Pregnancy in women with sickle cell trait

The complications and outcome of 334 pregnancies in women with sickle cell trait between 1975 and 1981 are reviewed. The perinatal mortality rate was 6 per 1000. The main maternal complications were recurrent urinary tract infections (6%) and haematuria (16.5%). Fetal distress in labour was seen in 17% and 11.5% were delivered by emergency caesarean section. Compared with a comparable group of women without sickle cell trait, the mean birthweight of the babies (3202 g) was not reduced. The mean age of the mothers (25 years), their mean parity (1.46) and the percentage who were para 4 or more (13%) were all significantly increased, with important implications for the continuing transmission of the sickle cell gene.