are pregnant, STOP TAKING HYDROYUREA! This medication, although good with managing sickle cell for some patients, has been shown to increase the risk of congenital birth defects and abnormalities. So for the sake of your baby, put the Hydrea away asap.
The second question is that alot of moms worry about taking pain pills when you are sick. You should avoid taking alot of pain pills the first 3 months of your pregnancy. This is when the baby is just developing, and pills during the first trimester have the possibility of leading to birth defects. It is important that whatever pain regimen you are on, that you make sure the pills are Class B or Class A. The classes define whether they cross the placental barrier.
For Class C drugs (most opiates), there is no research that has followed the safe levels of narcotics during pregnancy, so use these in the smallest dose possible and only if you are in extreme pain that nothing else works. Doctors do allow narcotics in small doses and sporadically (once in a while) as long as the benefit outweighs the risk. If you need heavier doses, you may have to be admitted for pain management during a crisis (as I was). Risks to your baby include miscarriage, preterm labor, still birth, low birth weight, respiratory issues, or excessive drowsiness. Let your doctors know exactly what pain meds and how much you are taking.
Aspirin: Should not be taken routinely, unless your doctor has prescribed it for blood clots or preeclampsia.
Oxycodone: Children born to mothers who were taking oxycodone for a prolonged period may exhibit respiratory depression or withdrawal symptoms. Oxycodone is also secreted in breast milk in small amounts, so be sure to pump and dump after you take Oxycodone.
Tylenol: Is considered safe for the whole pregnancy, in all 3 trimesters. But if you have had liver problems, you might want to limit your use of Tylenol.
Dilaudid: Is a Class C drug, and is not recommended while pregnant. However, a couple of moms reported using Dilaudid in their 3rd trimester, with no issues to the offspring.
Motrin: Is fine in the first 2 trimesters, but not in the 3rd trimester because of the risk of bleeding. This applies to other NSAIDS like Aleve, Advil & Naproxen.
Methadone: This does not cross into breast milk and because of its long-acting properties with no peak, it is preferred by high risk OBGYNs as a pain medication adjunct or a good long-acting coverage. You need to start on a low dose and gradually increase until desired effect. It has to be taken at the same time every day, never missing a dose. It takes 3-5 days to feel a therapeutic effect. You cannot stop taking Methadone suddenly, you must taper or wean off.
For Women with Sickle Cell Trait: Pregnant women with SCT are at greater risk for frequent urinary tract infections and developing iron-deficiency anemia than other pregnant women and will require iron supplementation, but they have no extra risks associated with being a carrier.
For Women with Sickle Cell Disease: Women with SCD are more likely to have life-threatening complications during pregnancy, which may include SCD crises, infection (e.g., pyelonephritis, pneumonia, sepsis, postpartum infection), preeclampsia, cerebral vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), cholelithiasis (i.e., gallstones), cholecystitis (i.e., inflammation of the gallbladder), cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, or postpartum hemorrhage (bleeding). Preexisting renal disease or heart failure secondary to SCD may worsen during pregnancy. Anemia and circulatory problems in SCD can result in less oxygen delivered to the fetus, resulting in miscarriage, slower fetal growth, stillbirth, and neonatal death. Fetal complications include intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preterm birth (prior to 37 weeks of gestation), and low birthweight. These risks are also present in women without SCD, it’s just that we are at a higher risk for developing said complications.
So what can you do to manage your pregnancy with Sickle Cell Disorders? Early and regular prenatal care is essential for close maternal and fetal monitoring. General pregnancy care includes a healthy diet, low-impact light exercise, prenatal vitamins, folic acid, increased fluid intake, and prompt treatment of infections and crises. Blood transfusions to replace abnormal cells with normal ones in order to improve the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity may be required for women with a history of frequent SCD crises. Getting too much IV fluids during pregnancy may lead to heart failure, so be sure not to get more than 3L/day if you are going to get intravenous fluids. During labor, a woman with SCD will receive extra oxygen.
It is important that you practice good self care during your pregnancy. Exercise. Hydrate. Rest. Eat Healthy. These are all tips that you should be incorporating into your life anyway, and while pregnant, you should be hyper-vigilant to prevent a crisis and help your baby grow. If you do have a crisis while pregnant, call your doctor right away, as medical interventions may be required to support your baby’s health. If you are having multiple crisis, ask for a neonatal specialist to help monitor your babies’ health in the womb. Become best buds with your OBGYN, and as a further precaution, get a high risk OBGYN that can help you during your transition into motherhood. Continue to see your Hematologist and other physicians as required. Remember, your baby is only as healthy as you are.
Good luck with your pregnancy, and I hope that you put your fears to rest. Know that no matter what issues you go through: even if you are put on bedrest, or have a topsy turvy pregnancy, God is in control. There is a reason He let you get pregnant, and so embrace motherhood with all the joys and surprises that it may bring. At the end of the day, you will have a beautiful baby. So preservere my warrior ladies.
Hi Tosin, I really commend the good work you are doing, may God continue to bless and strengthen you. I would like to say I really enjoyed the interviews, its really interesting and educating. I would like to advise warriors to always have a positive attitude, a good state of mind, and think good about themselves because our actions reveals our thoughts. Sickle cell warriors should be positive in their thinking and should never be intimated by anybody or allow anybody see you differently.
This is just my own little way of contributing. God bless.
I love de way you talk In all ur speech u crown it with God.
Vee, its hard τ̲̅ȍ go through all this, buh thank God you still love God, Ɣø̲̣U̶̲̥̅̊ love ur daughter aήð taking care of her. Pregnancy is †ђξ most dread part of a Sickle cell female patient’s life. You may choose to go on Solamin steady before getting pregnant. Though I had little crises when I was pregnant with ♏♈ boy, but I had a considerably smooth pregnancy period, thanks τ̲̅ȍ ♏♈ local herbs drink from Nigeria that kept me on a PCV of 30 above throughtout pregnancy. Any1 willing τ̲̅ȍ try d herbs can email me (lajumoke1@yahoo.com). I stay steady on d herbs rather than folic acid, aήð I have nƠ̴̴̴̴͡†̥ had crises that has taken me to d hospitall in d last 4 yrs. I Jйʃ† heard about solamin from here as well. Take care andd stay blessed all.
Vee, my prayer is that the God who created the whole universe, the One who is the Sustainer of all, may shower you with all heavenly blessings that you need every second and that He may carry your little one always in His loving healing and protective arms, Amen.
Yes, it is possible to carry the pregnancy to full term and have a health baby. I am 31 living positively with SCD though I have no children of my own as at now. My sister who is 37 years and also has SCD, delivered a healthy son 14 years ago.
Her pregnancy had its equal shares of challenges since she was taken in for hospital bed rest at 6 months, but through the grace and strength from the Almighty God, she emerged victorious! The medical staff at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi Kenya were very supportive as well.
Amen!!
I am a 39 year old woman with SCD (SS at that). I had my first child at 29 and I must say the pregnancy went very smooth. I had blood transfusions once a month until I was induced two weeks early because at that point I started having crisis’. I’m now 39 and pregnant with my second child. I’m only 10 weeks along and have had some crisis, the flu, some nausea and back pain. My doctor recently asked me if I thought about my life expectancy and I said yes and no. With SCD you have to be aware of what can happen but deffinitely not dwell on it and always be positive. I only pray that I will have as smooth a pregnancy as I did with my first child however that is all in the hands of The Lord. I just want people to know that you just have to stay positive and it is possible for a woman with SCD to have children. All pregnancies are different even without SCD there can be so many different complications. Whether you have SCD or not if you are going to try to get pregnant just go for it and leave the rest up to God. I’m a strong believer that I was the one in my family to have SCD because only I could have handled it how I have.
@tosin…dis is a beautiful forum dear…d gud lord who made us surely has a gud plan to keep us safe,well,and healthy.be steadfast in ur prayers and stay positive as much as u can.i do appreciate ur encouragement and work dear.
@carm i am strongly against ur doctor asking about ur life expectancy,lots nd lots of people live with scd for over 60years, its learning how to manage your self,thats all,some people without any form of illness die without notice,so take ur meds,stay positive and God bless.5Thanks.
am 38 year old girl living with scd .i recently got married to the love of my life who is AA. am afraid to take in as a doctor has advised me against it once am in late 30’s .i love kids and i want to have 2
Hey warriors I hope u can help me…. So my question is long and it is a bit TMI but I had to give the background info..
I am a 26 year old sickle cell SS patient. My fiancé and I have been using the pull out method for 2 years. On March 29 I ovulate and he pulled out, we had sex several times after that and all times he pulled out.
I am now 4 days late (my period is never late ever ). I am EXTREMLY sleeply all the time I have only been out of bed for 4 hours in the past 24 hours. Other than some very light on and off again cramps I have no pms symptoms and other than being tired, a lil nauseated and flu like symptoms including a low grade fever I have no pregnancy symptoms.
About a week after I ovulated I started to get really bad cramps so bad o had to take an Epsom salt bath. I also got really bad acne breakout on my forehead.
I went to the to the doctor today and she did a iron test and determined that I am not pregnant. After examining my stomach and finding that I had some discomfort in the upper right hand corner she concluded that it was my gallbladder. She ordered blood work to check the functioning of my gallbladder, pancreas, Liver etc but no pregnancy test….a she said she is not worried about my period being late because the lateness can be due to the gallbladder..
Now being a sickle cell patient I have had 2 gallbladder attacks in the past and this feels nothing like them. I don’t have a heart time eating anything I’m not in pain and I’m not vomitting. I eat extremely healthy and other than occasionally salmon and a daily slice of avocado my fat intake is low. Besides with all the sickle cell complications I’ve had I have NEVER missed a period.
Can my gallbladder really cause my missed period?
I am in love with a lady thats got sdc(ss) ,I am optimistic that I want to spend the rest of my life with her, so I have been doing a lot of research about Sdc(ss) online and thats how I came accross this website, I must say its really nice and educating and also sheds alot of light about all it takes to manage someone with Sdc and also have a successful pregnancy. I look forward to be more enlightened with time . Thanks
Your comment..am happy about this forum, am also pregnant and have had 2 blood transfusion, its been God all through but i cant stop craving for nzu and i feel tired easily, am in my 3rd trimester, please dont stop praying for me
I have a question if someone with sickle cell have a miscarriage how long do they bleed afterwards ?
thanks warriors for encouragement
am 22years with sickle cell.I have a hip dislocation….
am 3months pregnant,,am happy about it and am positive that I will outcome the challenge s
sir can you suggest me a natural remedies I can take during pregnancy because I can’t take hydroxy urea….on that time…plzzz guide me
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I am a young man, and I am about to marry a sister with SS, my first test was AA, second and third AS. However for me, I am not rejecting her for that, it was because of the illness I proposed to her, and I promised God to look after her as best as I can, for our kids no one knows them except God.
But I ask God for healthy kids for all of us as with God all things are possible.
However brothers need to study the way pregnancy comes for their Queens, and ease it for them not keeping them pregnant always.
May God be with us all. I am proud of my warrior, and all warriors, stay blessed!
I’m a sickle cell patient and each time I get pregnant, nurses always complain that my blood is low. What is the cause?