to ask you about your experiences with amniocentesis?

[PereyButton]

21 weeks pregnant and booked in for an amnio this week. I've only just booked it but am terrified of the miscarriage risk. Currently on a thread re why I was considering amnio but it's pretty much decided now.

Can anyone tell me a little about their experience? I have no idea what to expect and haven't had a chance to sit down properly with a midwife about it so I'm going on a little bit blind...

Thanks all in advance. P.

I had one as my baby had heart problems. It wasn't painful as they numb the area - just a strange feeling but was over very quickly. I chose not to look at the needle going in and actually had to ask DP if it was over as I didn't feel it coming out!

The consultant watches the baby on the screen so they can be sure the needle is no where near your little one.

They say to rest afterwards but I didn't - I had a clingy toddler at home so no chance of not carrying him around/chasing after him.

Good luck. The thought of it was much worse than the reality. I had no bad effects from it.

Thanks @moita - and very glad to hear you had no problems following the amnio. Did you worry extensively about the miscarriage risk? It's the one thing I can't get out of the back of my head. Someone has to be in that 1% and I'm convinced it will be me...

I’ve had amniocentesis and cvs having the amnio was less painful for me and as moita says they watch the baby the whole time to make sure the needle doesn’t go anywhere near the baby.
I know it’s a scary time but the doctors are very good at what they are doing.
Also it really doesn’t take that long just a few minuets.
Good luck with your results

My consultant said babies that don't survive were likely not to have reached full term anyway. So yes a worry but it was worth it for us.

I had an amniocentesis over 2 years ago. The wait for the procedure was much worse than the procedure itself. At my 12 week scan we were told we were high-risk for chromosomal abnormalities. We had to wait several weeks for the amniocentesis.
We were told that the procedure has 1% risk of miscarriage, however our consultant said that was a national average; the particular hospital where we had the procedure had a 0.03% risk. This was a huge reassurance!
The amnio itself was fine. There was the consultant and a nurse present, I had an antiseptic/antibacterial/numbing agent wiped over my abdomen. The consultant found the baby's position with the ultrasound and positioned the needle a distance from the any. I didn't feel a thing when the needle went in. I remember being afraid to move, and holding my breath at that point! I watched the whole procedure on the ultrasound, and my DS moved towards the needle at one point and grabbed it in his hand - turns out the needle is flexible once it's released past the shafts (obvious in hindsight but not something I thought about).
Overall, it was very quick. I had a standard plaster put on (for some reason that amused me), had to sit still for about 20 minutes (I think; can't remember exact time). Was told to take it easy for the rest of the day.
The wait for results was excruciating, but amniocentesis was actually fine.
The results came back clear of chromosomal abnormalities.

Good luck. I hope it all goes well.

I was told that it is less than 1% and just take it easy for a few days after.
I know easier said than done.

any = baby

Thanks everyone. This is really reassuring. I'm sure that the miscarriage risk will be in my head until we are out of the danger zone but you really all are a great, great help.

I had one for my first dc. Was ok going in, but then they do the 'councilling bit' and i nearly bailed then, i knew all the risks etc and had geared myself up for it, then to be asked 'was i sure etc', made me nearly walk out, but i went through with it.
I had my eyes closed (so i could pretend it wasn't happening), then i heard them all laughing, I opened my eyes to check and they were laughing at the screen. My little baby was darting about getting in the way of the needle. The consultant had to press quite hard with the ultra sound thingy to corner her, so he could have a clear shot!
I had a bit of crampy achey feelings for 24 hours which was quite scary, then we were due to go on holiday and had to phone from Portugal to get the results.
All was well and she is now screeching away in the pool in the garden.
Interestingly i didn't have one with my second dc, even though i'm sure the risks were much higher.

I have had 4 and the wait is the worst part. I did not feel anything other than some pressure as the needle went through. I took the day off, more for the mental aspect, but back to work next day.

Good luck OP. I do think the thought is worse than the reality.

@YetAnotherNewName1000 what's the counselling bit? I'm so clueless. I have no idea what to expect!

Thanks everyone for your responses. It's such a help.

Feeling a bit frustrated. Midwife text last week after we got the initial results to let me know she would call me he next day, nothing. Again today she text to say she would call at 1, again, nothing. Can't get through on her phone. Really upsetting when your midwife is meant to be the one you can talk to about these things.

Did anyone ask for the number of aminos the consultant does per year?

Has your consultant got a secretary? I never spoke to my midwife about the amnio. But the secretary was very helpful. Yes for asking if you want to.

@moita I gave them a call and they were really helpful. They'd only done 16 in the last year which seems very low for a hospital which scans so many people, but none of them ended in miscarriage. Which is good.

That's good. I hope that's put your mind at rest a bit. Don't be afraid of calling with more questions - I found my consultant and secretary very patient. I think they realise how scary the whole thing can seem.

@PereyButton hi, it was more just to check with me that i was aware if the risks and did i still want to go through it and that this was not necessarily the end point and that if the results came back as not the outcome i was wanting, there would, potentially, be more decisions to be made later on.
For me, by the time i had psyched myself up to attend the appointment i didn't want anyone making me think about it all again. Like i said, i nearly walked out at that point. The actual procedure was fine (apart from the acrobatics from dd).

I posted on your other thread because I've had two amnios and if I had another child and needed one I'd definitely do it again. As everyone above says, it's quick and fairy painless if a bit of a weird sensation. My baby moved away from the needle which was good to see and I just went home and lay on the sofa for the afternoon. All was fine. The risks are very small. Good luck.

Thanks everyone. Now to just get through tomorrow as I'm having it done on Thursday! You're all a massive help. It's amazing how scared this kind of thing makes you. I've had operations and high risk procedures but I am responsible for myself and never ever felt this nervous. Now I feel responsible for this little life inside me and it's just so much harder to cope with.

I spoke to ARC, who were really so helpful. How did I not know they exist already! Passed on to my doctor friend who's going to pass on to his colleagues so they can then pass on to their patients who have any worries

Amnio tomorrow. Completely terrified...

Thank you everyone who suggested I phone ARC. They've been incredibly helpful. Thank you.

Hope it goes as well as possible and you get good results

Thanks @moita - I have a horrible feeling I can't shake. I'm convinced the results are going to show cystic fibrosis. Terrified.

I have had an nipt test instead. Very reliable results. It cost £495 but worth every penny!

@Liverbird77 we have gone for the amnio. Simply because there's a risk of CF, infections, chromosomal problems, and a few other rarer things. The NIPT looks great but would only give us half of the answers. We are more worried about CF and whilst we have been screened, the results take up to 3 weeks to come back, by which point I will be 24 weeks. Amnio will then be done if needs be and again, may not get results until 27-28 weeks. A termination at this point would be devastating (even more so than before 24 weeks) as baby would hand a good chance of surviving outside the womb. Terrified of amnio but don't see any other choice at the moment, especially considering we would like to know for sure.