On the Fence for Amnio???

clipingirl · May 2011

Ugh. I keep thinking maybe I should just do it since I'm so close to 16 weeks...and even though our NT scans etc. were great...it WOULD be nice to have that peace of mind. I'm nervous about the procedure. I have read so many wonderful posts here about asking if the doc who does the amnio has experience and no miscarries as outcome from the test. I would do that for sure. I need feedback. Ugh. So hard to decide.

mcwhittaker · May 2011

We had good scan results and did the amnio anyway.

My husband and I decided that we would be too anxious without 99.9% certainty... plus the bonus of definitively knowing gender that early was like icing on the cake.

You need to do what's right for you and your S/O.

Nobody is going to throw stones at you for doing the test or not doing the test Smile

dianah36 · May 2011

With my first baby we did all the noninvasive tests and had good results. But I need the certainty of an amnio and was a total basket case over the decision. I went ahead and did it, it went well, and I was so happy with my decision. With this baby I skipped all noninvasive tests and went right to the amnio. Again, I was very happy with my decision.

Good luck!

GHBEA · May 2011

My last pregnancy (I was 41 yrs old) we did not do the amnio, My DH and I thought about it and decided that the NST scan and other testing came back good so we opted out of the amnio.

I think its all based on your comfort level of getting it done.

GL what ever you choose.

beyoga · May 2011

I had an amnio with my ds and I am currently planning on having one done at my anatomy scan next week for my current pregnancy. I found the Rogam shot I had to get after a lot more uncomfortable, the amnio wasn't bad at all.

bridgeybride · May 2011

Oh.. good luck with your decision.. it really is a tough one... and just try to feel good about what you decide... I had CVS.. so I know how nerveracking it is... my genetics counselor (last time) told me "if you NEED to know.... do it.."... if you're going to be a mess for the next 6 months and not be able to enjoy your pregnancy and relax... then I'd say.. go ahead and do it.. but if you'll be okay and have faith that all is good (based on your GREAT NT scans.. which is a GREAT indicator of a healthy baby).... then don't do it. It really is hard to decide.. just know that you're not the only one who feels this way... talk to your drs.. the perinatal, as well.. get a good sense from them. Best of luck to you.

e

Peppernut · May 2011

Someone... I think it was McWhittaker? Someone once suggested flipping a coin for the answer, then see if you want to flip it again. If you do, well, that should tell you how you really feel about it.

That said, we did an amnio with Margaux, and CVS with this one. I do like the peace of mind.

Michele&Chris · May 2011

The way ladies respond to this question, on this board, is so nice. In my experience, some other boards get very nasty and automatically turn this topic into an abortion issue. DH and I will get amnio just for peace of mind. However, if the results indicate a problem, we have time to educate ourselves and prepare for the situation.

I'm not a huge fan of needles, but knowing the rhogam shot is worse (and boy does that hurt like a stinker!!!) makes me feel better

miafromab · May 2011

I so feel your "Ugh". I am exactly where you are decision wise. I turned 16 weeks sat so I feel I may wait till my anatomy scan on the 24th.

I wish you luck in deciding and peace with whatever your decision is. Mostly i wish either way you have a healthy baby in the end.

ChavayJakov · May 2011

I'm on the fence for amnio - I'm not sure what options/alternatives there are (I just posted something asking for definitions of terms I heard about on this board).

The first time I gave birth was in '89 and what I heard about amnio's scared me to death - it wasn't the diagnosis that they could give, but the way they did it and the danger to the baby. I declined to have it done and the OB/GYN became so irate with me over it (I guess he thought i had a stupid reason to decline) that I left him and found another. My new OB/GYN understood my desire not to have amnio's and didn't push for my next two children ('91 & '92).

I went to see him again when I found out this month that I was pregnant. While I won't be using him long term (because his hospital won't allow VBAC) he did talk to me about what happens at what weeks and an amnio would be in there. Now, my conversation with him surrounded my worries of high-risk possibilities, and really I'm only knowledgeable to ask about Down's...he told me the other reasons for the procedure that he felt were valid based on decisions a woman might want to make. I asked him if technology had changed at all with amnio (just on the safety factor) and he totally said that the dangers were almost removed now because before they were just jamming this needle in where they thought was the best, and now everything is guided via ultrasound (was that the term?) so they could see where the baby was. That made me feel a little better about the procedural safety portion.

Where I'm on the fence is - do I want to know for my own peace of mind since I'm not going to act on anything...will I be more nervous wondering "what if's" or wondering about what it reveals. I'm not sure if, for me, "my own peace of mind" is a gamble I'm wanting to take if there is still the tiniest possibility of injury/miscarriage.

When I asked my doctor, specifically about if it would discover anything that we could act on (as in "fix") in utero rather than just give us information about that which we could not change, that is when he gave me the worst case scenario about finding out if it would be worth carrying to term a baby I knew would only survive outside the womb with multiple surgeries, et cetera, and how many women don't want to go through that. Now, I'm not really sure, because my question was derailed...does anyone know if an amnio provides medical/physical information which can be proactively helped (treated) before the birth? Or have the staff *more* at the ready immediately following delivery?

SFAug07 · May 2011

We needed certainty and decided for an amnio for both babies. The dr who did them does them all the time so we felt good about the procedure, and there was no issue with it. It is great to have peace of mind.

mcwhittaker · May 2011

chavayjakov:
I'm on the fence for amnio - I'm not sure what options/alternatives there are (I just posted something asking for definitions of terms I heard about on this board).
The first time I gave birth was in '89 and what I heard about amnio's scared me to death - it wasn't the diagnosis that they could give, but the way they did it and the danger to the baby. I declined to have it done and the OB/GYN became so irate with me over it (I guess he thought i had a stupid reason to decline) that I left him and found another. My new OB/GYN understood my desire not to have amnio's and didn't push for my next two children ('91 & '92).
I went to see him again when I found out this month that I was pregnant. While I won't be using him long term (because his hospital won't allow VBAC) he did talk to me about what happens at what weeks and an amnio would be in there. Now, my conversation with him surrounded my worries of high-risk possibilities, and really I'm only knowledgeable to ask about Down's...he told me the other reasons for the procedure that he felt were valid based on decisions a woman might want to make. I asked him if technology had changed at all with amnio (just on the safety factor) and he totally said that the dangers were almost removed now because before they were just jamming this needle in where they thought was the best, and now everything is guided via ultrasound (was that the term?) so they could see where the baby was. That made me feel a little better about the procedural safety portion.
Where I'm on the fence is - do I want to know for my own peace of mind since I'm not going to act on anything...will I be more nervous wondering "what if's" or wondering about what it reveals. I'm not sure if, for me, "my own peace of mind" is a gamble I'm wanting to take if there is still the tiniest possibility of injury/miscarriage.
When I asked my doctor, specifically about if it would discover anything that we could act on (as in "fix") in utero rather than just give us information about that which we could not change, that is when he gave me the worst case scenario about finding out if it would be worth carrying to term a baby I knew would only survive outside the womb with multiple surgeries, et cetera, and how many women don't want to go through that. Now, I'm not really sure, because my question was derailed...does anyone know if an amnio provides medical/physical information which can be proactively helped (treated) before the birth? Or have the staff *more* at the ready immediately following delivery?

The short answer to your question, yes it can be used to determine other fetal problems that can be addressed at delivery or before:

Early in pregnancy, used for diagnosis of chromosomal and other fetal problems such as:Down syndrome (trisomy 21)Trisomy 13 Trisomy 18 Fragile XRare, inherited metabolic disordersNeural tube defects (anencephaly and spina bifida) by alpha-fetoprotein levels.^[2]Later on, it also can be used to detect problems such as:InfectionRh incompatibilityPrediction of lung maturityDecompression of polyhydramnios

ChavayJakov · May 2011

mcwhittaker:
chavayjakov:
I'm on the fence for amnio - I'm not sure what options/alternatives there are (I just posted something asking for definitions of terms I heard about on this board).
The first time I gave birth was in '89 and what I heard about amnio's scared me to death - it wasn't the diagnosis that they could give, but the way they did it and the danger to the baby. I declined to have it done and the OB/GYN became so irate with me over it (I guess he thought i had a stupid reason to decline) that I left him and found another. My new OB/GYN understood my desire not to have amnio's and didn't push for my next two children ('91 & '92).
I went to see him again when I found out this month that I was pregnant. While I won't be using him long term (because his hospital won't allow VBAC) he did talk to me about what happens at what weeks and an amnio would be in there. Now, my conversation with him surrounded my worries of high-risk possibilities, and really I'm only knowledgeable to ask about Down's...he told me the other reasons for the procedure that he felt were valid based on decisions a woman might want to make. I asked him if technology had changed at all with amnio (just on the safety factor) and he totally said that the dangers were almost removed now because before they were just jamming this needle in where they thought was the best, and now everything is guided via ultrasound (was that the term?) so they could see where the baby was. That made me feel a little better about the procedural safety portion.
Where I'm on the fence is - do I want to know for my own peace of mind since I'm not going to act on anything...will I be more nervous wondering "what if's" or wondering about what it reveals. I'm not sure if, for me, "my own peace of mind" is a gamble I'm wanting to take if there is still the tiniest possibility of injury/miscarriage.
When I asked my doctor, specifically about if it would discover anything that we could act on (as in "fix") in utero rather than just give us information about that which we could not change, that is when he gave me the worst case scenario about finding out if it would be worth carrying to term a baby I knew would only survive outside the womb with multiple surgeries, et cetera, and how many women don't want to go through that. Now, I'm not really sure, because my question was derailed...does anyone know if an amnio provides medical/physical information which can be proactively helped (treated) before the birth? Or have the staff *more* at the ready immediately following delivery?
The short answer to your question, yes it can be used to determine other fetal problems that can be addressed at delivery or before:
Early in pregnancy, used for diagnosis of chromosomal and other fetal problems such as:Down syndrome (trisomy 21)Trisomy 13 Trisomy 18 Fragile XRare, inherited metabolic disordersNeural tube defects (anencephaly and spina bifida) by alpha-fetoprotein levels.^[2]Later on, it also can be used to detect problems such as:InfectionRh incompatibilityPrediction of lung maturityDecompression of polyhydramnios

Thank you so much for all the work you put into that!

ChavayJakov · May 2011

mcwhittaker:
chavayjakov:
I'm on the fence for amnio - I'm not sure what options/alternatives there are (I just posted something asking for definitions of terms I heard about on this board).
The first time I gave birth was in '89 and what I heard about amnio's scared me to death - it wasn't the diagnosis that they could give, but the way they did it and the danger to the baby. I declined to have it done and the OB/GYN became so irate with me over it (I guess he thought i had a stupid reason to decline) that I left him and found another. My new OB/GYN understood my desire not to have amnio's and didn't push for my next two children ('91 & '92).
I went to see him again when I found out this month that I was pregnant. While I won't be using him long term (because his hospital won't allow VBAC) he did talk to me about what happens at what weeks and an amnio would be in there. Now, my conversation with him surrounded my worries of high-risk possibilities, and really I'm only knowledgeable to ask about Down's...he told me the other reasons for the procedure that he felt were valid based on decisions a woman might want to make. I asked him if technology had changed at all with amnio (just on the safety factor) and he totally said that the dangers were almost removed now because before they were just jamming this needle in where they thought was the best, and now everything is guided via ultrasound (was that the term?) so they could see where the baby was. That made me feel a little better about the procedural safety portion.
Where I'm on the fence is - do I want to know for my own peace of mind since I'm not going to act on anything...will I be more nervous wondering "what if's" or wondering about what it reveals. I'm not sure if, for me, "my own peace of mind" is a gamble I'm wanting to take if there is still the tiniest possibility of injury/miscarriage.
When I asked my doctor, specifically about if it would discover anything that we could act on (as in "fix") in utero rather than just give us information about that which we could not change, that is when he gave me the worst case scenario about finding out if it would be worth carrying to term a baby I knew would only survive outside the womb with multiple surgeries, et cetera, and how many women don't want to go through that. Now, I'm not really sure, because my question was derailed...does anyone know if an amnio provides medical/physical information which can be proactively helped (treated) before the birth? Or have the staff *more* at the ready immediately following delivery?
The short answer to your question, yes it can be used to determine other fetal problems that can be addressed at delivery or before:
Early in pregnancy, used for diagnosis of chromosomal and other fetal problems such as:Down syndrome (trisomy 21)Trisomy 13 Trisomy 18 Fragile XRare, inherited metabolic disordersNeural tube defects (anencephaly and spina bifida) by alpha-fetoprotein levels.^[2]Later on, it also can be used to detect problems such as:InfectionRh incompatibilityPrediction of lung maturityDecompression of polyhydramnios

Thank you so much for all the work you put into that!

clipingirl · May 2011

Wow...really great feedback. So I made the appointment for the amnio, knowing that I can back out if need be. I'm 16 weeks next thur, appt. I will be 18 weeks. To the bumpie who posted about 'other boards' can get nasty....I absolutely agree. This board is so wonderfully supportive!!! I like the coin idea too. At this point I can honestly say I'm not too worried. On the other hand, knowing is a great thing!!!

Peppernut · May 2011

@chavayjakov

Just an addendum to the awesome answer from McWhittaker up there...

Knowing what sorts of things might come up at the birth can affect your choice of hospital, as well. I know you are already hunting for a VBAC-friendly hospital, the tests can help you know if you need to find a place with a really good NICU as well.

ChavayJakov · May 2011

Peppernut:
@chavayjakov
Just an addendum to the awesome answer from McWhittaker up there...
Knowing what sorts of things might come up at the birth can affect your choice of hospital, as well. I know you are already hunting for a VBAC-friendly hospital, the tests can help you know if you need to find a place with a really good NICU as well.

*Excellent* point - I'm so glad you chimed in. I swear, I've been focused on one thing so long, and now that' it's here (pregnancy) I'm blanking on a whole lot. I'm glad you pointed it out...that definitely is a positive.

JenWhite123 · May 2011

For me personally, any chance of a loss wasn't worth it. I mean, if the odds are only 1 in 1,000 - it still sucks if you are that "ONE".

Want a personalized experience?

On the Fence for Amnio???

Re: On the Fence for Amnio???

Choose Another Board

Search Boards