What Is a Amnio like When Your Pregnant?

My experience wasn't too pleasant. I didn't think about the needle length too much. I'd try not to think about it at all really. The baby moved right up next to the needle and wouldn't budge, (son has Spina Bifida) so we were stuck there waiting for a bit, while the doctor pushed on my stomach trying to get him to move so they could take the needle out. I grabbed my hubby's hand real hard during the procedure, but the pain from the steriod shots were much worse in my opinion. After the amnio I was fine and got right up, but they all came running at me and told me to go slow. Had a stress test right afterward and rest for 24 hrs. We were fine though.
I'm sure the baby's lungs are fine, they told me sometime in my late 20 wks that they were confident he would be ok if born then, (I had the amnio done at 26 wks so maybe it was then), they really like to get to 37 wks, but they didn't take him until 39 wks. Oh, if you're RH- they will give you a shot of rhogam after the amnio, and after birth. Good Luck!

I had one with my first son and really it was nothing. It was a poke and then a little bit of pinching and that was it. Try to concentrate on the ultrasound screen and you won't realize what's going on. Plus it only took a couple of minutes. One more thing that made me feel more brave, I asked them how old the youngest person was that they did one on. They told me 13!!! I figured I'd be fine then. Good Luck!!!

I also had an amnio with my last one, at 36 weeks to test the lungs. It really is only as scary as you make it to be- it's a professional trained specially for the job doing it =) I wouldn't recommend watching the needle part, i watched on the screen though, it wasn't too bad, but my husband had a hard time with it. The pain wasn't too bad either, mostly felt the hard pressure of the "stab". Mine took a while trying to find a spot to do the procedure (using an u/s to find a pocket of fluid), and my baby would keep moving right when they were ready so they would have to start over. Because of this they didn't take time to numb the spot, but after all the ivs' and shots and blood draws, it didn't matter so much to me. It does carry a risk of causing labor, so i was monitored for an hour afterwards, but I was scheduled for the section later that day anyways. The first "quick" test came back immature, but then the longer one came back as great (i don't understand it all), this is pretty common though. They said it's really a 50/50 on how mature the lungs are at that stage, but some research has suggested that they tend to mature quicker in "high risk" babies. Good Luck and Congrats!

I have had several amnios and they are not as bad as they sound. They do numb your skin a little, so that helps. It just feels like a little prick and them some discomfort - more like a cramping feeling than anything, I would say.

You lay on the table, they do an ultrasound to see where the baby is and where they want to go in. They clean your belly and numb you, then go in with the needle. I told them I did not want to see it, nor did I want to look at the screen while they did it - since you can see the needle! It was over in a few minutes. Afterwards, they recommend you take it easy for the next 24 hours, rest as much as you can. Some spotting is common afterwards, as well.

I had 6 pregnancies, have 3 living children, had probably 5 amnios (have high risk pregnancies and lots of preterm labor). A couple of them were to check lung maturity and only once was the baby ready - and that was at 37 weeks. As far as pregnancy care goes, an amnio is not the worst thing I have had done.

I am glad you have made it as far as you have. If you are about 35 weeks now, your baby will do great! Congrats and good luck!

S., mom of 3 and daycare provider

They will find the right spot using an ultrasound, cleanse the area and then stick the needle in. You can watch the needle go in through the ultrasound screen. They will suck up a little fluid and be done -- easy as that! They will have you relax in the office for about 20 minutes to make sure you don't leak or go into labor.

I had one with my last pregnancy and was pretty nervous for it. It was nothing. A little pressure when the needle goes in, but you get to watch the screen, so it was pretty cool. I felt nauseaus being on my back for that time period, but other than that, it was nothing. I wouldn't worry -- you'll do just fine.