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• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal beta thalassaemia and other variants >> Interview 02 >> She did not realise she was being screened for beta thalassaemia, so was shocked to learn she was a carrier.

Discovered she was a beta thalassaemia carrier from routine screening during pregnancy. She was not aware she was being tested. Partner was tested and is not a carrier.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal sickle cell >> Interview 01 >> His partner and he had screening in pregnancy because they thought it was routine and just something everyone did.

His partner had routine screening in pregnancy and found she was a sickle cell carrier, so he also had carrier screening. Results unknown at time of interview. No family history.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal beta thalassaemia and other variants >> Interview 13 >> Even though they had a leaflet about the carrier screening test, they never believed they could be affected.

Routine pregnancy screening showed she is a carrier of beta thalassaemia, and that he carries haemoglobin E. They had amniocentesis, and the baby was unaffected. They would have had a termination if the baby was affected. Interview mainly in English with some brief discussion in Vietnamese.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal sickle cell >> Interview 10 >> She believed it was the law that she had to have screening. She was upset to discover she was a carrier, but she thinks it is important to have the te

Mother discovered from antenatal screening she was a carrier of haemoglobin C. The baby's father was no longer in the UK to be screened. A newborn test showed the baby had SC disorder.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal beta thalassaemia and other variants >> Interview 29 >> Although she already knew she was a beta thalassaemia carrier, she has been tested again in both pregnancies. She does not mind if it helps keep recor

Mother discovered as a student she was a beta thalassaemia carrier. When she became pregnant the first time her husband was tested and is not a carrier. Video and audio clips read by an actor.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal beta thalassaemia and other variants >> Interview 17 >> She knew she was a beta thalassaemia carrier but has been told she needs to be tested in every pregnancy - which has made her both anxious and annoyed

Mother who is a beta thalassaemia carrier, and her husband is not a carrier. They have been told in several pregnancies they need to repeat the test, which has caused anxiety. Video and audio clips played by an actor.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal beta thalassaemia and other variants >> Interview 30 >> Her husband did not want to be screened during pregnancy, but the midwives persuaded him after the baby was born. His result was normal. (Video in Urd

Mother discovered through screening in pregnancy that she carries Haemoglobin D Punjab. Her husband is not a carrier. Newborn screening showed her second baby is also a carrier. Video and audio clips in Urdu.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal beta thalassaemia and other variants >> Interview 02 >> She had no idea what beta thalassaemia was when she got her results. The 10-day wait for her partner's results to come back was a very emotional time.

Discovered she was a beta thalassaemia carrier from routine screening during pregnancy. She was not aware she was being tested. Partner was tested and is not a carrier.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal sickle cell >> Interview 03 >> She was given a clear explanation of what CVS would involve, and did not find it too painful. (Read by an actor.)

Woman with haemoglobin SC disorder. Husband discovered he was a sickle cell carrier. Had CVS in all three pregnancies. The first and second babies had SC disorder, but the third had sickle cell anaemia. Video and audio clips read by an actor.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Newborn >> Interview 26 >> They knew about the heel prick test, but they never gave it a second thought until the letter arrived saying the baby was a sickle cell carrier.

The parents were shocked when newborn screening results showed the baby was a sickle cell carrier. Both parents were screened and the mother is also a carrier.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Newborn >> Interview 27 >> They had never heard of haemoglobin E until they discovered the baby was a carrier.

Newborn screening showed the baby was a haemoglobin E carrier. The mother was also found to be a carrier, but the father was not affected.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Newborn >> Interview 25 >> At first they worried the baby was ill. There was no interpreter to explain he was a carrier. [Estavam preocupados que o bebê tinha uma doença. Não ti

The parents discovered their baby was a sickle cell carrier as a result of newborn screening. They have since learnt the father is a carrier. Video and audio clips in Portuguese.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Newborn >> Interview 26 >> They did not understand at first what it meant that their baby had 'abnormal haemoglobins', and they were worried she might have sickle cell anaemia.

The parents were shocked when newborn screening results showed the baby was a sickle cell carrier. Both parents were screened and the mother is also a carrier.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Newborn >> Interview 28 >> Even though the letter said her son's health was not affected, she did not feel reassured and wanted to talk to a counsellor straight away.

Newborn screening showed the baby was a sickle cell carrier. The mother had been tested years ago and told she wasn't affected, but a new test showed she was a carrier.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Newborn >> Interview 27 >> It was easier to understand what being a carrier is once they talked to a counsellor. The midwife helped them find information in Thai.

Newborn screening showed the baby was a haemoglobin E carrier. The mother was also found to be a carrier, but the father was not affected.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Newborn >> Interview 26 >> The counsellor explained what being a carrier meant and reassured them the baby was healthy.

The parents were shocked when newborn screening results showed the baby was a sickle cell carrier. Both parents were screened and the mother is also a carrier.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal sickle cell >> Interview 01 >> Professional learning: He felt screening in pregnancy was just a routine part of care. He would never have thought of having screening otherwise.

His partner had routine screening in pregnancy and found she was a sickle cell carrier, so he also had carrier screening. Results unknown at time of interview. No family history.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal beta thalassaemia and other variants >> Interview 02 >> Professional learning: She did not know what all the blood tests in pregnancy were for. It did not help seeing different midwives each time.

Discovered she was a beta thalassaemia carrier from routine screening during pregnancy. She was not aware she was being tested. Partner was tested and is not a carrier.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal beta thalassaemia and other variants >> Interview 13 >> Professional learning: At first they did not take carrier screening seriously. They'd never heard of the conditions and they never expected to discove

Routine pregnancy screening showed she is a carrier of beta thalassaemia, and that he carries haemoglobin E. They had amniocentesis, and the baby was unaffected. They would have had a termination if the baby was affected. Interview mainly in English with some brief discussion in Vietnamese.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal sickle cell >> Interview 05 >> Professional learning: She was willing to go along with whatever tests the NHS offered, but she did not know much about what she was being screened fo

The couple discovered in pregnancy they were both sickle cell carriers. She felt strongly as a Christian that she did not want any diagnostic tests, and has faith her baby will be healthy.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Newborn >> Interview 26 >> Professional learning: After a difficult birth, she did not pay much attention to the heel prick test. The results were a shock.

The parents were shocked when newborn screening results showed the baby was a sickle cell carrier. Both parents were screened and the mother is also a carrier.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Newborn >> Interview 27 >> Professional learning: They had the heel prick test believing it was compulsory. The results took them by surprise.

Newborn screening showed the baby was a haemoglobin E carrier. The mother was also found to be a carrier, but the father was not affected.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Newborn >> Interview 04 >> Professional learning: She remembers the midwife taking some blood samples from the baby, but she was not sure at the time what they were all for.

Mother knew she was a sickle cell carrier; husband was re-tested when their son was diagnosed with SC disorder, and found he was a haemoglobin C carrier. Child is doing well. Pregnant again at time of interview, no further testing.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal beta thalassaemia and other variants >> Interview 24 >> Professional learning: Her brother and sister-in-law felt pressured into having CVS and considering termination in their first pregnancy. They did not

Both parents are beta thalassaemia carriers. Had CVS in first pregnancy. Baby diagnosed with beta thalassaemia major and they continued the pregnancy. In three pregnancies since they chose not to have antenatal diagnosis and none of the children is affected. Some audio clips in Mirpuri. Sister-in-law also interviewed in English.

• Pregnancy & children >> Screening for sickle cell and beta thalassaemia >> Antenatal sickle cell >> Interview 14 >> Midwives need to take more time to explain the aim of the screening test and prepare people for all outcomes. [Les sages-femmes devraient prendre le t

Mother discovered she was a sickle cell carrier in her first pregnancy. Father is not a carrier. He later changed his name and was recalled for screening when she was pregnant again. Audio clips in French.