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Amniocentesis, like other invasive prenatal examinations, is still very emotional. Instead of getting nervous that you might harm your baby, read what this prenatal screening is all about. The risk of miscarriage is low, and thanks to amniocentesis, it is possible to detect and treat fetal defects immediately. How does amniocentesis work?
Women are concerned that taking a sample of amniotic fluid - and this isamniocentesis- carries the risk of damaging the fetusor miscarriage. In fact, the risk is minimal.
What is amniocentesis?
Amniocentesis is the most commonly performedprenatal testof an invasive nature.
Amino function allows you to find (or exclude) a congenital genetic defect of the fetus. The test can be performed as early as between the 13th and 15th week of pregnancy. It is possible to perform the test both earlier and later - this time frame is a compromise between the risk of complications of the procedure, which is greater in the first weeks of pregnancy, and the need to obtain the result as soon as possible.
The examination is always performed under aseptic conditions and under ultrasound guidance to avoid damage to the fetus. The doctor chooses the puncture site of the fetal bladder so that it is as far away from the fetus as possible. After local anesthesia, he disinfects the skin fragment, punctures the abdominal wall and the fetal bladder with a sterile needle, and then draws about 15 ml of amniotic fluid (amniotic fluid) into the syringe. Then he removes the needle and puts a sterile dressing on the puncture site. The entire operation takes only a few minutes.
ImportantIndications for amniocentesis
- woman over 35
- the pregnant woman or her husband's family has a history of genetic diseases
- the expectant mother had previously given birth to a child with a genetic defect (e.g. Down syndrome) or with a central nervous system defect (e.g. hydrocephalus, cerebrospinal hernia) or with one of the metabolic diseases (e.g. cystic fibrosis)
- triple test detected a high concentration of alpha-protein in the blood serum of a pregnant woman (a protein produced in the liver and intestine of the fetus) - elevated values may suggest, among others, baby spina bifida
There are fetal cells in the sample taken from the exfoliating skin, systemgenitourinary and digestive. In the laboratory, they are cultured on a special artificial medium. When they multiply, the child's chromosome set is examined, i.e. its so-called karyotype. You usually have to wait two or three weeks for the test result.
Amniocentesis is associated with a small risk of miscarriage - it is 0.5-1%. - that's why it is offered only to women with an increased risk of having a child with a genetic defect.
Long-term benefits of amniocentesis
Amniocentesis is performed for the benefit of both the child and the parents. Statistics show that out of 100 women at high risk, 96 will give birth to a he althy baby - most often it turns out that there is nothing to worry about. Many at-risk mothers stop trembling with anxiety after obtaining successful results. They get a chance to wait for a solution calmly, which is also important for the developing child.
However, if the research shows that a terminally ill child will be born - the parents gain time to get used to this information. By deciding to have a sick baby, they can organize their lives so that they can spend more time treating and caring for their baby.
What is very important, some defects can be treated in the mother's womb, even before the baby is born (this is the case, for example, in the case of urinary tract obstruction, thrombocytopenia). In addition, doctors, knowing in advance that a sick child is to be born, can prepare for delivery and provide the newborn with specialist help quickly. This is especially true of heart defects. Then two teams are prepared in the delivery room: one is delivering the baby, and the other - consisting of neonatologists and cardiologists - takes the baby over right away to save his life.
According to the regulations in force in our country, a high probability of severe and irreversible impairment of the fetus and an incurable disease that threatens the life of the child or mother is the basis for termination of pregnancy. However, contrary to the opinion of some circles, such early knowledge about a baby's disease is relatively rarely the cause of an abortion.
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