Sickle cell disease- Effects on pregnancy

- Increased perinatal mortality (4-6 fold)

- Increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage, IUGR, premature labour, pre-eclampsia (early onset with accelerated course), fetal distress and C/S

- 2 fold increase in maternal mortality - Increased risk of UTI, chest infection and puerperal pyrexia - VTE, fat embolism and bone necrosis

- Folic acid deficiency may lead to megaloblastic anaemia. 

- Iron deficiency is not typical