What Is Amniocentesis And Do You Need One?

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What is an Amniocentesis? An Amniocentesis refers to a procedure that your doctor performs when he or she places a needle through your abdomen into the uterus which is the fluid filled sac that surrounds the baby. The needle is used to extract fluid from the uterus for analysis. When is an Amniocentesis done? And why is it ever done?

There are several reasons why amniocentesis are performed. One of the primary reasons an amnio is done is to check the genetic makeup of the baby or to diagnose whether or not the baby has a particular problem. Within the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby, skin cells that rub off the baby can be found. It is with these cells that your doctor can obtain its DNA. From that DNA, your doctor can determine a lot of things about the baby including its gender as well as the chromosomes the baby has. Amnios are a powerful tool as they can pretty much diagnose any genetic disorder. Usually, your doctor will suggest that an Amniocentesis is appropriate if he or she suspects that you baby may have a particular genetic disorder. For example, if you had a blood test, like a quad screen, that suggested that you are at high risk for having a baby with Down Syndrome, your doctor may suggest that you also perform an amniocentesis in order to confirm whether or not your baby actually has the problem. Amniocentesis’s are sometimes done later in pregnancy for other reasons such as to determine whether or not there may be an infection, or to determine whether or not your baby’s lungs are mature.

It is also important to understand the risks associated with amniocentesis. The primary risk when performing the test is whether or not the needle will break the water around the baby. If the baby’s water is broken prematurely, it may mean that the baby will deliver early. If the baby is delivered before the baby is viable, or before the baby is able to survive outside the womb, it may might cause death to the baby. Fortunately, this is very very rare. Problems arising from performing an amnio happens only once in several thousand cases, but when it happens, it can be devastating. Another risk that concerns people is poking the needle into the baby accidentally. An amniocentesis is usually done with ultrasound guidance, so the doctor can see inside the womb while he or she is performing the procedure, revealing exactly where the baby is and exactly where the fluid is. If your doctor suggests that you have an amniocentesis, make sure you understand why and make sure you understand what your plan is upon receiving the results. Armed with that information, you can decide whether or not this procedure may be appropriate for you.