The purpose of this guideline is to produce evidence-based guidance on the management of women with
beta (β) thalassaemia major and intermedia in pregnancy. In this guideline, thalassaemia major women are
those who require more than seven transfusion episodes per year and thalassaemia intermedia women are
those needing seven or fewer transfusion episodes per year or those who are not transfused. Women who are
thalassaemia carriers do not require transfusion. It will include preconceptual, antenatal, intrapartum and
postnatal management and contraception in both primary and secondary care settings. It will not cover
screening as the British Committee for Standards in Haematology has published guidelines for screening and
diagnosis of thalassaemias