Your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate will be checked. An ultrasound will be used to check the fetal heart rate; the position of the placenta, fetus, and umbilical cord; and to find a pocket of amniotic fluid. Your abdomen will be cleaned with an antiseptic. You will be told not to touch the sterile area on your abdomen during the procedure. You will feel a needle stick if a numbing drug is injected. This may cause brief stinging. When your skin is numb, an ultrasound will be used to help guide a long, thin, hollow needle through your skin, into the uterus, and into the amniotic sac.
This may be slightly painful. You may feel some cramping as the needle enters the uterus. The doctor will withdraw a small amount of amniotic fluid into a syringe. The amount depends on the type of testing that will be done, but usually no more than an ounce is removed. Your body will make fluid to replace the amount taken out. You may feel a tugging or pulling feeling as the fluid is removed. The needle will be removed. The amniotic fluid will be put into a special light-protected container and sent to the lab.
A bandage will be placed over the needle site. The fetus' heart rate and your vital signs will be checked. If you are Rh negative, you may be given Rhogam, a special injection that can prevent an Rh negative mother's antibodies from attacking Rh positive fetal blood cells.
What happens after an amniocentesis? A thin needle is used to withdraw a small amount of this fluid from the sac surrounding the fetus. The fluid is examined to obtain information about the baby — including its sex — and to detect physical abnormalities such as Down syndrome or spina bifida.
Amniotic fluid samples can also be DNA tested to identify a range of genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis and fragile X syndrome. Amniocentesis is only performed on women thought to be at higher risk of delivering a child with a birth defect. Discuss with your doctor or obstetrician whether amniocentesis is right for you. Amniocentesis can detect a number of chromosomal and other birth abnormalities in a developing fetus. These include:. As a woman grows older, the risk of having a child with Down syndrome begins to increase significantly — from about one in 2, at age 20 years to one in at 40 years.
Pregnant women who may be candidates for amniocentesis include:. Before having amniocentesis, it is usual for the woman and her partner to be counselled on the risks of the procedure.
The entire procedure takes about 90 minutes. Steps involved in amniocentesis:. The doctor will advise when the results are expected. In some cases, the results may take up to three weeks. You may need to wait in the surgery for around 20 minutes before leaving for home. Most women find amniocentesis to be painless, although it is recommended to continue resting for an hour or so afterwards.
Side effects of the procedure may include:. While amniocentesis is generally considered a safe procedure, possible complications may include:. Most women feel fine after the procedure and no alteration to normal routine is necessary. The following risk factors can increase the chances of health problems in your baby:. Amniocentesis is usually carried out during weeks 15 to 20 of pregnancy. A needle is used to draw out about 15 to 30 mL 1 to 2 tablespoons of amniotic fluid, the fluid that surrounds the baby in the uterus womb.
The doctor uses an ultrasound to guide the needle at all times. Amniotic fluid contains cells shed from the baby that can be examined and tested for a number of conditions.
This provides information that can be used to diagnose any health or inherited problems the baby could develop. Some examples of chromosomal conditions include:. Amniocentesis can test for neural tube defects. The neural tube is the tissue in early pregnancy that eventually develops into the spine and nervous system.
A neural tube defect can lead to conditions such as spina bifida, which can cause learning difficulties and paralysis weakness of the lower limbs.
Other inherited genetic conditions may be tested for through amniocentesis, particularly if there is a known family history of the condition. This usually clears up without treatment over 24 to 48 hours. You should avoid strenuous activities or having sex for 48 hours after the amniocentesis. You will receive the results about 2 weeks after the amniocentesis. Most women's results are normal, but if there is any problem your obstetrician or a genetic counsellor a healthcare professional trained in genetics will talk to you and arrange any special care you or your baby may need.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Amniocentesis is a test that can be done in pregnancy. It is possible to tell from the test whether the fetus has certain birth defects.
They can help you understand your baby's health problem and what to expect when he or she is born. Results from the test can also help you decide where to have your baby.
If your baby will need surgery or special care, you can plan to have your baby in a hospital that has special services for newborns, such as a neonatal intensive care unit.
Amniocentesis is usually very safe. But the test does have some risks. You'll have to weigh the risks against the benefits of knowing if something might be wrong with your baby.
There is a chance that the test may cause you to have a miscarriage. This means that you could lose your baby after you have the test. But when the test is done by highly trained doctors, the risk of having a miscarriage is small. These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. I have a friend whose child was born with Down syndrome. She didn't know about her baby's Down syndrome until after he was born, and it was emotionally difficult for her to deal with the diagnosis.
I remember how hard it was for her and her family to adjust to a new life with a special-needs child. I want to know before giving birth if I am going to have a child with a disability. This will give me time to prepare emotionally as well as time to prepare to have my baby at a hospital that is equipped to care for sick babies. I am prepared to accept my child, regardless of whether he or she has a birth defect, even a severe birth defect.
Even though I am at a higher risk of having a child with a birth defect because of my age, I will continue the pregnancy regardless of the results of an amniocentesis. My doctor and hospital are well equipped to handle my pregnancy and delivery, so I feel that I have made the best decision for my family and me. I have no family history of birth defects. But I am 42 years old, which puts me at higher risk for having a baby with a birth defect. I have two children already, and I feel that my time, energy, and financial resources are at a premium.
I can't afford, financially or emotionally, to have a child with a serious birth defect. I am choosing to have an amniocentesis to help detect a birth defect. If the results are abnormal, I feel it is in my best interest and my family's to end this pregnancy.
I was 35 when I became pregnant with my first child. I was nervous about pregnancy anyway and especially worried that there might be something wrong with the baby. I decided to have chorionic villus sampling instead of waiting for an amniocentesis because it allowed me to find out in the first trimester if the baby had genetic problems. If the answer had been yes, I would have terminated the pregnancy. In my case, the answer was negative, and I was able to go through the rest of my pregnancy feeling more at ease.
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. I want to know if my baby has a birth defect so I have time to prepare to care for a child with special needs. Knowing that my baby has a birth defect won't change the way I plan to care for my child.
I want to know if my baby has a birth defect so I have time to decide if I want to continue my pregnancy. Knowing that my baby has a birth defect won't change my plans to carry my baby to term. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. I don't have insurance, and I can't afford to pay for the test myself. Can an amniocentesis test guarantee that your baby will be born healthy? Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?
Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.
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