Osteoporosis is a lifelong risk for women with
thalassaemia and, during pregnancy, increased
demands for calcium from the developing
fetus place women at risk for further calcium
deficiency and decreased bone density (Inati
et al, 2015). This can cause fractures, increased
pain and aching for women during pregnancy, as
weight gain and hormonal changes soften skeletal
structure, placing more pressure on pelvic and
vertebral bones. There are also significant
numbers of women with thalassaemia diagnosed
with cephalo-pelvic disproportion, caused by
abnormal bone growth in the maternal skeletal
structure, which alters pelvic size and diameter,
and leads to higher rates of caesarean section
(Zafari and Kosaryan, 2014).