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Original poster

Has anyone had Amniocentesis or CVS tests? Is it painful

16 replies

Turtle35 · 07/04/2004 12:15

I am 35 and have my nuchal fold scan next Tuesday and I am terrified of the results, I am not sure if I want to have any further testing if the odds are not in my favour. Can anyone give me some idea of what Amnio or CVS is like?

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Freckle · 07/04/2004 12:17

Not painful really. They give you a local anaesthetic first. That's probably the most painful bit. Then the actual insertion of the needle (I had a CVS) is felt more as a bit of pressure. Definitely not painful. It probably helps if you have a rather gorgeous doctor performing the procedure, but that obviously can't be guaranteed

It is quite quick and, as I said, the most painful part is administering the anaesthetic.

Good luck.

dinosaur · 07/04/2004 12:20

It's not that bad, although I did grip on to DH's hand thoughout.

Good luck with the scan.

bundle · 07/04/2004 12:21

mine was borderline uncomfortable/painful (amnio) but the most important thing is to decide BEFORE you have it done whether you would do anything (ie terminate) if the result wasn't what you wanted. if not, then don't bother wtih them as they carry a risk of miscarriage (1 or 2 in 100, depending who does it).
I had amnios with both my dd's and the results were fine but it is worrying during the couple of weeks it takes to grow the cells (we got an initial 85% accurate good result, but you still have to wait for the full one), and a friend's a few years back didn't 'take' so she had to have another one, taking her well beyond the legal abortion limit. there should be a genetic counsellor at your hospital who you can have a chat with. where do you live?

sykes · 07/04/2004 12:22

I didn't find my amnio at all painfull and I'm a massive wimp. Again - more of a pressure thing that, to me, just felt a little odd. Just don't look at the needle. It's rather large.

monkeygirl · 07/04/2004 12:24

I had a CVS and remember just a momentary sharp pain (only for a second) when the needle went in. The needles for both procedures look horrendous but don't let them put you off, it really isn't bad.

Good luck with your nuchal scan.

piglit · 07/04/2004 12:24

Turtle - I had my nuchal scan a couple of weeks ago and had exactly the same worries as you. I was worried too about the risk of m/c from the CVS and a midwife friend of mine told me that if I chose to have CVS then to ask my hospital about the percentage risk of m/c in that particular hospital. Apparently a lot depends on the skill and experience of the individual carrying out the procedure, not just national statistics.

tabitha · 07/04/2004 12:24

I had CVS and I didn't think it hurt at all, which surprised me. As Freckle says, it was more like a pressure than a pain, like someone pushing on my tummy.
Good luck with your scan - hopefully the results will be so good you won't have to think about further testing.

Trifle · 07/04/2004 12:25

I had amnio's done with both pregnancies. Only minor discomfort. They cannot give you an anaesthetic as the needle for this is larger than the needle they use for the amnio so would cause more discomfort. You do get to watch the baby on the monitor and for me it was absolutely vital to be 100% sure there were no complications. I wouldn't hesitate to have it done again, it really is very straightforward.

officerdibble · 07/04/2004 12:59

Turtle - I had an amnio for ds1. It was mildly uncomfortable and I had cramping afterwards (which you are told to expect). The needle going in isn't too bad (good job as it took 2 gos), it was the feeling of the fluid coming out that was the worse sensation to me. You have to take it very easy for 24 hours afterwards.

I second piglit's info that it's the skill of the individual practioner that is the best predictor of m/c risk. I was reassured to get mine done by an experienced consultants obs. He told me that infection due to ingress into the womb by the needle is the big amnio m/c risk factor.

I vividly remember watching the monitor as it was being done and seeing ds 'move' away from the needle and stay very still until the needle was taken out. It really brought home to me that I was carrying a little person even at that stage.

The best bit was getting the results and then not having to worry for the rest of the pg - it really set my mind at rest. I won't hesitate to have amnio for next pg.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thomcat · 07/04/2004 13:31

Turtle, I didn't have any tests so can't advise you there but i am the proud mother of a wonderful, beautiful daughter who happens to have Down's syndrome, so if you have any concerns and want to talk, either her, or email me, i'd be pleased to chat to you. if you'd like to talk please know that I have no intention of convincing you of anything, you just might have some questions I could help with etc. Anyway, I'm here if you need me.
Good luck with the scan, lts of love, Thomcat xx

suedonim · 07/04/2004 13:37

I had an amnio with dd2 and agree that the pain is more a pressure thing than a sharp pain, as though someone was poking hard at your tummy. It stings as the needle goes in but after that, it's okay. The wait (four wks for me) was very hard, though. We went on holiday to relieve the tension.

Linnet · 07/04/2004 23:31

I had an amnio at 15 weeks and I didn't find it bad at all. They scanned me first to check where the baby was lying and check the amount of fluid then said right lets do it. It was over and done with in a matter of minutes. The consultant who did mine does them all the time and was very experienced which made me feel a whole lot better about the whole thing.

For me it wasn't painful to have the amnio done but more of a strange sensation, really can't describe it, but I didn't find it painful just weird. It's more a feeling of pressure rather than pain, like others have said.

I'm sure you're Nuchal scan results will be fine and you'll have been worrying yourself over nothing. Wishing you lots of luck and sending ((((Hugs))))

grumpyzebra · 07/04/2004 23:55

I understand that both amnio and CVS can be painful, although it's esp. unlikely with amnio. I know 2 people who had painful CVS, including my cousin who had previously had CVS that wasn't at all painful. Her CVS that was trans-vaginal didn't hurt, the one that was trans-abdominal hurt a lot. The other painful experience was described by a friend as "stonking great big needle that has to mash around breaking up bits of the placenta to get enough tissue sample", or something like that. Hope I don't upset by being so graphic, but I'd want to know that in advance. Amnio needle is supposed to very much smaller than CVS needle.

Agree with Bundle about the important thing to worry about is deciding beforehand what you would probably do with the info CVS/amnio can give you. They are big risks to take if you wouldn't terminate after all.

survivour · 08/04/2004 00:18

My CVS was done at the Homerton hospital, one doctor and one nurse, the nurse held my hand throughout the procedure, and I felt no pain at all. If you tense up, then I think you may feel some pain. Good luck....

Original poster

Turtle35 · 08/04/2004 12:37

Thank you all so much for your advice and experiences, especially Thomcat, your note made me cry, I definitely wouldn't terminate no matter what - I just feel far to close to this baby now, I didn't ever expect to feel this way. I am going to be positive until the scan and fingers crossed there wouldn't be a need for further testing.

OP posts:

Thomcat · 08/04/2004 13:47

Ahh sorry sweet, didn't mean to make you cry!
Serios about being here for you though, anything I can do, provide you with some reading material, chat to you on the phone, just say.

Glad to hear you feel so close to oyur baby, that's just lovley :0

If you've already decided not to consider termination would you be having the further tests done just so you know for sure and can plan and get your head round things then?

Anyway, i'm sure everything will be just fine.

feel free to email for my phone number or whatever if you ever feel the need to talk about 'stuff'.

TC xx

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