who has had an amnio?

eSynergy · September 2012

Docs at CHOP are recommending I get an amnio (since baby has a heart defect there is a risk of q22 which is a scary chromosomal problem).

They may have to wait and do it at 30 weeks b/c there's a risk of putting me into labor. I'm past the 18-week mark where they usually do them.

Has anyone ever had one? Is it a big deal? I'm a little scared, but I want to know now if this kid has this issue vs. after he's here and we're dealing with the stress of 3-4 open heart surgeries.

jpfeifer · September 2012

I did around 15 weeks (no visible bump), so my experience may be different than yours. It wasn't that painful, just a needle poke and then when it hits your uterus, there is a little charlie horse type feeling. No pain afterwards. I was more upset/crying about why I had to have it than actually having it (if that makes sense). I was in the same boat about having to know so I could prepare.

Them setting up for it was the worst part. There was an ultrasound to make sure the baby was still alive and that there was enough fluid to take, they bring in all the stuff, get the needle ready, putting that orange stuff on you as if you're having surgery. I had my eyes closed so I didn't have to see the needle which probably made it seem like it was longer than it really was. They keep the ultrasound up to make sure they aren't close to the baby. DH watched.

I'm sorry you're having to go through this.

HeatherWain · September 2012

::butting in:: esyn, I just caught up with your post below because I've been swamped at work and I wanted to say that my thoughts and prayers are coming your way. I don't have any amnio experience but I would be the same as you and would want to know ahead of time in order to be able to plan. It just sucks the way they have to test. Good luck with everything and you're in my thoughts!

eSynergy · September 2012

Thanks girls...the chance of q22 is pretty low so hopefully it's nothing.

kross605 · September 2012

Have you considered the newer test called materniT21? Apparently its a blood test that provides much of the same information as an amino but has zero chance of causing miscarriage and is about 99% accurate whereas amino is 99.5%(?). It's not covered under most insurance which is the bad thing but it might be worth paying for if it would be just as useful for your particular situation and you could avoid the needle and (albeit very small) risk of miscarriage.

Lulu0802 · September 2012

I had an amnio at ~20wks to rule out DS. Our a/s came back with one of the soft markers so we did the amnio to rule it out. It wasn't terrible, but it didn't feel good either. I was mostly upset about what we might find out with the amnio than actually in pain from the amnio. Like the pp said, it was a pinch when the needle went in and then a weird cramping feeling when it went through the uterus. They keep the u/s on the whole time to make sure they're not near the baby and get a good pocket of fluid. Overall, I think it took about 15 minutes and then it was all done.

eSynergy · September 2012

Thanks!

kross --- I'll ask if that test covers q22.

who has had an amnio?

Re: who has had an amnio?

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