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Mercy ob/gyn Dr. Robert Atlas

Mercy OB/GYN Dr. Robert Atlas Discusses Sickle Cell Disease And Pregnancy On WBAL-TV11's "Woman's Doctor"

Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that is painful and dangerous, and pregnancy can make sickle cell worse.

Latasha Walton, whose son Aaron Jr. is one month old, is relieved that her risky pregnancy is over -- risky because she has sickle cell.

According to Dr. Robert Atlas, OB/GYN, Chair of the Department and Obstetrics at Mercy Medical Center, sickle cell disease poses a risk to mother and baby.

"For the fetus, there is a higher rate of miscarriage, high rates of preterm birth, higher rates that babies don't get enough oxygen inside and they don't grow as well," Dr. Atlas said. "So there's a lot of risks associated with it, as well as there is a higher incidents of death to the mother."

Walton lost one pregnancy at 37 weeks. This one went well -- at first.

"But close to my due date, I started having complications with sickle cell and had to stay in the hospital for two weeks towards the end," she said.

A woman with sickle cell should see a doctor before attempting pregnancy, Dr. Atlas noted.

"They should be placed on higher doses of folic acid, they should take good care of themselves," he said.

Even though Latasha had to be hospitalized, she got what she wanted -- a beautiful, healthy baby.

"He's our little miracle baby, I like to call him," she said. "He's just precious, adorable."

A woman with sickle cell who is pregnant should see her OB/GYN, her hematologist, and a high risk OB/GYN to manage her care to get the best outcome, Dr. Atlas said.

To view Dr. Atlas' interview on WBAL-TV11's "Woman's Doctor," click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/26119412/detail.html. To watch Dr. Atlas' interview regarding a new term for VBAC (vaginal birth after C-section), click here: http://www.wbaltv.com/video/26118811/detail.html.