Pregnancy Info HOME

Hi deborah969 ! I am presently 21 weeks and at 18 weeks my blood work came back with a 1:132 chance of downs so the gynae recommended an amnio . I was also in two minds about going for the amnio as not only am I also scared of needles but also was concerned about miscarriage . My fear of something being wrong outweighed everything else though . So I had the amnio which really wasn't that bad at all . I was able to see my baby all the time that the procedure was taking place . I rested for 24 hrs after that and had no discomfort . I got the results back after one week and all is well with my baby . For me it was the right decision as I can now relax for the rest of my pregnancy and not have a little dark cloud hovering wondering if my baby is O.K . the bonus was that I also got to find out that I am having a girl !! It really is a very personal decision andthere is no right or wrong answer , but having it was the right one for me . Good luck and i know that you will make the right choice for you . If you need any other info and I am able to help I will be happy to share any info with you . Good Luck ...

Hi Deborah, I haven't had a fear of needles, so the iidea of amnio was easier for me to swallow. I was rather blissfully un-aware of the reasoning behind all the tests the first pregnancy (at 38-39) so took the amnio as if it was one of the requisites for "AMA". The sample taking took about 3-4 minutes, and it was a sensation just like any blood draw. After the procedure, I went shopping which was unwise thing to do. I did get some pain in the lower abdomen that night, it was gone the next morning. So the next pregnancy around, at 40-41, I went home and rested after the amnio. - And had no sensations. Both test results, received a week afterwards, gave me an immense relief knowing that my babies were OK, and knowing their genders. Had I had the feeling in my heart that my babies were OK, like you do, I might have thought twice - but I hadn't. I didn't know. The amnios helped me to be at peace for the rest of the pregnancies. It really is your choice, wish you and your baby the best.

Hi again Tylersmommy.... I realize that the test isn't as bad as I think it is in my head... my mother-in-law had it done years ago and said not to worry, and things have gotten much better these past decades. I just keep thinking that we've gotten further than the last time, which ended in a terrible miscarriage, and I don't want to do anything to increase that risk. It's my husband who really wants me to get this done. I've read up on the procedure about a hundred times now from different sources, and I know the odds of something going wrong are small... I guess I'm just a worrywart. Thanks again for sharing.

Hi there in the woods... thanks for responding. It's comforting to hear about other women's experience and those being positive. I can't imagine going shopping though, and in a strange way, found your story amusing. I was picturing you strolling through a mall blissfully unaware. :o) Thank god nothing happened. I can't believe they didn't tell you to go straight home and rest for a day or two. I know that the relief of knowing for sure that my baby is okay will be tremendous for us... especially my husband, cause I truly believe this baby is fine and normal. However, if I don't get it done, it will put an enormous strain on our relationship and if something did turn out wrong after all, he would be crushed. I'll think about it again for the next couple of day, I still have time to make up my mind, but I think I'll be going for one sometime in January. Thanks again.

Hi Deborah - I got a positive NT screening back a couple of weeks ago. Hcg was slightly high and the nt measurement was 2.9. I'll be 37 at delivery and so the trisomy 21 chance came back as 1:59. I was very scared about the amnio - I had a m/c in Aug '05 and then it took us 12 months to get pg again. My OB recommended asking yourself 2 questions - 1) do you want the information (from the amnio) and 2) what would you do with the information. We decided that since the amnio risk was smaller than the m/c risk, and since we really did want to know if there is anything wrong, we would go for the amnio. But I had many sleepless nights leading up to it and stressing out about the decision. What helped a lot was that our families strongly supported our decision. When we went in last Tuesday (I was 15w2d) the genetic counselor actually eased my mind some by saying that the 1:200 m/c rate is the same rate they've been quoting for 15-20 years, and that the actual rate is much lower... probably closer to 1:400 or even 1:800 (although "officially" they still quote the 1:200 rate.) I asked them not to show me the needle and I kept my eyes closed during the procedure (my dh watched the u/s monitor and held my hand). My belly was sore the rest of the day. I went home and rested that day and the next, and took it pretty easy for the rest of the week as well, just to be on the safe side. Still waiting for the results. I think the fear made it seem more scary than it actually was, but having had a m/c, I know the feeling of not wanted to do anything that might jeopardize the baby. And like you, I was worried about the strain on my marriage if something turned out out wrong and we could have found out with the amnio. I do believe that we made the right decision for us, but it was definitely a stressful and difficult decision. Best of luck to you...

Hi Val... I think I'm going to be like you... not wanting to see the needle or anything. I'm sure it's not as bad as I think it'll be in my mind, but it's still one big-a__sed needle and just the sight of it will probably stress me out a lot! As for your 2 questions... we do want the information the amnio will give us and we know exactly what we'll do with it. Like I've said, it's my husband who wants this more than I do, cause I don't believe there's anything wrong with our baby... but as he says, that's just a feeling, I don't really know for sure. And he's right, of course. I can imagine being told that they've quoted those odds for so many years was rea__suring, and I know this place I'm going to is well experienced. I guess I'll just have to screw up my courage and make sure my husband takes care of me after it's all done... it's the price he has to pay, right? LOL Thanks for sharing your experience and I wish you all the best too.

41 yrs and havent had the serum results back yet to considor the amnio - but I am horrified by the amnio push by my doctor with the only thing egging him on is my age at this point. I am 17 weeks 4 days - my dating ultrasound caught me too late for nuchal - I was 15 weeks 3 days when the 'internal' exam by my doc said maybe I was at 12. My confidence is not that high with this doc and also not too amused at how many go for the amnio and didnt need to after all, every single post here says everything was fine although they were urged to get this procedure - this just ADDS to my resistance! oh jeez.

DEBORAH - just wanted to update you - got my amnio results back and the baby is fine! I'm glad I had it done because now we know for certain and we won't have to second guess when we get the echocardiogram done in January. I hope you are doing well... LAINEY - my doctor didn't push me to get the amnio - they just told me the nuchal results and left it up to us to decide. It really just comes down to how much you need to know ahead of time. If you don't want/need to know, then choose not to do the amnio - don't let pressure from a doctor make you decide. For us, we wanted to know so we could make any necessary decisions about termination. And for us it came down to a decision between a tiny short term risk (that of miscarriage from the amnio) vs a lifetime of care for a Down's child. And now that we got good results we can start to relax and enjoy this pregnancy! Best of luck to you...

Deborah, I was also very nervous - about the needle, about the miscarriage rate, etc. I am 42, so although I got good results back from my nuchal, we knew the only way to be 100% sure was with amnio. All was fine! I did a lot of reading before too. For me, the needle was not completely painless I admit, it felt like a little cramping more than an actual sting or anything - but it is over in less than a minute. Afterwards, I took it VERY easy, being so worried about a m/c after I had come so far timewise....I got into bed that afternoon through evening, had some cramping but nothing major, and then continued to take it easy (went to work etc, just didn't do major walking, activities etc) for the next week.....From what I have read, 1 - for an experienced facility, the risk is 1 in 400, as opposed to the general risk of all facilities being 1 in 200 and 2 - the first 72 hours are the most crucial....... Hope this helps!

Im dreading this decision! Im 42yrs and 11 weeks. My doc is preparing me for possible amnio. I am also very scared of m/c and the needle...but my relcuctance is also that so many are done and results are a healthy baby...I just wonder how neccesary it is. Also if I had a Downs baby I absolutely would not terminate. So that being the #1 concern it seems, I dont know that I will have one. I had my son 4 yrs ago, I was 38 when I delivered and I pa__sed on the amnio then also. I really had to stand my ground...so Im prepared to do so if need be. I guess it just depends on how my level 2 u/s looks also. OY...so many things to consider. But it would be so nice to know that baby was okay and enjoy the rest of the pregnancy...I can see that as a big plus. Good luck to all. Im sure we will make the right decisions for us!

lainey... as Val said to you already, don't let anyone push you into having the amnio if you don't want it. They can't make you do it, no matter what age you are. It might have been better for you had you been able to have the nuchal testing done... though for me, it was a positive screen, so it wasn't so great. I still think that they do try to scare us into these tests because we dare to have a baby in our late 30's or early 40's... but it's our bodies and our babies... so, whatever you do, make the right decision for you without being pushed into anything.... let us know how you make out either way. :o)

Val... I'm so happy to hear that your amnio came back with great results for you guys! What a relief that must have been to get that call, though I'm sure the weeks leading up to it wasn't so easy. Like you said, now you can just relax and enjoy the rest. I'm set for mine this Thursday afternoon, and yeah, I'm terrified still. But I have to remember that I'm a fatalist and what will be will be. If my husband and I are meant to have this baby... then everything will work out for us, and come June we'll be holding our little one. Did you find out the s_x??? I think that's the best part of the amnio, cause I don't want to wait, I want to be prepared like I was when I had my son almost 15 years ago. My biggest problem these days is migraine headaches... they're absolutely killing me! I have these lovely little blue pills that knock me out when I get them, but of course, I can't take them now, and I'm getting them almost every day. Well... cross your fingers for me cause I'll be getting the needle on Thursday. I'll let you know how it went. Take care and thanks for letting me know your results.

Hi Karihope... thanks for the info. I plan on doing nothing after my amnio, except going pee, cause I do that all the time still. My husband will be with me and will take good care of me and has already told me that I'm not allowed to do anything at all except lay on the sofa or in bed until next Monday. LOL I'm still a bit scared about the needle, but if that was all I had to worry about, I would feel great about this. At least the place I'm going to is very experienced at this and that makes me feel better. Hearing about other's positive experiences really helps. Thanks again for the info, and I wish you all the best.

Hi suze... after reading your post and I can only say... if you wouldn't consider termination, then I agree you shouldn't even think about amnio. And yes, stand your ground as much as is necessary. They can't make you do it. Like you said, we will all make the right decisions for us, and I think you've already made yours. I'm sure all will be just fine... over 95% of women who have amnio have perfectly healthy babies. I wish you all the best.

Deborah969, glad to help, good luck!

When I was pregant with my first son who is now 13 - I had that triple whatever test. It showed that I had a 1 in 80 chance of having a baby with spina bifida. Because of my age (24) and repeated tests showed the same they suggested that I go for genetic testing. They sat there in front of us and told us to have an abortion. They said I was young and to just start over. I said no. So, they wanted me to do an amnio. I also heard of the risks so again I said no. I went on to have 9 ultrasounds all together. why? not sure. they could not tell me anything except at the last one because he was breach and they needed to see what position he was in they said they saw a shadow around the heart and then told me that he was also going to be born with a heart defect! My son was born perfect! He is now 13 and plays football and is a normal kid in every sense of the way. I think you need to ask yourself if something were to come out positive what would you do about it? If nothing just leave it. When I got pregnant with my next I did not do any testing at all ! I went for my two ultrasounds at 20 and 35 weeks. He also is fine. With this one I will do the same. If something is wrong with this one then I will deal with it. hope that helps. good luck