Amnio Questions

I had an amnio done. I'm a type 1 diabetic and needed it done to determine if my son's vital organs were mature enought to take him by c-section before he grew too big to deliver safely. I'm not sure if I would have had it done otherwise though. However, it was fairly painless and only just a tad bit uncomfortable. I went on line and read EVERYTHING I could about it, and was frankly freaked out by some of the posts from different women. I think the best advice that I gained was NOT to even LOOK at the needle. Everyone said that if you do, it'll freak you out. I followed this advice and didn't get too stressed about it. I know that there is a chance of either miscarriage or inducing labor, but I experience neither of these. However, mine was done at about 35 weeks(?) so I was going to be deliving soon anyway. I also asked my doctor if he would advise his wife to have it done, and he said in my situation, yes he would. That was all I needed to hear. He and I had a good repoire, and I trusted him to be honest with me. Seriously, the best advice that I can give is DO NOT watch any portion of the procedure. Not even on the monitor, because my hubby was watching the monitor and said he was a bit freaked out being seing the needle going inside. Just keep your eyes closed and take lots of deeeeeeep breaths. Good luck to you and your family!!! I'll be keeping good thoughts for you!

Hey A.,
Sorry for all you have been through.
I had an amnio with our second son at 37 weeks to see if his lungs were mature enough to schedule a CSection. The procedure itself was fast and there was a pin prick. The hardest part for me was laying on my back totally still - I was so huge and uncomfortable.
There are risks of course but I think they are becoming more and more routine.
Good luck!

A thorough ultrasound can point out benchmarks for chromosomal disorders with no risk to the baby. If symptoms are revealed during an ultrasound, then maybe an amnio is an option. The advice you have received regarding what you would do with the results of the amnio is good advice. Don't let ANYONE feel badly about the good and sound choices you are making for the health and well-being of your child. You and your husband are the only and best advocates for your child. Best wishes for a great pregnancy!

Hi A.,

My cousin is 37yrs old and was pregnant with her second child. She didn't have any test done and they found out in her 8th month that there were problems. First they said the baby had downs and then they found out her left side of her heart chamber wasn't forming. She went full term and her daughter was born with a chromosome disorder (trisomy 18?) She lived 25 days and her funeral is today. Please get the test done. I am 41 and have a two and a half year old daughter and just had a miscarriage two weeks ago which was my second one. I had a misscarriage with twins in 2005. Since this has happended with my cousin once I do get pregnant again I will be having the test done this time. Good luck.

Hi A.,

Congratulations on your pregnancy - such a blessing! I was 34 for my FIRST pregancy and miscarried. Second time, I was 35 and an amnio was recommended due to my age and following genetic counseling after some skewed test results that would have been abnormal due to my age anyway. It was an emotionally draining experience. I'm sure your doctor has shared with you that there are some mild risks in doing the amnio procedure itself. I was made to feel bad for NOT choosing the amnio (not from my own physician fortunately, but by a hospital employee). The thing that helped me decide what to do was anwering the questions - what would you do if the amnio suggested a less than perfect child in some way? Would you abort the pregnancy or carry to full term? If you would not abort, then WHY even take the test? That was my case. They had me believing (based on some test that was skewed due to my age anyway) that my child held a good chance to be a downs baby. I lived through the last half of my pregnancy in fear of something being wrong with my baby. My child was born a strong and healthy baby, she is now a beautiful young girl, and is at the top of her fourth grade class! Had she not been born in perfect health I know I would love her the same. Amnio results would not have stopped me from her chance to live the life she was destined to have, and how blessed we all are for that! God bless you and your family as you make the choices you need to make.

Hi A. - I had an amnio with my 3rd pregnancy, and i felt exactly like you do! I had a very hard time deciding what to do, but eventually went ahead with it, with absolutely no problems. Our dr. assured us that the risk of miscarriage from the procedure is actually very minimal, and has gone down considerably over the years. It doesn't really hurt at all, and only took a few minutes to do. Our baby was born with a heart defect which often is associated with chromosome problems, so we felt it would be best to be prepared. The worst part is the 2 week wait while they do the testing!! I will never forget that phonecall - thank God we were crying HAPPY tears, finding out everything was okay. I hope that you come to a decision you are comfortable with and that everything turns out well with the baby! Good luck!!!

The chances of having a miscarriage after an amnio are something like 1 in 200. Ask what your chances of having a child with a disorder are and weigh the risk.

We were told we had a 1 in some or other chance of a child with Down's. It was far lower than the chance of a miscarriage after amnio so we chose not to do the amnio. We had a level 2 ultrasound at 20 weeks and now my six month old son is sitting next to me babbling and thwacking his stuffed animal on the floor.

Honestly - part of it for me was that when we found out we were having a boy during the level 2 ultrasound (which they did to determine whether to do an amnio or not) I KNEW he would be okay. If he had been a girl instead I might have done the amnio because I dreamed before I knew that I had a healthy baby boy and it was the only dream I had about my baby during the whole pregnancy. So there you go, I'm a weirdo now and gut instinct is sometimes right.

Did you Have it done with the first two?? Is the ?. If the answer is no than don't do it. You have two beautiful children. I have had 8 preganancy's and 4 servived with out a amino and 4 miscarried with out an amnio. One was 8 weeks one was 6 weeks and one was 12 weeks the last one showed 6 week growth but i was 9 weeks along. So I really don't think an amnio is needed in any pregnancy unless there is a high percentage of a disorder in the family. Most ob do an blood work and other tests. If I remember correctly you can check this with your ob theres blood work that they do and that will give you an idea if there is something chromosome disorder going on to where you need a amnio. if the blood work comes back normal i wouldn't do it. If you do decide to do it don't do it till the farthest posiible time in your pregnancy the later the better. I am soory you had lost one at 17 weks that had to be very hard and my condolences go to you. I will definatly add you to my pray list. One other thing use your gut your gut is never wrong. What does your husband think? Than follow what you feel is right your the one carring it. Good luck!

Hi A.,

I had an Amnio done when I was pregnant with my twins. I was pretty far along when I had it down so I was at risk for a miscarriage and I was for going into labor. It wasn't all that bad, I wont lie it did hurt a bit. It starts to feel like contractions. I went to the hospital and they did it there my doctor gave did it (I never looked!!) and then when it was over they monutor you for a bit to make sure that the baby's heart rate is still good and that you are not having contractions. After that they send you home. It was a lot easier then I thought it was going to be as well as it answers whatever questions you have about what may or not be wrong with the baby. Good luck on whatever you decide, but if you doctor thinks you should have one, then I would, they know what they are talking about:o)

S.

I have had an amnio done for both pregnancies. The test is quick probably one minute for the actual procedure. Of course there is time of ultrasound before the test and after. I was not very sore after the first ultrasound but the second one made my belly sore for a couple of days.. (the first test they went right in the middle the second they went one th side..)

The 2-3 week wait after the amnio is very hard. Waiting for them to call with results.

I had amnios with all of my pregnancies (3). There was some pain at the time,very little, and some cramping afterwards, so you might want to plan on going home and putting your feet up. At that time, the risk was 2% for a miscarriage, and it was done in a hospital by a perinatologist. That is important, because the miscarraige rate is higher if done in a doctor's office,and not by a specialist. So you have to think about how important that risk is to you. For me, because I was older when I had my children, I felt having the amnio was warranted for the last one, (I was 40), not so much with the first 2, but I did what the dr. ordered anyways and was torn up about it.I had no complications, and it really wasn't that bad. I understand your dilemma, you and your husband need to do what is right for you. Good Luck.

A. ~

As an OB nurse, I would ask....would having an amnio change anything? If you have it done, and find out that there is an abnormality, would you end the pregnancy? If not, I would say, don't do it. Yes, educating yourself is good, but if it won't make a difference, maybe you could do it after 24 weeks, when it's viable. Did you get genetic counseling? that often helps alot...lets you know exactly what your risks are. or is he sending you to a perinatologist? they specialize in high-risk pregnancies.

good luck!
D.

Hey A.,

If having the amnio is just to find out about tisomy 22, and you're planning to keep the baby no matter what, then I'd say don't risk it. Do some research about it so you're prepared if that's the case, but don't add another risk to your pregnancy! Doctors have to offer this to you, and they like to know about stuff in advance, but it isn't something that they'd be treating you specially for during pregnancy or delivery, so it isn't something they should push on you.

Best wishes!

I had an amnio during my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies and I didn't have any problems with it at all. It was a simple procedure and I didn't have any issues afterward. (just slight pain at the site of entry in my stomach for a bit)
I'm sure everything will be fine and it will give you the peace of mind you need.
Good Luck

I agree with the OB nurse. Ask yourself what you expect to accomplish by having the test done. If it's only peace of mind then maybe it isn't worth the risk. I was 36 when I had my last son and the doctor wanted us to have an amnio. My husband and I looked at the risks and decided not to have the test. Our theory was why risk a miscarriage if it wasn't going to change anything. Even if they had found abnormalities, we weren't going to end the pregnancy. Once we both agreed that a negative result wasn't going to change anything there really wasn't any point in trying to find out.

I had an amnio done because of my age. I was 42 and pregnant with my first. We actually wanted to have one done. It went just fine.

I did not watch them put the needle in, but once it was in I did watch on the ultrasound screen. They do an ultrasound at the same time, so that the doctor knows where the baby is and doesn't poke him.

I just stayed home and rested the rest of the day, and had no issues at all. It does sound like a good suggestion from your doctor to have one under your circumstances. I hope it goes well.

Hi A.,
I had a CVS and an Amnio and I am just waiting for the amnio results....the actual procedure itself is not bad. Kinda a "yucky" intrusive feeling. I contracted when they put the needle in. Not really painful just uncomfortable and weird....
The WORST part is waiting for the results.. I am mentally going insane. It is a hard wait.
good luck with whatever you decide. I hope everything goes pefectly for you.