To amnio or not?

SJSLA

Hi ladies! Just wondering what all your thoughts are on getting the procedure done? I'm on the fence about this. My DH and I are both healthy, have no genetic disorders in our family history, and want to move forward with the pregnancy no matter what. Would having an amnio even matter? Thanks!

CaliCarly77

Have you researched and talked to your doctor about other, less invasive, options? I would have done an amnio if there were no other choices but proceeded with MaterniT21 instead. There is also NT scan and blood analysis, and CVS, lots of alternative options before amnio. Talk to a genetics counselor or your doctor!

biblionerd

Is your Dr recommending this or is this something you think you're supposed to have done?? No, I would not do an amnio. There are less invasive tests now. 

halfthetree

Well I think you answered your own question. No history, both parents healthy and you wouldn't terminate, so why risk it for the test?

adunkin

There are risks involved, but generally speaking they are fairly low and it is considered a safe procedure. They really push them here in Europe, FWIW.

However, I think if you're both healthy, no serious family history and other scans are looking great - I'd avoid the amnio. We had some concerns but our NT scan looked so good we'll refuse the recommended amnio. But def each to their own!

peanutmuse

My personal feeling about the amnio is that I would only have it done if I had results from my NT scan and/or Mat21 bloodwork that indicated a high risk of problems. It's not something I would do with no knowledge of what my risk level actually was. The reason why I say this is because amnio carries a risk of miscarriage itself (somewhere around 1 in 300 to 400, depending on which study you are looking at). If the baby's risk of having a birth defect was lower than 1 in 300 -- let's say 1 in 1,000 for the sake of discussion -- it would not be worth the risk of miscarriage. On the other hand, if there was a higher risk of birth defects (such as 1 in 100), it might be worth the risk to have the amnio to know for sure and to be able to plan accordingly for any special needs at birth and beyond.

Bottom line, with no family history and no first tri screening, I would personally not do the amnio. But I would definitely discuss this with a genetics counselor and not just internet strangers. It's too important of a decision.

JaneW2

I'm not doing the amnio.  Risky and painful.  I will do the anatomy ultrasound at 20 weeks, diabetes test, and whatever other bloodwork my OB recommends.  

The reason I'm so keen on the 20 week ultrasound is this:  My cousin found out at her anatomy ultrasound that her baby had a serious but treatable problem. (heart defect.)  Because she already knew, she researched the condition in advance, delivered in a high-tech hospital rather than the neighborhood hospital she'd originally planned on, and the baby's treatment started the minute he was born.  He's doing great now, pink-cheeked and growing like a weed, and he should go on to have a normal life.  He might have been fine even if he was diagnosed after birth, but I really think her knowing in advance gave her little one the best chance.

rowanthefrog

An amnio carries some pretty significant risks. There are several screenings most people do before proceding with an amnio, and they only do that if those screenings come back positive. I would look into Mat21/Harmony, NT scan/AFP/Quad screen, or even CVS before I'd jump the gun for an amnio, especially since you are both healthy and aren't aware of any genetic issues in your family. Talk to your doc about this, but based on what you ahve told me, no I would even consider an amnio unless I had had some of those other screenings and they came back positive.

A 

peanutmuse

rowanthefrog:

I would look into Mat21/Harmony, NT scan/AFP/Quad screen, or even CVS before I'd jump the gun for an amnio

CVS actually carries a higher risk for miscarriage than amnio. FYI.

angiek1

With what you said above I would NOT get an amnio - they can cause problems with the baby and are usually only recommended if the 13 wk NT scan shows major concerns.  If it doesn't sway your decision I don't recommend it. 

vstevens

peanut+muse:

rowanthefrog:

I would look into Mat21/Harmony, NT scan/AFP/Quad screen, or even CVS before I'd jump the gun for an amnio

CVS actually carries a higher risk for miscarriage than amnio. FYI.

This is actually not true.  The risk is the same. 

(When we had our CVS, I specifically asked the doctor this, in the context of whether we should wait to get the amnio if the risk was lower.  He told me that according to a peer reviewed long term study the risk is identical.  CVS may have been riskier earlier on, but now that it has become more commonplace, physicians are better trained and the issues have been resolved.)