Acute pain episodes are the most common
occurrence in women with SCD (Howard and
Oteng-Ntim, 2012). Early self referral to hospital
is advised for women in sickle cell crisis so that
an assessment by the multidisciplinary team
can be made and appropriate analgesia provided.
On the woman’s arrival to hospital a joint
assessment by the haematologist, obstetrician,
anaesthetist and midwife is required. The
first concern of the woman may be her baby’s
wellbeing; the midwife must perform a fetal
assessment at the earliest opportunity.