are amniocentesis tests REALLY necessary? what happens if we decided against it?

Answer 1

i refused the tests with my daughter and i refused them this time round! the first time round the midwives were really good about it but this time round they were a little more funny because i wanted the second scan, they said that if i had the tests it could guide them on the scan but we made the decidion to have the baby,,,, no matter what it comes out like its ours and we will love it. My mum had her tests with my brother n it sed he had cerebal palsy,,, something most parents would abort for but he is healthy, and appears normal the only effect he has of it is being a little bit easily led and give him a joke and he has to sit about thinking about it for a while but otherwise he is normal like you and me he is married and lives independantly....... if mum had aborted then she would have lost out on a son. Yes it could have been worse but it wasnt, the tests cant tell you how severe things are only wether they have something or not.
I was told at our 20 week scan with my daughter she had cleft pallate but she was born perfectly healthy and without it so no i wont be having tests done, if my baby is downs or whatever else its still my baby and i will love it and give it the best of life it could possibly lead,,, look in the papers the downs couple that recently married,,,, proof that even the most unlikely can live happy lives.

Answer 2

I didn't even get the blood tests to screen for Down syndrome and other conditions. I figured if they came back high risk, I would just refuse the amniocentesis, so there was no point in worrying myself.

The reason they offer the amnio is because the risk of miscarriage is the same as the chances that the baby has a genetic problem. They want parents to be prepared for a special needs baby OR to have the option of an abortion if they choose. I decided that I wouldn't ever risk a miscarriage, because I'd rather have a baby with Down syndrome than no baby. However, I have a degree in special education and I've worked with kids with disabilities, so I'd be prepared to raise a child with special needs. If you feel that you would need the time during your pregnancy to prepare to deal with your child's needs, it might be a good idea to have the amnio and find out for sure. It's really up to you and how you feel about the risks and benefits of the test. Your doctor can give you some more insight into those and help you make a decision.

Nothing really will happen if you decide not to have the test. The doctor will probably have you sign a form stating that you understand the procedure and you are refusing it. They should respect your decision and have no problem with it.

Good luck, and I hope everything turns out well for you and your baby!

Answer 3

You can choose not to have the test done--you do have the right to refuse any testing.

The advantage to having an amnio is that you will know if the baby has Down's Syndrome or some other chromosomal disorder. I am having an amnio because if anything is wrong with my baby, I want to learn more about caring for a child with special needs before she is born. To me, that's love!

My husband and I are both very pro-life. We've decided that if our baby has Down's, we are taking it as a sign that God has chosen us for this special baby because we can handle it! Dealing with any disorder starts with prayer and a good education on the topic!

If you do decide to have an amnio, go to a doctor or clinic with a lot of experience. A specialist who only does genetic testing has a much lower miscarriage rate--only 1 in 400. At a regular doctor's office where they do only a few tests per year, the risk of miscarriage is double that.

At one time, they recommended amnio only for women over 35 and those with a family history of birth defects. Recently, I read that more doctors are recommending them for all their patients, but you can still refuse to have the test done.

Godspeed.

Answer 4

Amniocentesis tests aren't really necessary unless you want to know if your baby has a genetic disorder like down syndrome. If you decide against it, you decide against it. They can't force you to take the test.

My boss had her first child that had Down syndrome and with her subsequent pregnancies they wanted her to get an amnio. She told them no with the other two and they do not have a genetic disorder. There is a risk of miscarriage and you have to weigh the options: Do you want to know for educational reasons if you do have a child with special needs or Do you want to know so you can abort or Do you even want to risk miscarriage?

I will not have an amnio personally because I will love my child unconditionally and am aware of what having a child entails. I would not abort a child under any condition and do not want to risk miscarriage.

Answer 5

It's totally up to you to take the test or not but if the doctor recommended it, I would. I had an amnio last November and I was scared to death. Although this is my third and last baby, doctor recommended it because I am over 35. The test is very quick but uncomfortable especially when you feel the needle burst the amniotic sac. It heals immediately but that was real eerie. I would take the test for peace of mind and because doctor recommended it and that will make the delivery a lot more stress free for all.

Answer 6

It depends on why you are having it and what you will do with the results.

If testing for a birth defect, such as Downs, if it is positive, will you choose to terminate? If that is not an option, frankly, there is no point in doing the amnio. While the increased rate of miscarriage is very low, it still is an increased rate.

If this is later in pregnancy and they are testing for lung development, rh disease and such, then it is really necessary. They can prevent worse problems prior to birth or know just what specialists may be required at the birth. It may change what hospital you give birth at, for instance.

I recently read that of women over 35 who choose amnio, 95% will terminate the pregnancy when there are negative results (positive for Downs, for instance). Very heartrending, since these are usually very wanted pregnancies.

Answer 7

I think it depends on the situation. I discussed this with my doctor 7 years ago when I was pregnant and the truth is that even an amnio can be wrong. It's a really small percent, but it is not always 100% accurate. In my case, the doc told me that an anatomy ultrasound typically done at around 20 weeks gestation was about 85% accurate in detecting most problems, and that was a test I could live with....I was not going to take any tests that would risk miscarriage OR any tests that tested for something I couldn't treat while pregnant. Although my doc had a good answer for that one, he said that sometimes it's good to know ahead of time in case you need specialized docs on hand when the baby is born.

Answer 8

This test is not REALLY necessary, but it can be helpful. I have only had 1 of these tests out of the three pregnancies that I have had. If you think that any information that you will get from this test may change your attitude about the pregnancy then go ahead and get it. If on the other hand you have you mind already set on loving and raising your child reguardless of any imperfections it may have then there is no need for the test.

Answer 9

Your doctor has probably decided to do one because there are complications. They just dont do them unless there is something that could be done. So the doctor feels that this procedure outweighs the risks if you dont have it done. Of course it is always your choice..however if you need treatment for something then this is a way to find out what kind and if the baby say for instance has down syndrome this would be the only way to be able to tell.

Answer 10

most the time they do not tell you to have an amniocentesis unless you are risk for certain things. if you are a high risk for miscarriage, i would opt out. however, if you have a history of normal pregnancy to term, i would get it done just to make sure.