Is is risky to get Amniocentesis done?

Question

I'm 29 and 12 weeks pregnant.My doctor told me that this test is optional.Is it risky to get it done?if yes,how risky?Is there anyone who got it done?Is it painful?All suggestions are welcome..thank you.

Answer 1

I had one done but i was 33 weeks. I had went into labor which they stopped it but i had pre-eclampsia so they done the test on me to see if my son's lungs were developed but they weren't. They were going to go ahead and let me have him if his lungs would have been mature.

I was so scared to have that test done on me. I thought it wasn't going to be nothing until i read the paper that i had to sign. It said that it could make you go into labor or that the needle could hit the fetus. It made me not want to sign it but i did.
I couldn't watch them do the test. I made the nurse hold my hand after i seen that needle. They done an ultrasound as they were inserting the needle. I watched that (the ultrasound).
It was over within a couple of minutes and after that they took me into a room where they could watch me for an hour. Hooked up on them fetal monitors. I done fine, nothing bad happened.
I cramped a little bit afterwards but i could not feel the needle going in or coming back out.
Good luck

Answer 2

Recent studies have shown that the risks are even less than the previous low 1% they were thought to be. So no...it is not risky at all. I had one done at about 16 weeks as I am 38 years old and the doctor recommended it. It was a breeze...a tiny pinch when the needle goes in and a bit of pressure. It was over in less than a minute. As a result, I found out I was having a healthy girl with no chromosome problems and no detectable medical issues, which really put my mind at ease.

Also, the people who assert that "there's no reason to have it done if you're not going to abort" are incorrect. If the test identifies a health problem with the baby, there are other considerations: you might need a scheduled C-section to reduce stress on a baby with a problem. There might be a need for a cardiac team or other special care standing by for the baby at birth. They might need to make sure the baby doesn't get too big. Amniocentesis serves many more purposes than just identifying if you want to abort.

Answer 3

Here's the scoop. If you don't have an amnio done, you still have a risk of miscarriage. If you do have an amnio done, you have a slightly higher risk of miscarriage. Unless you have an actual infection, there is really no way to determine if the m/c is the result of the procedure or might have happened anyway.

You have to decide what you would do with the results. If you had negative results (baby has Downs, for instance), would you terminate pregnancy? If the answer is no, it is not worth the risk. If the answer is yes, then I would consider it. Large hospitals, where the doctors do many of these, the miscarriage rate is lower.

Ask your doc for the CURRENT stats on miscarriage for the particular procedure you will be having. I've included a link from March of Dimes that has a great deal of info for you.

I should add that I personally would get it done even at age 29. 35 is just an average threshold when the rates of Downs increases. It actually increases every childbearing year. I would also test for a specific genetic problem in our family which is extremely crippling.

Answer 4

as most have said, there is a small chance of miscarriage. As I am a "mature" pregger "38". there is a higher risk for carrying a child with Downs syndrome then someone of your age. Instead of an amnio right away, my doctor had me get a nuchal translucency done - it is an ultrasound done before you are 13 weeks and 5 days and measures the fluid behind the baby's head. If that was a positive result, I could opt to have an amnio. I had decided not to - because I simply think it would be painful. Luckily, the results were negative and it wasn't a consideration.

I think at your age, I wouldn't have it done unless you would abort the pregnancy if your baby had a genetic disorder like Downs syndrome or if there were some genetic disorders that ran in your family.

Answer 5

Any invasion of the baby's environment poses a risk. I had an amnio done with my daughter, and I was so freaked out. But they are very, very careful. The perinatologist (pregnancy specialist) will do the actual amnio while an assistant does an ultrasound on you so they can make sure the baby isn't harmed. Your stomach will be sore at the area of the injection for a few days.

I wouldn't get an amnio if it wasn't necessary. It will detect things like chromosome abnormality, and in our opinion, was something that can't be fixed in utero anyway, so why take the risk? My amnio with my daughter was mandatory, but I opted out for my 2 boys. Unless there's something they think they can correct in utero, I say opt out. It's an upsetting procedure that should only be done if absolutely necessary. I cried through mine, partly because of the pain, but more because of the reason I had to get it. I went to bed for the rest of the day, figuring I'd earned the day off! If your doctor is posing it as an "option", then there's no real need for you to get it done. Pass.

Answer 6

Yes it is risky. There is a chance that the uteras ruptures and placenta sack doesn't close completely. Have all your other test came back normal and ultra sound is normal. I wouldn't due it if all test came back normal. Plus if there is no family history of spinal bifida and down syndrome. Those are the two major things they test for. And sometimes there are false positives and the baby is born perfectly healthy. It is just another test to worry about. I believed it was to risky at my age and no family history of problems.

Answer 7

There are risks to having it done, unless there is a medical reason or a family history of defects (such as Down;s Syndrome) I wouldn't recommend it, especially if you would keep the baby anyway if something turned out wrong. I have opted out of having it done every time, even after having an autistic child 9 years ago, and even now at the "advanced" maternal age of almost being 36 with this pregnancy.

Answer 8

there is a bit of a risk getting this done. i was thirty six and pregnant and diabetic, so that put me in a high risk pregnancy category. they did recommend this testing in my case ONLY if i wanted to know if there was something wrong with the fetus. apparently in recent years this has become less risky, but i dont know what the risk percent is. if the dr. did not highly recommend you get this done, i would think about it first, as there is a risk of miscarriage.

Answer 9

Yes risks are associated with it. I would only get it done if you are over the age 35. You risk miscarriage or preterm labor. I had it (I had to have it to see if my twins were mature enough to be delivered early) ...I had them the next day...(not associated with it though....i had preclampsia and it went from bad to worse) I wouldnt recommend it unless it is necessary or if you are over 35. (birth defects are more common when you are over 35 and the amnio detects pretty much everything) or if there is a history of birth defects in your family. And if you have it..its pretty scary to have that long needle go through your belly..but it was suprisingly PAINLESS!!! I know crazy!

Answer 10

There's a risk of miscarriage associated with the test. The risk is about 1 in 200, so unless it would influence your decision about whether to continue the pregnancy or some other dire reason I would suggest skipping it.