My doctor gave me one week to decide if I want to have an amnio or not. I am 13 weeks pregnant and he wants to do this by next week if I choose to. He told me it's a 5 minute procedure done under local anesthesia and that once the sac is poked it seals back almost immediately. All you will feel is cramping and like DNA, this test is 99.9% accurate for over 200 birth defects. My family and hubby's family have no history of defects but I am over 35 years old with my third and last child. We are both very sketical of this procedure but if this test is 99.9% accuate- I would feel irresponsible. I read on other threads that this hurts like crazy but if you're under local anesthesia- why would there be pain??? Any comment is greatly appreciated!
2006-11-01 05:37:33 · 17 answers · asked by Lucci 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
i WOULD NOT DO it because it can cause miscarriage. That's not a risk worth taking to me...but hey, everyone is different i guess.
2006-11-01 05:40:50 · answer #1 · answered by CMA 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
ahhhh the amino....remember it well! U are lucky that they are going to do it under anesthesia as i wasn't...OUCH but it was soooo worth it! I say yes, do it. it is the best test out there to be done on the baby while u are pregnant. It can tell u every thing that is going on in there from baby's health conditions up to the color of eyes the baby will have. I had to take it cause one test kept coming out positive and there was a high concern about my daughters well being if carried to full term. They first consulted me and my family on genetics and how they all work and mix together and how chromosomes also play a big role. U learn a lot as U drink plenty of water and cant go to the bathroom till after the procedure as this helps raise the womb towards the pubic bone area for easier needle insertion to not harm the baby. As the procedure is done they had the monitor where i too could watch them insert the needle and (even though it hurt like HELL my concern was all on the baby and I knew it was worth it) U can see where the needle goes in on the screen and how they keep it away from the baby so that the baby does not get stuck with the needle. It was a quick process of them withdrawing the fluid. It is what U must do after that takes the time. Since there will be a small hole from the needle U will have to lay (even on way home)flat so that no amino fluid leaks out till the hole heals....that is a 24 bed day after procedure unless things have changed since my going through it 16 years ago. Wear comfortable clothes, bring a pillow for ride home, and a hubby or friend to be your driver and companion for the day as the before part is the longest of learnng of the genetics and such b4 u go through the procedure. Good luck to U and your little one on the way. IT IS SOOOO WORTH IT!
The risk for miscarriage is very low it is a thought to discuss with your Doc but it is a very low percentage that it happens to.
If I were to have another baby...I would do it again! Good luck!
2006-11-01 05:57:06 · answer #2 · answered by any1on 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Amniocentesis is not done under general anesthesia. Your doctor probably meant he uses a local numbing shot, like Novocaine, to numb your abdomen before he performs the procedure. There will be slight sting when you get the numbing shot, but you will be awake during the whole thing.
Amnio is considered an invasive test and it does entail some risk. In fact, there is a 1 in 200 to 1 in 400 chance that the procedure will cause miscarriage/fetal death.
The test is much safer when it is performed 15 to 16 weeks AFTER your last menstrual period. It is NORMALLY done between 15 and 20 weeks. I would be very concerned about having it done at 14 weeks and would ask your doctor why he is doing it so early??? Doing it this early would definitely increase your risks. If you choose to have it done, I think you should wait until you are 15 to 16 weeks.
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/amniocentesis.html
http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/pthirdtri/0,,midwife_3pb3,00.html
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/327.html
2006-11-01 05:54:32 · answer #3 · answered by EmLa 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I had one done without any anesthesia and it wasn't that bad. It wasn't really any worse than a tetanus shot in the upper arm. If you're worried about the pain, don't, it's not that bad especially if you're having local anesthesia. I had an amnio because they thought the baby had Downs Syndrome. My husband and I decided to take the test so that we would be prepared if there was something wrong with the baby(we personally don't believe in abortion for ourselves so we wouldn't have done that if the test came back positive)
My OB had 2 kids past age 35 and she had an amnio with each one to test for defect. Nothing wrong with it.
If you are concerned with the risk of miscarriage, your doc can give you percentages. They are not that high at all. Your risk of having a "natural" miscarriage is higher right now than the risk of miscarriage due to amnio is.
2006-11-01 05:43:07 · answer #4 · answered by momofmodi 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
My dr wanted me to get a amnio also but I choose not to. I am 35 and this is my 2nd pregnancy but the first I had a miscarriage. I didn't want to take the risk of having a miscarriage. I have had all the blood test and stuff like that and my baby is fine, I am 28 weeks and 4 days. Good luck on your decision.
2006-11-01 05:58:35 · answer #5 · answered by shorty 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They didn't use any anesthesia or even numb the area when they stuck me. Since you ARE over 35 I say get it. I had it done when I was pregnant with my daughter since I was 35 at the time. Yes, the puncture shuts immediately & if you leak any amniotic fluid it will be only a small amount right after the procedure. It takes a bit longer than five minutes, too. I won't lie to you - mine hurt. If you get anesthesia, then you shouldn't have any trouble. But I think you should get it done. If I ever get pregnant again, I will indeed, even knowing that it hurt me. Good luck - & congrats!!
2006-11-01 05:48:11 · answer #6 · answered by pumpkin 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I say if you aren't planning on having an abortion no matter what the outcome is, then don't get one. Over the age of 40 you have much higher risk of the baby having down syndrome, between 35-40, there is still a risk, but if you are healthy, and no family members have birth defects, you should be ok. If your gut tells you to go ahead and get it done because you want to know and be prepared for it, then do it. It's up to you. I personally chose not to have it done (although I was 23 at the time) only because I knew 100% I wouldn't abort my baby, and I'd accept my baby no matter what. But it's completely up to you. Goodluck, and congrats on another baby :) They are amazing! I hope to have more myself.
2006-11-01 06:07:36 · answer #7 · answered by m930 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If your families do not have a history of birth defects, you're probably safe without. However, your age may be a factor. It is possible that they rupture the amniotic sac during the procedure, although not very often, so keep this in mind. It's a tough decision and I wish you luck!
2006-11-01 05:41:30 · answer #8 · answered by Shannon L - Gavin's Mommy 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I desire you the suitable and that i'm sorry you had this kind of terrible being pregnant in spite of the indisputable fact that that is going to quickly all be worth it as you comprehend. I had a astounding being pregnant with my first yet with my 2d, i became continually drained and my son became breech yet finally grew to change into and each and every thing became ok, yet fortunately did not ought to go by each and every area you probably did and it now makes me appreciate my 2d being pregnant which on the time i presumed became puzzling. So... good luck and that i'm hoping each and every thing is going the way you want it from the following on out.
2016-12-05 10:36:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know alot of women have this test done. I choose not to have it done because there was a slight risk to the baby and I already knew that whether or not my child had a birth defect of any kind that I would not terminate my pregnancy.
2006-11-02 04:13:04 · answer #10 · answered by katydid 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Haven't you had a Maternal Serum testing done??? That is a blood test which will tell you the percentage of risk you have to having a baby with Birth Defects.....I had one done....it measure your chances, and is quite accurate......
My chances for a baby with Spina Bifida were a little higher, but then I had a special Ultrasound which showed no problems.
I WOULD NOT HAVE THE AMNIO done....There is a risk of miscarriage due to that test....and I know I wouldn't want to take it.......
2006-11-01 05:50:05 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋