Offer women with sickle-cell disease (SCD) in the immediate postnatal period and up to six weeks after childbirth care in addition to that outlined in WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience (28):

• to manage and treat SCD and its complications, using evidence-based interventions including diseasemodifying agents such as hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) and pain-management strategies;
• to prevent morbidities such as thrombotic events by considering the need for, and initiating,

thromboprophylaxis, as per local recommendations;

• to guide choice of contraceptive methods;
• to screen the newborn for SCD; and
• to guide counselling on the safety of breastfeeding for the baby