Amniocentesis at 37 Weeks

C.,

You'll do fine! I had one when I was only 14 weks along and I didn't feel a thing! I was told the same things...you might feel a little cramping, etc., but I felt nothing! Good luck! D. H

I had it done also at 38. The doctor described it before he started as...you will feel " a poke and a pinch " and that's exactly how it felt. So don't worry.. It's not bad at all...Hope this helps : Congratulations!!!! and I hope all goes well for you.

Hi C.. My Dr's wanted me to have a amnio also at 35 1/2 weeks, b/c of blood pressure issues etc. I chose NOT to do it (I didn't think it was necessary) If the baby was going to come early then they were going to deliver me anyway no matter if the lungs were dev. or not. So I did not want to risk it. YOu are further along than I was. My baby was born by c-section at almost 36 weeks and he was perfect! No assistance needed w/ breathing, eating and no jaundice. The only thing about him was he weighed 4.7 lbs. he was perfect and even lost a little and was still able to go home with me 3 days later! Good luck!
Johna

maybe I'm missing something, but why don't you skip the anmniocentesis and wait a week to have the baby so you don't have to worry about the lungs and skip the risk of the procedure?

C.,
I have had 3 children and all of them were born at 37 weeks without any problems. I think at 37 weeks this procedure is needless and risky. If it were me, I would not do it.

J.

I also had one around 37 weeks to make sure we could do a c-section. I wouldn't call it painful but it was definitely uncomfortable. I don't know if they had a hard time with mine or what but it felt like they were in there forever lol. It isn't painful though don't think that. I could just feel this weird pressure, if you will, on my stomach. I didn't look at the monitor or my stomach. I had a very nice nurse on one side of me and my hubby on the other so I looked at the nurse. My hubby was watching the screen so his face kinda freaked me out. The nurse looked at me and talked to me the whole time.

And for the c-section that was a breeze. I mean that as far as surgery goes lol. You don't feel a thing. I felt a little sick after they got her out but they gave me something for that and it was gone pretty quickly. Recovery will depend on you and how quickly you start walking. Laughing hurts like the devil but it will actually help you start to heal a bit. They say coughing but laughing has the same effect and I love to laugh lol. Just hold a pillow on your belly whenever you do either one.

Good luck and congrats on your new little girl!

The worrying is the WORST part! It really is not a big deal. I had it at 35 weeks (In Dec. 2007, son is 4 months old) and had worked myself up so bad that as soon as I saw the needle I started crying. When the doctor inserted the needle I hardly felt it. It hurt less that having blood drawn. I had a small contraction while the needle was in and was told that was normal.

Congratulations on your new baby and all will be fine.

Hi C. I am a mother of two beautiful children, although it has been some time since I had a amnio done it was not painful at all. There is nothing to worry about just try to be calm and relaxed. I know you are worried about having it done but Doctor's are wonderful. It was a pinch just like when you have an iv established actually not as bad!! Congrats on your baby girl!! It is a pretty quick procedure, it is not as bad as you may have in your mind. I am sure they are much more advanced I had mine done about 15 years ago.

Hi! I've been a high risk OB/RN for 10 years and most patients say no it is not usually a painful procudure, just some mild cramping. But try to avoid a C-section if you are worried about lung development or resp. delay it is much more common with surgical bitrhs. Sections do not give your baby the benefits of passing through the birth canal, and are not always indicated for just elevated BP. Would your doctor concider a VBAC if your first birth was not vaginal? Good Luck! Girls are so much fun!

My daughter is now 14 years old so it's been that long since I had my amniocentisis done. However, it was not painful in the least. Of course I did not look at the needle. :) It didn't hurt anymore than having blood drawn. I PROMISE. As a matter of fact, all of my family was there because I was PETRIFIED. After it was done and I was telling all my family how it didn't hurt in the least my Doctor made the comment I should sob about how painful it was and soak up all the sympathy I could get. He was an amazing Doctor and his sense of humor was wonderful. I hope all goes well for you. My daughter was born 20 weeks early and weighed 2 lbs. She is now 14, a health 90 lbs with no problems at all.

Hi C.! I have never had this procedure done but wanted to offer some support!!! Trust your doctor! He gets paid to make sure you and your baby are healthy and would not put you in a situation to risk that. My twins were born at 32 weeks and what I learned about the lung development is that it is the last process and usually is complete right before delivery. I was given 2 weeks worth of steroids (while in the hospital on bed rest) and my girls are EXTREMELY healthy! I am so blessed! Their lungs are perfect and we can knock on wood when saying all they have had thus far (a year and a half old) is a bad cold last winter. Good luck and I will say an extra prayer!!

M.

I have had to do an amino 3 times. Although it looks scary, it really doesn't hurt. I am not sure why but i didn't feel anything either time. I had to do it the last time at 37 weeks to check lung devel. for a c-section. It was no problem. I think drawing blood hurts more. So don't stress ou about this. Good luck.

Amnio in itself isn't really "painful" but there is a lot of pressure. I heard nightmare stories before I went through the procedure myself so I understand the fear.
I've had five amnios done over the course of my pregnancies, I am VERY high risk and when pregnant am monitored closely.
With all of mine I was placed into a room in the ultrasound department. Present were my doctor, a nurse and the ultrasound tech. A local anesthetic is given by needle after the area is cleaned and prepped. The area was different each time, they go by position of the baby. An ultrasound is done throughout the procedure to avoid any chance of the needle coming into contact with the baby. After they have verified that the anesthetic is working they proceed. It's a long needle used to get a sample of the fluid, the pressure is there for sure. Fixing on the monitor or a place in the ceiling while breathing out slowly helps a bit. They draw fluid out and then it's over.
They generally require that you stay still for a half hour or so since the procedure can cause labor to begin.
Good luck and I wish you well. Congrats on the expected new bundle!

Hey! First, Congrats on your new baby! I had the same thing for the same reason with my second baby (at 35 weeks) and I suffered more thinking about it ahead of time. Once I had the procedure, I was like, that's it? That didn't hurt! I can't say it was comfortable exactly but it really didn't hurt. It's isn't like when the doctors say, ok now you're going to feel a bit of pressure and you have to kick them in the head for hurting you by sticking something some place it you weren't expecting. It really is just some weird feeling pressure. I didn't watch but kept babbling to the very nice nurse who held my hand. They will hook you to monitors but I promise they've done this many, many, many times and all will be well. As for the c-section, it isn't the "I-am-woman, hear-me-roar!" experience you read about and plan for in a vaginal delivery but it isn't painful either. The worst part again will be thinking about the needle for your epidural. That's really no biggie either and if you keep your mind focussed on having what the doctors call "a good outcome," that is a healthy baby and mommy, you'll do just fine. I would make sure you have support with you and you do things like tell him (if it's Dad), that you a frightened and tense and that you need him to soothe you just as he would in a vaginal delivery. You might also take some headphones and soothing music to help you relax during the wait times. I wish you and yours the very best and I'll be praying for you! Come back and tell us all your good news!

A.

Hi C.. I wanted to reassure about your amnio tomorrow. I am a labor and delivery nurse, and have assisted with amnios over the years. Most of my patients have told me that the worse part of the procedure is that you may feel like you have a bad cramp when the amnio needle enters the uterus. I think if you had any labor contractions with your first baby, it would probably be similiar to that. The needle itself is really not that painful (so I've been told by patients). After the procedure, it should not take that long for results to get back. It will depend if your hospital's lab runs the test, or if it has to be sent out to another lab. Where I work in Charleston, we send our tests to a tertiary hospital by courier, and it still only takes a few hours to get results.

Good Luck tomorrow! And congratulations on your new little one!

B. M.

C.,
I had my amnio 23 years ago and it sounds like they haven't changed a lot. The numbing shot they give you is like any other shot and then you don't feel the amnio needle. A little pressure, but that's all.If you're squeemish I wouldn't watch. Look at the monitor, not the needle. It looks worse than it is. My nurse started saying "Are you ok, are you going to be sick?" and I responded, "No, I'm doing great." She said she wasn't talking to me, she was talking to my husband, that he looked like he was going to pass out!!

Good luck tomorrow - you'll do fine. Focus on Tuesday and holding that sweet baby girl.
Dawn

I have had 2 amnios and it is not the worst thing in the world, so take a deep breath and relax. They are going to ultrasound and find the best spot to aim for the fluid. Then they will prep you belly (betadine, so don't wear your best maternity clothes!). The tech will ultrasound while the dr does the procedure. This is a sterile procedure, so he/she will be wearing gloves and using sterile materials. If you don't like needles, look the other way or close your eyes. I think I turned towards my husband and squeezed his hand really hard. I think they pull 1-2 syringes of fluid (same needle) and then you are done. You have made it through labor or a c-section already, so you can do this. I think it hurts worse to have an IV catheter placed (you know when they have to hunt around for the vein!). I was more worried about getting the results as they were worried about birth defects. I don't know if it will be any different as I was earlier- (17 weeks), but I can't imagine the protocal is any different.
Just relax and know that your baby is almost here- congratulations!
E.

Hi C.,

I know its a scary thing to think about. I had an amnio done on Oct 10, 2007. Its really no worse than getting lab work done. I felt the normal prick and just a bit of pressure, nothing to freak out about. I pray all goes well and that you have an easy delivery!

C.-

It really sounds worse that it really is, however, it is still a very sensitive procedure. I had an amnio done at 38 weeks, it is important not to get yourself worked up. You need to be as relaxed as possible so your abdomen muscles don't tense up and also to keep your blood presure down. I turned my head so I wouldn't see the needle and did some easy breathing excercises. You will feel a tightning in your abdomen, this is your muscles reacting to the needle, I also felt some mild cramping. It doesn't take very long but it is important that you lay very still during the procedure. They will also be using an ultrasound machine to make sure they don't prick the baby. They will monitor you for about 45 minutes afterwards, you may also experience some mild cramping and soreness during this time.

Good luck-

i had the amnio done as well i was soooo scared to . what they did to me is they lay u down and u also can see it on the tv above and they spray something on your stomach to freeze the spot and the they do the process but it is all worth it i had no promblem and i could not feel the needle cause they spray the freeze stuff where they are going to do it ... good luck

Hi C. - I had to have one at about the same time, and it didn't hurt at all, but it was emotionally distressing. You will be hooked up to a fetal monitor, and you will get a shot of novacaine (or similar drug) so that the big needle won't hurt. I didn't watch on the ultrasound while they did mine, but they should let you if you want to - you are paying them, after all, right? I had a little bruising at the site, but that may have been because I delivered the following day. I would be more scared of the C-Section if it were me. Good luck, I hope it all goes smoothly for you - Congratulations!

E.