I am 8 mos pregnant and I just found out that my baby's father has the sickel cell trait. He has 3 children from past relationships and he says that even though he is african-american and I am white that she (the baby) will have it because all of his other kids have it. I have tried researching it on the net but I am having minimal luck. Can anyone help me out with understanding this. I would really appreciate it. Thank You.
I would like to thank you all for all of your help the names, numbers, and web sites that I got really helped out a lot. Thank you all again.
www.kidshealth.org has a really good article about it. Truman Medical Center has a Sickle Cell Research Center, as well.
Just type in sickel cell in the computer and lern, learn, learn
is the spelling sickle or sickel? I believe le
Your baby will be checked for the trait when it's born. Just because your boyfriend carries the trait, doesn't mean the baby will have it. Both of you have to have the trait and then there is a 2 out of 3 chance that the child will get sickle cell. IT IS ONLY AN AFRICAN AMERICAN DISEASE. I am Native and my hubby is black. He carries the trait and has passed it to our daughter. She will NEVER get sick. BUT if she has a baby with another trait carrier then that child may be infected. So here's the breakdown. Having the trait doesn't mean you have sickle cell. So don't worry about your baby. BUT please have the baby checked and you can also tell your doctor that the father has it and they can check you too. But you don't really need to worry about carrying the trait if you are not of african american decent. I was checked because I'm native and may have some african americans in my family somewhere. Let me know if I can help any more!!
S.
As others have said, your child has the chance of having sickle cell trait. Even if both parents have sickle cell trait, there is still only a 25% chance that the baby will have both sickle cell genes that cause sickle cell anemia. With only one parent with sickle cell trait, there is no way to get two, but there is a chance, 25%, that your child will have sickle cell trait, or in other words be a carrier, which generally has no symptoms. African Americans, are not the only people that can be carriers, however it is most common in people of African and mediterranean descent. Your best way to find out about your child is through a genetic test to see if your baby is a carrier, but it shouldn't cause you any problems if it is. Good luck.
http://www.curesicklecelldisease.com/SCDI/sct.htm
Here is a good site that talkes about sickle cell disease and how it is contracted from one parent.
Bear with me it's hard to explain this without a pencil and paper. The good news is while your baby may be a carrier for sickle cell the baby won't have sickle cell anemia. You have to receive the sickle cell gene from both parents to have the condition. It's very unlikely you carry a gene for it at all. So you can't give one to your baby.
If Daddy -has- sickle cell anemia, then he has two genes for it and will pass one to your baby so your baby will be a carrier. If Daddy is a carrier he has a 50/50 chance of passing on the gene so your baby has a 50/50 chance of being a carrier.
If it's really something you are worried about talk to your doctor (even a general practitioner can handle this one) and have them pull out the paper and explain it to you.
It is my understanding that just because you have the trait, doesn't mean you have the disease. Both parents have to have trait for the child to have the disease. Yes, your child may end of having sickle cell trait, but may never exhibit or develop the actual disease.
Check out this website. It can also give you info on other sites.
http://www.webmd.com/hw/anemia/hw254176.asp
I learned about it at school and simply put, your daughter would have to have the trait passed on from both parents in order to have the sickle cell disease. Sickle cell trait is a genetic marker no different than blue eyes or brown eyes. If only one parent is a carrier of the trait, there is no chance that your child will end up with sickle cell disease. It will just be a trait that she will carry with her. She may have to worry about any children that she has if her husband has the trait too, but for now, don't worry too much your daughter will be fine.
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=sicklecelldisease;jsessi...
This is what I found with some research.
Hope it helps
G.
T.,
My name is Chris Glover and I am an Occupational Therapist who works with many children with developmental concerns, and some who have the sickle cell trait. I know that it is genetic and if one parent is a carrier, the child will be also. That does not mean that the child will actually be diagnosed with sickle cell, just that they will at least carry that gene as a part of their genetic make-up. One resource that our comapany has used and referred many families to is the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Resource Center. Jenny Hatfield-Reed is the coordinator there and she is great. Basically what they do, is work through UMKC Human Development Center to provide information and resources to individuals, like yourself, on any developmental concerns. This is a free service. All you would have to do is contact her and tell her that you are wanting information on sickle cell. She hsa all of the latest medical journals, research, treatment, carrier genetics information and can tell you what is true and not true with internet sites. I don't have her phone number handy but her address is UMKC, Institute for Human Development, MODDRC KAG70, 5100 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110-9989.
There are also genetic councelors at both Children's Mercy Hospital and the University of Kansas Medical Center that can help share information about carrying sickle cell as well as the likely hood that your daughter may actually have it. Just call the main numbers and ask to speak with the Developmental Clinics or genetic councelors.
I can be reached either via email or at ###-###-#### if you have any questions for me.
Good luck and enjoy your daughter when she arrives!
Sincerely,
Chris Glover
What a jerk, he waits until after you are pregnant to mention he has a disease that can affect your child. I hope he at least has the presense of mind to warn the next person....three now four kids...ugh..
Sickle cell is a disease where the cells are "sickled" or moon shaped. To actually have the sickle cell disease both parents have to carry the sickle cell trait. Your baby's father obviously carries the trait if all of his children also carry the trait but carrying the trait doesn't result in the disease. Your OB can do a blood test on you called a hemoglobin electrophoresis that will check to see if you carry the trait. It is less prominent in the caucasian population but you could carry the trait. If you carry the trait then your child will need to be tested at birth. . . Hope this helps.
Hello T.,
I don't agree with your husband when he says that your child will have sickle cell trait. It is a chance but not definite. Do some more research and i will try to find out some info for you also.. i am a nursing student so i have some books that i can read to maybe find out some info for ya K? i will get back with you soon when i find some information
T.:
Only a professional is qualified to answer the questions you are asking. Does your doctor know your concerns, and your baby's father's health history? If not, it sounds like he/she needs to, so you can be directed towards someone who can give you some real answers. Relying on the net for medical info is kind of risky, because you don't always know who is putting out the information. Unless your baby's father is a medical professional and an expert in the field of genetics, he is not qualified to make any kind of a diagnosis or prediction.
Good Luck,
J. H.
You need to talk to your doctor, there are test that they can run as soon as the baby is born to find out if the baby has it. My daughter is bi-racial and they ran the test on her when she was born, she does not have it. But if your obgyn does not know, you should talk to the doctor that is going to be the baby's doctor.
Hi T.-
My son is mixed and he carries the trait. Hemoglobin C trait is what it is called. Now that does not mean that your child will have sickle cell. They will just carry the trait. But, if your child has a baby (when he or she is grown) with someone else who carries that trait, their child will have sickle cell anemia. Our children will not suffer any health effects. The State requires that you know so that your child will know to check blood types of anyone that they might have children with. It just is something your child will need to be aware of when they are old enough.
If you have any other questions don't hesitate to message me! I was in your shoes a few years ago!!!!
