When I found out I was pregnant, I was overjoyed. And terrified.
Pregnancy with sickle cell disease is complicated. The risks are higher, the appointments are more frequent, and you never quite know how your body will respond. I had a whole team of doctors, but I still felt like I was navigating the process alone.
I was told that pregnancy would be hard, but I wasn’t prepared for just how hard it would be. There were pain crises that landed me in the hospital. There were sleepless nights worrying about whether my baby would be healthy. There were moments when I wondered if I’d made a mistake.
But I also learned something important: I was stronger than I thought. I got through the hard days. I had a supportive partner, a team of doctors who actually listened, and a community of other women who had been through the same thing.
And when my baby was born — healthy and strong — I realized that every challenge had been worth it.
To any woman with sickle cell who is considering pregnancy: you have options, you have support, and you are not alone. I’m here if you want to talk.
Have a story of your own to share?