Amniocentesis Test

M.,

I had the test with my 4th child at 36 weeks because my husband was going to be out of town on my due date and I wanted to deliver early. I was really nervous but to my suprise it was not painful at all. I will not lie to you, the needle is very large if you are not a needle person which I am not. I just looked away and didn't feel a thing! Good luck!

I've two amnios. The first time was exceedingly painful and I was useless for the rest of the day. The second time, I had no pain (but we lost the baby for reasons unrelated to the amnio). I don't know what the difference in pain was because the same doctor performed both. With my last pregnancy I skipped it since we were going to have the baby no matter what. At the age of 40, with a previous loss, the 1% chance of miscarriage had become unacceptable. FYI - The AFP with last baby said I had a 1 in 10 chance of Downs Syndrome (but the Nuchal Screen had said 1 in 8,000) and he was born perfectly normal.

Dear M., It is too much to type out please call me. I was also 35 years old at my test. ###-###-####. J. H.

Hi M.,

You and your womb are a very special place for your baby. I was almost 36 with my first baby, so I understand the thoughts and words given to moms who are 36. I can only tell you what I think, and you need to make this decision for yourself. The true bottom line to the amniocentesis test is this:

If the test says there is something wrong - some doctors will give you the option of abortion. If there is nothing wrong, the pregnancy continues. If that were the end of the story, you would be making a decision about abortion only. But there is more.

First, there are many many women who test positively with the AFP test and have perfect babies. Second, there is an increased chance of miscarriage with amniocentesis. Third, the test itself introduces objects/microorganisms into the perfect envrionment of your womb. Okay so nothing is perfect, but you see what I mean.

You are healthy, and want your baby, so I would say to let you and your body take care of your baby, and don't let worry interrupt your liove for your baby for even one minute.

I will pray for you and your baby.

Hi M.,
My name is B. and I have not had the test but I know that there are risks to the baby by having the test (you can google Amniocentesis and you will see risks). I will be praying that God protect your new baby inside your womb in Jesus name. Trust God, He will do the rest. God Bless you and give you peace as you trust in Him.

the isnt very accurate. even in the booklet they give you it says that a high result doesnt mean that your child will have a defect. also a normal result also doesnt mean your child wont be born without a defect. if you feel worried and just have to know what your getting into with your baby then have it done. yes there are risks invloved but like SH said its pretty routine and they will give you lots of info on how to manage afterward. i hope all goes well with your decision good luck!

My first child was due a week before my 35th birthday. I did not have the AFP test because I'd already planned to have amnio. I'm a pediatric neuropsychologist and had seen many children with Down and many families with children with special needs. I felt that the risk associated with the amnio was worth knowing. If I remember correctly, at age 35, the risk of giving birth to a child with Down's goes up to about 1 in 200. That was also the risk of miscarriage quoted to me by the doctor who performed the procedure, a high-risk prenatal specialist. (I wasn't high risk; I had just requested him as the doc with the most amnio experience.) When I asked how many miscarriages had followed his administrations of amnios, he said, "None, but the risk is still 1 out of 200." The thing is, amnio also allows assessment of many other disorders, not just Down Syndrome. I found the procedure MUCH easier than the anticipation of the procedure and I'm practically phobic about needles. My husband and I went out to dinner the night before and I ordered a favorite meal, then took some home for the next day's lunch, when I would be resting after the amnio.

Your AFP test means that there is a 139 out of 140 chance that your baby does not have Down Syndrome. Amnio could confirm either way. I was really glad that I had the amnio, but that was partly because I had had a hard time getting pregnant and wanted to be as sure as I could be.

AS an aside, several people have mentioned CVS. CVS isn't an option this late in the pregnancy. I opted for CVS in my second pregnancy because I was having HORRIBLE morning sickness and it was so much earlier. It felt like a kind of rough PAP smear, not terrible, but not something I'd want to do on a regular basis.

I had the amniocentesis, twice, with both my pregnancies. It was because of my age. I was older than you.

I did not opt to have a AFP, because it is not so reliable...?
Anyway, I chose the amnio. It was fine... and I recommend it. Highly. If I had to do it again, I would.
It was not highly uncomfortable.

In tandem with this test... and I assume the AFP... you SHOULD have gotten some kind of genetic counseling or met with a genetic counselor. This is usually routine.

The process is not painful, and it like getting a tetanus shot. You will feel a slight pinch and cramping. It depends on your pain threshold, and the Doctors 'ability" with the procedure.... as like those nurses that do blood tests/draws... some just hurt more than others.
Oh, and I got a "numbing" shot first, before the procedural needle.

It was a fast procedure, and my Doctor was in and out before I knew it.

Side effects, for me, I had none. AFTER the procedure, you will need someone to drive you home, and you NEED to rest, stay off your feet, and do NOT lift anything heavy. They will give you a FAQ sheet with instructions as well. This should be mandatory.

For me, the amnio is the most reliable... and the thought of it is scarier than the actual procedure. I had mine done, with my Hubby with me in the room, both times.

I never not once regretted having the test/procedure. Both my kids were born health and "normal".

If you want to be sure, then have it done. But again, you will need to think about what you/Hubby will do with the results, IF it is something to be concerned about. This should be thought about... even if you do not have the Amnio, and just had the AFP "screening."

All the best,
Susan

Hi..The AFP can be inaccurate. Amnios are safe, but do carry risks as you probably know. I don't know where you live, but I HIGHLY recommend that you go to Dr. Devore in Pasadena...he specializes in prenatal testing and can do a very thorough specialized ultrasound along with a blood test. This will give you a risk factor for abnormalities and THEN you can decide to go on further and do the amnio. I cannot recommend him enough...He is WONDERFUL and this is his specialty and all he does! I believe the website is fetal.com...there is a whole bunch of info about him. If that is not it, then just google Dr.Devore in pasadena....best of luck to you. I used him and gave birth to a healthy baby boy 10 months ago!

The AFP is a screening test which means it just identifies women who warrant further evaluation; it does not diagnose definite abnormalities. As others have mentioned, there can be false positive (and, less commonly) false negative AFP tests. The purpose of having the amnio is to determine if there is a chromosomal abnormality or not, some of which are incompatible with life. Some women have this test because they might want the option of terminating a pregnancy if a malformation is severe or if the abnormality is such that the fetus cannot survive (eg., Trisomy 18, or anencephaly, where the brain does not form properly). Others would not terminate no matter what, but they want to know if there's a problem so they can be more prepared to care for a child with special needs. And others decline the amnio because they just don't want to know or don't want to risk the very small (<0.5%) chance of miscarriage. Which category do you think you and your husband fall into? It is a very personal decision and there's no "right" answer. Best of luck to you.

Hi M.,
I had amniocentesis performed on both of my pregnancies, when I was 30 and 33 respectively. My Father-in-law was a Holocaust survivor and we had no medical history on his family except there were rampant cardiac issues. If there was a problem, it could be repaired in utero. The procedure is not painful, only uncomfortable, and it is essential that you rest for at least a day after the procedure. Yeah, it's a big needle, but they localize the area so you only feel pressure. Anyone over 35 should have the procedure. The most important part of the procedure is the ultrasound, which is more detailed than a regular ultrasound. In this segment they are checking for spina bifida, heartbeat and a host of medical issues which can be corrected in utero. Obviously the amniotic fluid shows the genetic components to determine down syndrome. The most challenging part of the procedure is the bio-ethics involved if something in the procedure determines that there is an abnormality. What will you do? Of course, the reward is that you will know conclusively the baby's gender, and can paint the nursery accordingly! And your husband must buy you jewelry. After all, you're carrying precious cargo. Make sure your OB-Gyn has done this procedure millions of times or so, and that you listen carefully to the disclaimers (which take longer than the procedure). Yes, 3% of these procedures result in miscarriage, but in most cases the situation was pretty dire prior to the procedure. Best of luck, and oh by the way mine are 18 in college and 15 year old violin superstar.

M.,

Congratulations on expecting another blessing! Those tests have false positives all the time! They told me my daughter would most likely have down syndrome and she of course is fine! I am not sure where everyone stands on this but getting the Amnio seems unnecessary to me! Sure it would give you peace of mind either way but your baby will still be your beautiful baby either way! They are obligated to offer the Amnio just in case one may want to terminate a pregnancy! Plus the Amnio can cause premature labor, miscarriages and all sorts of other things! I think that you are only 35 and that people are having perfectly healthy babies well into there late 40's! This is a hard decision but this is my opinion! Good luck with it all!
E.

Hi M.,
I did not take the test because there was a chance that you could miscarry so we decided if it was god's will we'll have a down syndrome baby. I believe the test is as simple as sticking a needle in your belly and ejecting fluid. She came out perfectly normal and healthy and is now a four year old. LS

i knew two women who had CVS tests (similar procedure) and neither baby came back as having downs, etc. both lost their babies shortly thereafter. could it have been the test's invasive nature? it's possible. i wanted to say that not to scare you, but just to tell you the risks are as real as the benefits.

M.,

I too had the AFP test have results that told me my son was possibly going to be down syndrome...so, I made the appointment and had the counseling session before about my options and what to do with the results. It was confusing. So, when the Specialist came in and sat down and said, 'I have one question I ask people before I do this procedure. What will you do with the results? Because this test is not always accurate given the percentage of your results'. He asked me to think about it for 60 seconds...he actually timed me and then said, 'give me your immediate thought, what will you do?' My immediate response was nothing...I would do nothing, but love and care for my child.

He looked at me and smiled and said then, you don't need this test to tell you that your child will be healhty and happy...but, I will do it if you want me to. So, I opted not to. I knew that no matter what my child was born with or without, I was going to love him and take care of him to the best of my ability.

But, make sure you have all the info before you opt out. Good Luck and congrats!

I had the CVS at nine weeks- it is very very similar- it was only a 5 minute procedure and I can't say that it was painful but it was definately uncomfortable. You will be fine- just have someone there with you.

Hi M.!
Congrats on your little girl on her way! I agree with those here who have already said, if the outcome of the test won't change your mind about your little girl...then why bother. I was 37 when I was pregnant and turned 38 one month before my daughter was due. The counselor told me that "based on my age (38 at birth) there was a 1 in 127 that I would have a baby with downs. I argued with her that my stats should be based on my age at conception (37)...1 in 138 (I could be off with the numbers)..of course she was just doing her job. I told her I was going to use the stats for a 37 year old. Then I reminded her that if there was a 1 in 138 chance that my baby would have downs, then I had 137 chances to have a perfectly healthy baby. She just smiled at me.....so what I say to you is that your little girl has 139 chances to be perfectly healthy. If you are still feeling a little uneasy, ask the dr to send you for a diagnostic ultrasound. That give a much better indication if there may be something less than perfect with your little princess. And rememember, afterall the adivice you get...the decision is still yours and you will make the right one for you and your baby. I'll keep you in my prayers!

Everyone has to make their own decision. But, for me, no test! 1) I didn't like the needle - egads! 2) I didn't like the risk factors involved with the test 3) regardless of the results, it would make no difference, so what was the point? I was going to love my beautiful child regardless. I was not going to have an abortion regardless. And there was nothing they could do for the baby in the uterus. So, I didn't really see the point. God Bless!

It shouldn't be painful, but for creep factor, it's way out there. The biggest issue is the 1/4 to 1/2 percent risk of miscarriage.

If all goes smoothly, you'll be taking it easy for the rest of the day - a little tender. Not really uncomfortable, but certainly aware that you had a procedure done.

Hi M.,
I did the amnio also. I was 39 and pregnant with my first child. It was fine. It did not hurt and they test for so many things that you can be prepared if there is a problem. I would do it for peace of mind since the AFP test is not always correct. Just make sure you have a really good doctor doing the prodecure.

Good luck!

i think you should do it, just so that you are absolutely sure about the baby's condition. this way, you can put your fears to rest, or prepare for whatever your decision is on how to handle a down's baby.

i had an amnio when i was preg w/my daughter (i was 38yrs old) and i lived through it! lol

i was really nervous about the pain/discomfort (not a needle fan). they numbed my belly, i didn't even feel the first poke..by the time the needle punctured my uterus, i jumped a little just out of surprise. i tensed up & the dr. told me "breath long, slow breaths. don't get all worked up, because the baby will sense the rise in YOUR heart rate & may try to move around - which we DON'T want."

well, needless to say, i calmed myself down right away & it was over in 30 seconds (it REALLY IS only 30 seconds). the recovery orders were just for me to stay down for the rest of the day (which was fine by me! lol). you need to LAY down in your bed or on your couch - DON'T sit. this will ensure that the amniotic fluid will not leak out in great quantities. the sack itself repairs quite quickly, so by the next day you should be ok for "light duty". you WILL feel some tenderness for about 2 days, but it's nothing that can't be handled...

good luck to you, mama! :-)

Although you are aware of the risks, I believe the test is worth it. It is not a good thing for you to be stressed the rest of your pregnancy. I was under thirty five. They saw a marker in an ultra sound and then presented me with horrible statistics. He is 20 months now and perfect. When I got the results that he was fine, I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of my pregnancy.

I am about the same age. My son is 13 months...I am hoping to have another baby soon. I had the test and felt that I could enjoy my pregnancy...

I really recommend taking the test-you will be at ease if the tests are normal and if not you will be prepared. I had no pain...just a little stressed while doing it...procedure takes about 10 min. I will do it again..once I get pregnant again...fingers crossed!

Good luck1

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!
I had amnio test done twice (out of 3 pregnancies). A big needle going through your belly sounds painful and scary, but it really is NOT. Rest is recommended after the procedure.

I had a lady tell me that she took the test and she had a down syndrome baby. She worried the whole pregnancy and it turned out the baby was completely healthy. If there is a history of miscarriages I was told it could cause a miscarriage.
God bless you,
Sue

Hi M.,

I had an Amniocentesis test with my last son three years ago because I was going to be 36 years old when I delivered him. I was scared out of my mind because I had only heard negative comments about the test. To my surprise the test was totally painless, just a little uncomfortable. The doctors talk you through the procedure step by step and you are able to see what is happening on the monitor. I did not have any side affects after the test. Hoep that helps (:

I'm not going to say you should or should not do the test only you can decide that but I had my first child at 37 and second at 39. I had an amnio with both. As the others said its not painful no more than any stick with a needle is but it does feel weird. Both times I went home afterwards and just relaxed and had no problems. How good or bad your experience is really depends on the Dr. performing the test. The first time the Dr. was not so good. Technically proficient but absolutely no bedside manner. Hardly said a word the whole time. The 2nd time a different DR did it and talked us through what was going on the whole procedure. We got to see everything about the baby and he explained what they were looking for with the measurements and all kinds of interesting facts. Much more pleasant the second time.
Good luck with your choice.

It hurts. But, not a lot. and it's more of a weird sensation, than pain. I've had it done 2x. the 1st time friends told me it didn't hurt, so I was kinda freaked when it did. Along w/ the amnio you get a really great ultrasound.

Hi!
Congratulations on expecting your baby girl. I had two Amnios one @ 36 and one @ 38. I am adopted with no family history so I am higher risk.

It doesn't hurt & no side effects - the Dr ensures that they place the needle away from your baby to just grab the fluid. It is over in less than 10-15 mins. It is just like a little pressure and then a pin prick. I wouldn't trade the sense of relief I felt for the rest of my pregnancy knowing my baby was healthy!

:)

M.,
my thoughts, for what they are worth....
If you have the test, based on the results, will it change your course of action? If the tests turn out positive for Downs, will you abort?
If the results of the test won't change your decision to keep the baby or not, why put yourself and possibly the baby through that?
So I say, only have the test if you will chose your course of action based on the results.
Prayers.

I had the amnio test 12 years ago. The test itself is not painful but I did experience some cramping afterwards. I needed to go for a nap. My son was born perfectly healthy but he has a little indentation in his chest which his doctor believes may have been where the amnio needle pricked him. This has not caused him any problems or concerns. If I had to do it again I would have the test either to set my mind at ease or to prepare for a challenge.
Good luck!

other than working with the actual amnio fluid itself - counting chromosomes to rule out trisomy 21 (Down's) i was not close to the "collection" end of the game. i've switched field many years ago and my input to you now - if you decide to go through with the procedure - get homeopathic remedy Ledum - 30C or higher - it'll help the puncture to heal better.
Good Luck
V.

I cannot speak to if you should have the test or not - that is a decision you have to make. I did have the test. For me - most of the test was ultrasound, trying to find the best location for the needle. Do not look at the needle - it is long. It was 2 "pricks" - one when it went into the skin, and one when it went into the uterus. It was not awful - slightly more than a blood test. One the needle was in, I felt no pain, and taking the needle out felt weird, but did not hurt. It was pretty quick. My fears of the pain were far worse than the actual pain. If I had been more relaxed, it likely would have hurt even less. I had my test done at Cedars, and found everyone there to be very patient and kind.......that was 11 years ago.
Best wishes to you - and try to breathe and stay relaxed.
K.

I did not have that test, but I had a CVS test. I think you can get it done earlier and it is 99.9% accurate as well. It is sort of more like a pap smear. It is not too bad and you don't have to worry about a BIG needle! :0 I liked the peace of mind in knowing it was the most reliable and accurate test, too. Maybe you could get that one?

First you have to decide what you're going to do with the information from the test. If you're going to keep the baby anyways what purpose would the test serve?! As far as the pain goes, it varies on the experience of the practitioner/doctor. Both of my sisters had theirs done without much pain or complication (they were back to work right away). whereas my doc was not very experienced and took a long time with the needle in my uterus, twice. In return, I had some bad contractions for quite some time. . . .

Hi, M....
I was 36 and 41 when I had my last two babies. I'm 42 now. My tests all came back about like yours. We didn't have to do the Amnios, but we did anyway. It's not painful. They numb you first. If you have a fear of neeedles, however, you may have a hard time. It's very interesting and at the same time, nerve racking while you wait for the results. I highly recommend it. The results would not have changed our minds regarding keeping the baby if it was positive for Down; however, it's nice to be prepared if the baby was positive for it.

~L.

I felt compelled to respond to you for one my name is also M. H, but mainly because I went thru the same thing when I was 35 and pregnant with my daughter. I had the AFP screening which I felt weird since I wasnt exactly ancient to have a baby. But went thru Genetic Counseling thru Kaiser and had some kind of "super-duper" ultrasound so they could look for some physical abnormailities that are present with down-syndrome babies. Both my husband & I have good health and no family history of down syndrome. We were informed of the right to terminate the pregnancy, the good & the bad of amnio. It all was really frightnening. We ultimatley decided not to do the amnio because of the risks. The ultrasound found nothing wrong and without the family history, I didnt want to have the risks of the amnio. It took alot of prayer with my husband and felt as long as she had a whole heart and brain that we could deal with anything else. She was born 1 week early and perfectly healthy!! I hope you make the right decision for you.

Hi M.,

I was 36 when I had my son and I had an amnio. It is slightly uncomfortable, although not painful. There will be mild to moderate cramping afterwards and you should rest for the rest of the day. Other than that, its fine. My son reached out to hit the needle as if to say "get it out of here". It wasnt nearly as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, its a big needle, but it only pricks your skin once, just like a little needle.
Good luck,

D.

Amniocentesis is a relatively safe and painless procedure that can provide helpful information. The procedure is offered to women with advance age or following pos AFP test.AFP is a screening test and not reliable with 5% false pos rate.I had the amnio because i was 35 with my 2nd pregnancy and would recommend it to my patients after providing info/education.It is done only by maternal fetal med specialist who is expert and i can say have not seen any complication yet.you will receive numbing agent first and then feels like little presure and you can see it via ultrasound at the same time.I had mild cramping on and off the first day which was relived by rest.good luck to you and i also want to reassure you that all my patients who had pos down syndrome had healthy baby and infact one of my patient who had normal AFP end up having baby with down ?!?!

I can see that you've gotten a lot of advice already but I wanted to quickly add my story.
I was 32 when pregnant with my second son. During an ultrasound at 20 weeks they found fluid around his heart and lungs followed by a possible positive from the AFP a week later. We went to the specialist who did another ultrasound on higher tech equiptment and saw the fluid coupled with the higher risk indicated by the AFP. We did the amnio. The procedure itself was quick and relitively painless. They didn't use any numbing agent on my stomach because of my allergies but I didn't notice it too bad, there was some mild cramping. Not long after I started having regular contractions. There was great concern I was going to miscarry. I was all but bed ridden all weekend(it was on a Friday). Thankfully the contractions stopped, the amnio came back negative and I went on to deliver a completely healthy, happy little boy who's not 5 years old with no health problems whatsoever, hardly even gets a cold.
I am now 38 and pregnant with my third child. Again the AFP test said possible downs syndrome. We went and saw the specialist who did an ultrasound and they didn't find a single marker (there's some large number like 60-70 of them or some such). We decided to not do the anmio given the fact that it threatened to miscarry my last child.
That blood test has all sorts of factors that can give false readings. If it's not timed right in the pregnancy (it's only got a window of a couple weeks), it's based on lots of averages and not based on anything individual. Of course if your older it's going to be a higher number because there are less people to be making the numbers from.
We are happy with our choice to not have the amnio done with this child. We still know why we chose to do it with our last child (the fluid BTW resolved itself and turned out to simply be an imiture circulation system for his development age).
If you haven't done an ultrasound I would make that your first step. It's a personal choice really. What would you do if the results aren't good? Are you better if you can plan for any possible problems or can you handle the "surprise" at birth were something to show up?
In our case, while there is still the grain of sand of a chance she could have Downs we're good and will just deal and move on so it didn't make since to go through all of that.

Would you take the test to prepare for the birth of your baby even if it has Down Syndrome? Or would you use it to make a decision on aborting your baby?

At your stage in the pregnancy there should be no pain and no side effects, just don't watch if your a bit squeamish.

Hello,
I had the same thing happen in my pregnancy....the amniocentisis was not painful for me, an easy test. But afterwards, I had some bleeding and had to take it easy for a few days. I had a small rush of amniotic fluid. Hard to say if it was because of the amniocentesis, but it happened about 1.5 weeks after. Overall my pregnancy went fine, but there is a small risk with amnio's. I think you should have a 3d ultrasound done first, to see if a birth defect is visible...you would get the amnio if the anxiety of not knowing for sure till the baby is born would be too much, otherwise put off the amnio to reduce the risk of problems in the pregnancy. There are alot of false positives with the AFP, and down syndrome is one of the easier things to spot on a 3d ultrasound.

Hi M.,
I know its a difficult decision. I said no the first time they offered but I decided to go back and ask for the amnio because the risks are low and the risk was even lower for the dr. performing the amnio. I just wanted to be as informed and prepared as I could be for any situation that we came across. It was just a pinch and very quick. Waiting for the results were more painful. We have two healthy kids and glad we decided to take the test. I have met many people who decided not to and completely understand their decisions. Every family has to come to their own conclusions. Good luck with your decision.

C.

If there is nothing different they can do during pregnancy, then I would skip the test and just wait until the baby is born. There is a risk of miscarriage with those. Just plan on your little one having Downs Syndrome and if they do not, then you can have that surprise when they are born. I don't think there is anything the doctor would do much differently during your pregnancy, so I would just wait. I had a friend who was having twins and she also tested positive. When they did an ultrasound, one of the babies had 2 markers they said indicated positive Downs Syndrome(Separation between toes and small dark spot showing on brain). They gave them the option of aborting one of them, but it created the chance of the other one miscarrying. They decided to keep both and both came out perfectly healthy with absolutely nothing wrong and no Downs Syndrome. Those tests are not always right. I know the amnio is a definite yes or no, but I would not risk it.

Hi M....its seems you have gotten lots of responses. I havent been in your exact situation, but I have had the amniocentesis test done with my twins. It was done at 36 weeks to see if the lungs were formed enough for delivery. I worried and worried about the test and when it came down to it...it was the easiest test Ive ever had! It just felt like a little pinch (getting blood drawn is much more painful) and that was it. It took about 10 seconds and it was done. I would make your decision based on how useful the test results will be to you and not the pain factor because the actual procedure is not a big deal. I believe the statistic is somewhere around 1 in 400 will have complications from the procedure, but your doctor could tell you more accurately.

I know you've received many comments and I just wanted to share my experience because I see some misinformation about the AFP being shared. I've had both the amnio and a CVS and they were uncomfortable but fine. I worked really hard at managing my stress and relaxing and taking care of myself and not worrying about the miscarriage risk since I think we can stress ourselves out and add to the risk.
My understanding of the AFP test is that it is measuring a protein and those results can indicate a risk, it's not a test of Down's or other defects, it just says that when the test comes back like this, it could indicate Down's but you need to do more testing.
My AFP came back with lower risk for Down's than my maternal age (35) however higher risk for the other two trisomys (13 and 18, Down's is trisomy 22 as someone else noted in their comments). Everyone is talking about Down's but no one is talking about other defects. The doctor explained to me that unlike Down's, Trisomy 13/18 are "incompatible with life" and when I did some research, I discovered that if the baby survives to birth, 90-95% die within 6 months. I elected to have the amnio since my risk of a trisomy 13/18 was 1 in 6. My OB said it could mean nothing and the cause of the AFP results could be something else, but it could be a trisomy so I did the test as early as possible and still be safe (relatively). The ultrasound they do before the amnio confirmed that I did have a trisomy 13/18 pregnancy and so I elected to go through with the amnio to confirm it and then we elected to terminate the pregnancy at 18 weeks vs. continue. If my beliefs were to prevent me from terminating I could have just as easily continued the pregnancy as long as possible and just waited for the baby to die however I chose not to take that route; I have admiration for those who are able to do that and survive that difficult process.
my second pregnancy we elected to do the CVS instead, not that my risk was any different than any other 36 year old but we just wanted to find out sooner in the pregnancy.
We learned the pregnancy/fetus was healthy and then I was able to relax more throughout the pregnancy. I now have a very healthy and amazing 17 month old and I'm happy we did the testing.
I agree with others who said the advantage of taking the test, even if you will never terminate the pregnancy, is knowing so you can be prepared and/or so you can relax and not worry so much.
but it is your choice of course and you see all the stories of it working out both ways for women.

I did the amnio because I did not want to have a down syndrome- the test is easy...drink lots of fluids the day and morning before, no caffeine- bring someone with you....its what you will do with the results which could be harder-

I had my daughter at 40 and my son at 43. My OB insisted that I have the test. It was not bad at all. My thought is if there is a problem what will you do. If you would not terminate your pregnancy why do it. However, it will help you to prepare for a problem if you do go on with your pregnacy and the child is down syndrome. Good luck to you in either case.

Hi M., I had my daughter at 37 and did have the amnio. It was not painful at all, just slightly uncomfortable. No big deal at all. Good luck with your decision!

Ask your self do i love this baby enough no matter what the results.

I think you should ask yourself what good it would do if you did know that your baby tested positive for downs. Would you spend the rest of you pregnancy sad and nervous? Would if give you time to mental prepare? Would it make a difference either way? Im my opinion and Amnio is very intrusive to the baby, and I would only get it done if it were absolutely necessary. That is just me. go with whay your guy is telling you! good luck mama!

Hi, M.,
I was 44 when i had my 5 year old...so, it's been 5 years...and i REALLY needed the test (based on the percentages)....that said.

The amnio WAS painful. My perception was that i could feel the need going in and all the way to my toes. Now, that said...i have always had a "sensitive" belly button (an inny). Then for the week or so after the test i thought (imagined or otherwise) that i could feel the precious fluid leaking out of my baby's sack...(paranoid?...maybe).

i was VERY relieved that the test came back with no known "flaws". i am glad that i didn't have to make a decision.

now, all that being said...look at yourself.

what will this test do for you?

will you make a decision to terminate?

will you and your husband be "ok" with that?

the test is only a guide..really...you know what i mean? you will have a little bit more certainty (worry) about the health of the baby.

What are your religious/moral/life views on children? "challenged" children? life changing challenges of having a "different" child?

My husband helped me to solidify MY decision. He pointed out that putting a soul (if that is your belief) in a body that has limitations...i know what my choice was/is...you need to know what your's is, too.

tests are great and wonderful and scarey and terrifying...

good luck...

i hope that you have a wonderful baby and get some peace and rest, hon.

P

Hi, M.,

Congratulations on getting your girl!

I have 3 boys and had amnio with all 3. Although it seems daunting when you read about it in the childbirth books, its not too bad.

I would make sure that you call AHEAD and make sure the practitioner who is going to do the procedure believes in numbing the area first, before putting in the needle for the amnio itself. Ask me how I know that!

I went to 2 male doctors for the first 2 tests and they rather routinely numbed the area and proceeded. So, I was led to believe that this is the normal way its done. Although it was scary at the time, it all went smoothly.

With the 3rd, however, I went to a WOMAN doc, who simply told me that "she didn't DO that" i.e. numb the area. WTH?! I was like, are you freakin' kidding me here? I was married to a doctor, who accompanied me to the appointment and even HE looked at me like, "You've gotta be kidding" about this. We both thought that she had some nerve to even say that, then just demand it. I was ready to walk, period. Either numb it, or I'm outta here. This wasn't my first kid, so she couldn't pull the wool over my eyes, just so she could save a buck-fifty on some Novocaine. Oh, puleese. I said I'll find another doc who has some compassion. And a woman, too! We were absolutely blown away. My husband completely backed me. Its a big freakin' needle. And, I hate needles. That whole incident left me feeling kindof traumatized. Like I was getting railroaded. The look on her face, too, was like she knew she was trying to pull something.

Once the area is numbed, its a slight pinch when the needle penetrates the amniotic sac to extract the fluid. Its just kindof tense while you're lying there, watching the baby on the screen, hoping that it will stay out of the way. After the procedure, they'll tell you to 'take it easy' and stay on the couch for the afternoon/evening.

All in all, I'm very glad I had the amnio's and was able to proceed through the rest of the pregnancies with as much assurance as you can get that everything was ok. I believe that technology is an incredible gift, so bring it on. Better to make informed choices, and then have the time to prepare and cope with the results, rather than getting blindsided right after the birth, which is enough to handle in and of itself. Knowing your baby is healthy using the best information available is a great dose of peace of mind.

I would say that the hardest part is waiting the week after the test for the results.

Best of luck!
C.

I would look into how valid these tests really are. And consider for yourself what you would do if the test predicted that your baby would have down syndrome. If you accept her as she is and aren't considering adoption if she has down syndrome, then why get the test? It might only create anxiety over a test result that isn't absolute. Also, you might want to look into the risks associated with it since it is a bit more invasive than other screening tests. Best wishes!

I had a positive AFP test, but my baby was born with out any disabilities (although he was 2 months early). Since then, I have heard of a lot of people getting false positives. For me, they were able to do extensive ultra sounds instead of an amnio and found that the AFP was a false negative.

Now I am pregnant again and over 35, but I have opted not to do the amnio because my amniotic sac ruptured at 31 weeks for unknown reasons and may be fragile again. Invasive procedures such as an amnio or cvs do carry a risk of miscarriage, but the risk is small unless you have had previous medical problems with pregnancies.

I had no pain at all with the procedure, and I dont' even remember it being uncomfortable. The only thing that was uncomfortable was looking at the size of the needle. lol Afterwards, you get to lay in bed and be waited on, so get it done early! =)

I was 37 when I had it done. The AFP came back inconclusive, and the risk of downs vs. the risk of miscarriage was the same. I wanted to know. Results came back xmas eve that all was well and we were having (another) boy. I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of my pregnancy.

Good luck to you and your baby!

I have , twice. It is uncomfortable. We just wanted to feel prepared for whatever we had to face. Turns out all babies were healthy and happy.; I acknowledge it is scary. Go with your husband, have hime drive, stay off your feet the rest of the day. Take a relaxing, little down-time, "me" time. And if someone says you are overdoing it, that they had a friend that just went right back to work 10 minutes after the procdure, blah, blah, blah, I would suggest that it is Ok to be super caucious because this is a super important baby and mommy

I was 16 weeks pergnant when i began seeing a perinatal specialtist, i took the AFP Tetra it came back abnormal for downs and spina bifida.. I then was told my baby had skeletal dysplasia so i did the amnio which many anxious days later came back perfectly normal, just painful.. Turns out my placenta was insufficiant causing irregular growth patterns as well as false positives to those test.. My baby was born at 27 weeks with severe IUGR.. All the tests did for me was cause confusion and more worry thats not needed for you or baby.. The amnio has a 1 in 300 chance of harming your unborn baby although it can give you peace of mind if thats what your looking for, but if you plan to keep care and love your baby regardless of what the test says, it may be unnecessary for you to.. Best of luck in your decision..

I have had the amnio test with my son due to I was over 35. The test was not at all that bad for me. I was nervous than heck but the nurse and dr was great. The process is no painful; it felt like a shot on the arm. No side effects for me just a lot of rest for 2 days. I lived on the couch till monday and had the test on friday. My advice is don't plan nothing for 2 days but you and the tv or a good book. Let family know that you will be out of order for 2 or 3 days.

If you are planning on haveing the baby either way( down syndrome or not) why risk an amnio. An amnio ruins 2% of GOOD pregnancies. Good luck!

At 40 and expecting in September, I had an amnio last month. I didn't have one with my son three years ago but made the decision based on being this much older and having one more person to consider.

It was relatively painless (no worse than getting a shot) and there were no complications despite having an anterior placenta and multiple subchorionic hematomas. The danger of miscarriage that everyone freaks out about is primarily caused by not following the doctor's orders to bedrest and take it easy for a couple days; the teensy hole will readily heal but it takes some time and it only makes sense to not put any stress on it! If you can't spare the time or you're too antsy to rest, don't do it.

The results are about 99% correct with the incorrect diagnoses generally associated with multiples or lack of sufficient cells gathered during the test. People often confuse the inconclusive AFP with amnio; Amnio is a culture of your babies cast-off cells and the result is based on his actual chromosomes. Also, an amnio checks for spinal anomalies.

Good luck making this decision. My personal feeling was, with the risks so low and me being the worrier that I am: Why worry rather than KNOW and plan accordingly?

Hi. I had the amnio done at 36yrs old also and it didnt hurt at all. I didnt even feel the needle go in. It sounds scary and the needle is really long but my husband was there he held my hands and it was over in minutes. After I was told to stay in bed for 3 days and only get up if I needed to go pee and they also gave some medicine that I cannot remember what it was but it was to stop any find of spontaneous abortion. There was no side effects at all. Atleast not for me but everyone is different. Good luck

H.

M.,

I have 3 children, 12, 10, & 2. My AFP test was positive with my two younger children. The first time I had the positive result, I wanted to do everything by the book (I was 27). I went in and had an extensive ultrasound and an amnio. The ultrasound showed no Downs characteristics & the amnio returned just fine. At 32 weeks I began leaking amniotic fluid and was admitted to the hospital to give birth. I never went into labor, and they told me that I had "resealed". My baby ended up coming 6 days past my due date and "face up" or Occiput. He is 10 now, but he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 13mos. Everyday
The second time I had the positive AFP, I was 35 and a bit more experienced. I knew that I would love the baby no matter what. I went ahead with the extensive ultrasound which was, again, perfectly normal. I opted out of the amnio. I gave birth to a wonderfully happy and healthy baby boy. On another note, his AFP was so high that he had a 1 in 9 chance of having Downs.
I realize that my experience is not typical, but if your ultrasound shows no characteristics of Downs or any other abnormality, I would think twice about the risks of the amnio.

1 in 100 pregnancies END due to the amnio test... It hurts pretty bad, and I was really not prepared for how bad I cramped. It was pretty scary... Alnost like labor pains... The AFP's are known for false positives... An ultrasound should be fine to rule out Downs. They measure the femur and fore arm bone, check the heart closly and look at the placement of the baby's ears. If these caome back abnormal, THEN have the amnio. Good Luck!

I was pregnant w/#2 at 26, as results of the AFP test, was told that the baby was "a down syndrome baby" went through counselling for it.(I lived in Phx AZ was at Good Samaritan Hospital. .. a highly sought childrens hospital) But to me it did not matter I was keeping him any ways. I did not see a reason to get the needle if in the end I was keeping him. But when He was born, healthy 9lb 4oz baby boy! Oh yea, no Downs! I have had 4 more since, and not another AFP test! All were healthy. I believe the test was wrong because of the date of conception. Dr's had a problem w/it.. I have known alot of women who have had wrong AFP test results. By the way, you do not have to have the test. Now if you are not willing to keep Her if she has down syndrome then maybe you should get the latter test.Good luck with the waiting and unknown, but you are not alone! It will all work out in the end.

Absolutely do the test. I've had it done 2 times. It does not hurt and ther is no real recovery issue - just take one day off work and try to relax. Good luck.

Hi, congrats on your upcoming arrival. I was 36 with my second pregnancy and did not have an Amnio test. My doctor didn't think I needed it since previous pregnancy at 33 was normal and as far as being considered advance maternal age I had a healty pregnancy. What he did do was make sure that a Perinatologist did the Ultrasound and told me that if the doctor saw any signs to be concerned with, we could do the Amnio at that time. If you are concerned about it, maybe you should ask your doctor if you can do it this way also. I know a lot of the advice you have already received said it's not a big deal but, no reason to get a needle in your belly if you don't have too!

I hope this helps. Again, congrats on your new baby girl.

The initial prick of the needle hurt me quite a bit but it's over fast. I did it for peace of mind. My step sister had good AFP results, therefore opted not to do the amnio and her baby was born with down syndrome so you never know either way. If she had done the amnio, she would have been prepared for what was to come. It's a personal decision but it was important for me to know one way or the other.

Hi M.,

The test and the side effects are different for everyone. I had the test done at 20 weeks for my sweet angel. I was more afraid then anything. The doctor had me talk to my husband to calm me while she inserted the needle to draw the fluid. My poor husband turned green and looked like he was in pain, I felt just a little pinch. For me it was a long test as the baby kept moving into the path of the needle so the doctor had to withdraw it and insert in another spot twice to draw enough amnio fluid. I thought my husband would faint! But yet again all I felt was a little pinch when the needle went into the skin. Afterwards I was a bit tired and sore. My doctor had me stay in bed for the rest of the day and only light activity for the next two. By dinner I felt fine. I made sure to drink plenty of fluids and take it easy. I'm glad we did the test as it prepared us for the little surprise that our daughter was carrying in her genes. Now we are better prepared to face what the future has in store for us. Good luck.

A.

Sounds like your numbers are good and you don't need the test. It has its risks too and can have false positives. All the best to you!!

Hi M..I usually do not respond to these but felt the need to share with you. I have three children and have had (2) Amniocentesis tests (the last two children). I know at first it seems a bit scary...every pregnancy is in some way, shape , or form but I personally believe that you do need to know what you are "in for" and that knowledge is always good. I know that there are alot of stories about Amnios, and most are not true...now the needle is long and does look a bit intimidating, however it needs to be long to go through all of those layers properly...and they do not go through your belly button...I can not even begin to tell you how many times I have heard that one. They use ultrasound to go to the very farthest point away from the baby but to where they can pull fluid from "the sack"... they say you can experience some crmaping. I had none. I stayed off of my feet for the rest of the day and felt just fine. I ended up having a healthy boy with the first and a healthy girl with the second. It actually gave me peace of mind. I realize that this is a very personal decision and know that whatever you choose for yourself is the right thing to do. I encourage you to go ahead with it. Again you need to prepare for that little girl that you are going to have and even if the results from the test come back with not the best news...you will be educated and can make preparations for what is to come...God Bless...SD

I was 38 when i had the test it didn't hurt and everything was fine a very close friend of mine also had the test they said the baby would be born with down's but she wanted the baby when he was born last month he did not have it so if you are worried about pain it was not that bad i think fear was worse.i had no side effects and either did she.

Two things: My girlfriend had the AFP screening that came back Downs. She worried and prepared for a Downs baby the entire pregnancy, but baby was born perfectly healthy. That screening CAN be wrong.

I have had two amnios (at 39 and 42). Yes, there is pressure and yes it is a big needle. Neither things bothered me, but everyone is different. Best thing for me was that I knew where I stood with my babies. I don't believe in abortion and I wanted to be knowledgeable should my babies need extra help from birth. Thankfully, they were both healthy. But either way, I would definitely take the test again if needed.

Hi M.! I was 38 when I had my first child and 41 when I had baby number 2. I had an amnio done both times due to my age. I was told by some people how unsafe it was and that I would lose the baby, etc. I was so scraced the first time I almost didn't have it done. When I had it done it was not what others had said. The doctor used an ultrasound to find placement of baby and then inserted the needle away from baby. Sure it was a little uncomfortable but not at all painful. I went home and stayed off my feet for the time period the doctor said and everything was fine. My two girls were healthy and that was a relief to me as well. I now have 2 beautiful girls ages 11 and 8. Good luck to you!!

Hi, I was a little sceptical too. I am 35 and my results came back that I had a 1% chance of down syndrome which is nothinf, but still I took the test to be sure and it was nothing! They stick a needle that you dont feel at all in your tummy and you just rest for a couple of days. Do not move to do anything!!! Just lay around for 48 hours and its over. Good luck!

I have the same question.

M.,

I think it depends on what you'd do with the results of the test. I was in a similar situation. I was around 5-6 months pregnant and one of the tests came back with a higher than average risk of downs (I can't remember what the odds were - it was close to 6 years ago now). I opted not to do the amnio because in my case the risk of miscarrying as a result of the amnio was higher than the risk of downs (keep in mind that a 1 in 140 risk of downs also means you have 139 in 140 chances that there is no downs) and I wouldn't have aborted my baby regardless so I really didn't see any point to putting myself through it. I did end up having an amnio later in my pregnancy to check for lung development and my perinatologist (high risk pregnancy doctor) said that amnios done late in pregnancy are easier and less painful because the muscles and the uterus are all stretched thin. I was around 36 weeks pregnant at the time and the amnio I had was pretty uncomfortable but I wouldn't say it was actually painful.

For the record, my child does not have downs syndrome.

So, for me, with something invasive like an amnio which is not without risk (miscarriage, infection, etc...). I would only opt to do it if the results would effect my decision to remain pregnant. Or if it would effect where or how I would give birth. If there was a chance of something like spina bifida, I'd want to know in advance because babies with spina bifida tend to do better if they are delivered c-section than vaginally and I'd want to make sure I delivered at a hospital that could handle any complications.

So I think the answer is that you shouldn't necessarily have the test just because you can.

Good luck to you,

T.

I think you should have the test. I had one and it wasn't painful, just slightly uncomfortable, and the risk is very low now.

Hi M.,

I did an amnio and although I was scared to death, not so much of the needle but whether it was going to hurt and the impending results, it ended up being painless and pretty easy and the results were fine. I am 40 now, was 39 when I had it done. I was happy with the procedure, which was done by my OB; I am not certain if he had a tender touch because he has been doing for so long or that it really was not that painful.

If you want to get one and want to be certain that you have a healthy baby you should do either amnio or a CVS, amnio is more detailed.

I do know some women under 30 who did not have amnio or cvs and spent the course of their pregancies worried about their babies. One did have something to worry about once the baby was born. It depends on your perspective on life, abortion, etc... once you have the results.

Good luck.

L.