A study in Southeastern Brazil with 42 high-risk pregnancies identified that in the hospitalization before delivery, the occurrence of urinary tract infection, pneumonia, pulmonary hypertension and fetal growth restriction were significantly more frequent in the group of women suffering from SCA. This same study revealed that the need for blood transfusions during delivery or postpartum was significantly higher among those suffering from SCA compared to those with sickle cell trait (3).
The fear of death and the death of their child is justified by the history of women who experience these complications. The women become aware of this fear from the reports of other women affected by the disease or from those who have had similar experiences in the family. Studies highlight that pregnancy in women suffering from SCA is associated with birth complications and high incidence of fetal distress due to the inherent growth restriction that occurs in these pregnancies (3,9).