Do I need Amniocentesis? | Pregnancy Articles

By: www.pregnancybay.com

Amniocentesis. The word alone is nearly as daunting to a pregnant woman as the test.  If your multiple marker screening determines that your baby is at higher risk for chromosomal abnormalities, your doctor will offer you the option of performing amniocentesis.  So what should you do from here?

Try not to panic.  The stress of hearing that there may be a problem with your pregnancy can be overwhelming.  However, an abnormal multiple marker screening only indicates that the levels of alphafetoprotein (AFP), human chrionic gonadotropin (HCG), and unconjugated estriol (uE3) in your blood are not in what is considered to be the “normal” range for this stage in your pregnancy.  Many women who receive abnormal results from the multiple marker screening, and even from an amniocentesis, go on to have healthy pregnancies. 

Educate yourself.  The levels of AFP, HCG, and uE3 in your blood during pregnancy can indicate an increased risk for the chromosomal disorders Down syndrome and Trisomy 18 and for neural tube defects like spinal bifida.  Discuss your multiple marker screening results with your doctor and fully inform yourself on the disorders for which your baby is at risk.  Genetic counseling can also be a valuable resource.

Decide what difference further test results would make.  Armed with knowledge about each specific disorder, you can better assess your feelings on the pregnancy and determine how you want to proceed.  If abnormal results from further testing would not deter you from continuing the pregnancy, then it probably would not be worth the risk incurred by an invasive test like amniocentesis.  If the test results would significantly impact your decision to continue the pregnancy, then a test like amniocentesis may either ease your mind or provide more conclusive information with which to make decisions.

Determine which test to use.  Once you have elected for further testing, discuss with your doctor which test would be best for you.  Amniocentesis is the most common, but other tests like chorionic villus sampling may also be used.

Ø       Amniocentesis is a process by which fluid is extracted directly from the amniotic sac between the 15th and 20th week of pregnancy.  Amniocentesis allows the lab to test the fetal cells directly for chromosomal abnormalities.  Because the test needle punctures the amniotic sac, there is a risk of infection, amniotic fluid leakage, and even miscarriage.  This risk, however, is still considered minimal.

Ø       Chorionic Villus Sampling is similar to amniocentesis, but it tests a sample of the placental tissue.  The main benefit of CVS over amniocentesis is that it can be conducted up to four weeks earlier in the pregnancy.  The results of CVS can be inconclusive or false if the mother’s cells become mixed in the sample.  Like amniocentesis, CVS carries risk of infection, amniotic fluid leakage, and miscarriage.

Other resources.  The most important thing when you are faced with abnormal test results during pregnancy is to sufficiently educate yourself so that you can make the best decisions for you and your family.  Information regarding chromosome disorders can be found at the National Down Syndrome Society website at www.ndss.org, the Trisomy 18 Foundation website at www.trisomy18.org, and the Spina Bifida Association website at www.sbaa.org.