Any idea about Amniocentesis test ?

mridusudha · Nov 25, 2008

Re: Amniocentesis

Malyatha,
I got Amniocentesis done . This does not hurt you at all...Doctors specially maternal fetal specialists do who are experts in doing amniocentesis...you just need to make sure that the specialist has experience in doing this procedure...Just do not let any nurse do this procedure...The doctor will make you lie down..You need to relax..While looking into the ultrasound monitor the doctor will place a long needle into the amniotic sac and take out amniotic fluid for testing.. No anaesthesia is given and this procedure is not at all painful. It's just that make sure that a specialist does this procedure specially who has experience!!
Hope all is well!

asha_karthik · Feb 2, 2009

hi friends..
i hv been advised aminocentesis as my TST report didn't come out good. appointment is day after tom and i am extremely tense abt the procedure, pain involved, its result and its after-effects. i did not even read about the test anywhere in fear of getting to know something that would worry me more. The only place where i searched for it is IL and here i see that its a risky procedure.
ladies.. pls pray for my test to go fine. its to be done in one of the best scan centers in chennai. if any of you have gone thru similar procedure in chennai, pls write back to me.

Destinyschild · Feb 3, 2009

I had my amniocentesis done in Chennai last year in mediscan systems, near to citicentre... After lot of searching in the web, I was very much worried. But the doc who performed this test, explained me wht he was going 2 do. Before the test, counselling is also given for the parents to be. The test is nothing but a simple prick, to take some fluid 4 testing. I was advised complete bed rest 4 an entire day and not to exert much 4 a week... It is a pretty simple procedure. The results will be out only after 21 days. If u need a report early u can go 4 the fish report which is given within 3 days(if I remember correctly) which is 90% accurate. ANyway u need to wait 4 the final report.All the best :thumbsup...

Indhu · May 16, 2009

NT scan measurement greater than normal.Pls advice

Hi all ,

Iam pregnant with twins after an ivf cycle & ttc for almost 3years.My 12th week scan shows nt measurement of more than 4 mm for one baby & i have been recommmended to do CVS. Also, I was told the risk of misscarriage is there for both babies coz of the procedure.Iam not sure what to decide.Iam just regretting the decision opting for a NT scan . We were also told the option of aborting one baby if the results are abnormal .Iam not sure if I could prepare myself for terminating the baby.Iam in a difficult situation & I have to make a deicison. Please advice me .Your suggestions would be valuable to me

Happysoul1234 · May 16, 2009

Re: NT scan measurement greater than normal.Pls advice

Sorry to hear about the situation. NT scanning is pretty accurate and a measurement of above 3 mm is generally indicative of some genetic issue, though not always 100% correct.

You can refuse the CVS and go ahead with your pregnancy. I understand how hard it is to face the risk of miscarriage when you have worked so hard to get pregnant in the first place. Tell the docs you are prepared to give birth to both the babies no matter what. God is great and I will pray that your babies do well.

Happysoul1234 · May 16, 2009

Re: NT scan measurement greater than normal.Pls advice

Also with twins, the NT scan is not always accurate. In many cases, because of the positioning of the babies the measurements are not taken accurately which puts the parents to be under great stress for no reason at all. And you can never be sure how good the technician was in the first place, he could have made an error. With twins, there is more room for errors in taking the NT measurements.

If I were in your shoes, I'd just refuse any further tests that put my babies at a risk for miscarriage. I'd just pray hard and leave everything in god's hands. Refuse any further testing that puts your babies at risk.

mridusudha · May 16, 2009

Re: NT scan measurement greater than normal.Pls advice

Indhu,
I am really very sorry to hear about the situation. Any invasive testing has it's own risk. I got CVS done twice. When I got them done I had light spotting for 2 days but everything was fine. Of course it all depends on the doctor who does it. how much experience he/she has. If you decide to get it done, ask questions with the doctor how much success rate he/she has. Just don't get it done without checking their experience.
NT measurements are just interpretations. They are not 100% correct as the CVS/Amniocentesis. The interpretation might have errors too!!

Indhu, it all depends on you and your husband. You both have to decide what's best for your family. I know it's very hard to take such decisions but unfortunately no one can decide for you. So just sit down with a calm mind and sit down and think the pros and cons of getting the test done. Analyse what happens if you get it done and what will happen if you don't get it done.

On the other hand, Amniocentesis has lesser risk. (Atleast that's what the statistics say). So may be you can skip CVS and ask your doctor about doing amniocentesis @ 16 weeks. Do your homework before you decide

Good luck and God bless you!!

dubbi · May 16, 2009

Re: NT scan measurement greater than normal.Pls advice

Hi Indhu

I just wanted to say to that NT Scan is a screening test and not a diagnostic test. So it is not completely accurate and also results need to be interpreted along with the triple marker test where the accuracy rate can be brought up and also false positive rates can be brought down.

If you decide on CVS then find out the credentials of the doctor who will be doing it and also success rate. You have to be monitored afterwards for infection and amniotic fluid leak.

Also if you need to abort one how does the other foetus be affected. PLease enquire on this.

Try to research on Down's syndrome and the pros and cons of having a baby with such a condition. Were you able to meet any genetic councelor.
YOu need to decide and only you can do if you can accept having a baby with this condition or would you prefer to not go ahead with it.

NT scan offered bcoz of what reasons ? Are in the risk category?

No decision is right or wrong, so dont beat yourself over it. Try to write down facts and what you wish to do.

Many times the NT scan can come up with anomaly but the CVS can be normal.

I hope this helps. My best wishes

Deepa
Childbirth Educator

Indhu · May 16, 2009

Re: NT scan measurement greater than normal.Pls advice

Pmahensa ,mirdusudha & Deepa
Thank you all for your immediate response & support.
I could make up my mind for a diagonistic test ,but if the results are abnormal the hardest part would be aborting the baby which my gyn talked extensively about.
Also, I was told about the possibily of infection in uterus & loosing both babies if i abort one.Though I was given a low percentage of this risk, I dont want to be in this situation.These babies are precious to me & i cannot even imagine being in this situation .
pmahensa, whatever you have mentioned was the first decision I made in the hospital as soon as I was told about the risk .But few hours after that I have been stressing & confusing about it .
Deepa & mirdusudha ,as you have suggested we will analyse the facts and arrive at a decision .I still have 2 more days decide ,may be i could arrive at some decision & prepare my mind to face the outcome .

Happysoul1234 · May 16, 2009

Re: NT scan measurement greater than normal.Pls advice

Indhu, these tests are what they are - diagnostic. As such, they cannot be solely used to decide whether to continue with a pregnancy or not. The CVS and amnio are the tests that can be used to make a definitive diagnosis but then they involve the risk of pregnancy loss.

Are they going to do a afp (triple marker blood test ) around 17th week? If something comes up in that maybe you can consider a cvs or amnio? or you could wait till the fetal anatomy scan in the 20th week to see if something shows up in that ultrasound. the only risk in not doing the cvs or amnio and waiting is that incase there is actually something to worry about, it may be too late to do anything. you will have to weigh the pros and cons of each and make a decision.

as a person who spent a great deal of time and effort in getting pregnant I know how emotionally hard this is and I wish you lots of good luck.

I had a friend who was pregnant with twins who had to abort one kid at 10 weeks because the growth was not proper. she went on to give birth to one healthy child. and another whose afp test indicated downs syndrome but the child was totally normal when born and is a happy 7 year old now. and just last week a friend of mine gave birth to her twin girls. they were born at 34 weeks but are doing well and should go home in a few weeks.