Amnio question

ChavayJakov · July 2011

My OB stated that an amnio will be in my future. I've never had one before, and a hundred years ago, they weren't something I was willing to do as they were dangerous. When asked about this, he had some really good arguments that were pro amnio, particularly dealing with knowing the risks/state of the baby and being ready to act on those things during and post labor with immediacy. When asked about the danger factor, he just said that they were safer than they were when I was younger, that instead of "stabbing in the dark" they now use technology to guide them where they are working. When asked about CVS, he dismissed it as not being necessary. I'll be honest, until these boards I've never heard of a CVS before, so I'm not 100% on what they do or what they are for. I've been told they are more accurate and less accurate than settling for an amnio. I don't know which is correct.

What I haven't been told are what are the odds of m/c or death/harm to the baby if I have a miscarriage. The OB is too confident, I think, in intimating that anything that they suggest should be trusted and not taken lightly. He's a great guy, but won't be whom I use the entire pregnancy - I'm looking for another OB. He's already changed "stats" on me for one thing which I felt was very important...and it was a big enough difference that I wouldn't have taken the risk with the latest. So, I don't really want to just take his word on this being safe if being safe just means safer than before. Does anyone know stats on this? (Sorry for rambling so)

JML125 · July 2011

I posted a similar question not too long ago, here's the thread:

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/55465828.aspx

I'm choosing to the amnio vs. cvs, simply b/c I want a little more reassurance. From what I've read, ask the doctor performing the amnio how many they've done and how many miscarriages have happened to them while performing amnios. There's always a risk with something, and the doctors always have to tell what those risks will be; but as long as you're comfortable with your doctor, the facility and most importantly, your decision, you should be fine.

GL!

clipingirl · July 2011

I really don't know specifics. But your OB is correct in that the amnio procedure has GREATLY improved over the past 10 years. And yes, they use an ultrasound as they do the amnio to guide the needle. I did it with this LO, never did it with my previous 2 girls. I was relieved to do it and find out all is well. One bit of advice would be to find a doc who can do your amnio who has never had an incidence of m/c. I asked my amnio doc his track record and he hadn't had one problem in 10 years! So it was an easy choice. Most of the time, your primary OB won't be the one doing the procedure. In my experience, docs who do amnios are specifically trained and often have a background in neonatal development etc. etc. etc. Best of luck to you on your choice. OH and in terms of the CVS deal...I wonder if you're too far along for that? I know that CVS is an earlier test than amnio (e.g. amnio starts at 16 weeks etc.). At least that might take one option off the table.

Peppernut · July 2011

Amnio really has come a long way! Everyone's already covered the stuff about asking the doctor about his history, so I won't repeat.

CVS is almost the same kind of thing, only more recent and it can be done earlier. Instead of taking a sample of the amniotic fluid, they use this weird little pump thing and grab a sample of the chorionic villus in the placenta. It can't check for some non-genetic issues, like spina bifida, but it's still pretty accurate.

I don't think either procedure is 100% safe, but I do know that the safety of each strongly depends on the one performing the procedure, so you can't really get an accurate, solid risk assessment. Good luck!

varkeyr · July 2011

Risk of miscarriage is 1 in 200.

You don't have to have an amino if you don't want one. If your doctor has not informed you fully of all of the risks to the LO I would not do it. It is great that he is so confident, however it seems like he is hoping you won't research it and turn him down. There are other tests that can be performed such as a NST and blood test combined can give you peace of mind.

Michele&Chris · July 2011

varkeyr:

You don't have to have an amino if you don't want one.

this. One doctor in our practice pushed it on me, the other had no problem canceling it when I explained that we would not abort if the baby had Down Syndrome. It wasn't worth the risk of another miscarriage to find out one way or another through amnio. There are targeted ultrasounds that are totally non-invasive that can be done later in the pregnancy.

Is the amnio just for DS or have they detected other possible issues? What odds did he give you based on your NT scan and triple/quad screen bloodwork? An amnio should not be considered par for the course just because we're older.

ChavayJakov · July 2011

Michele&Chris:
varkeyr:

You don't have to have an amino if you don't want one.

this. One doctor in our practice pushed it on me, the other had no problem canceling it when I explained that we would not abort if the baby had Down Syndrome. It wasn't worth the risk of another miscarriage to find out one way or another through amnio. There are targeted ultrasounds that are totally non-invasive that can be done later in the pregnancy.

Is the amnio just for DS or have they detected other possible issues? What odds did he give you based on your NT scan and triple/quad screen bloodwork? An amnio should not be considered par for the course just because we're older.

Thanks all!

That's just it...I haven't had anything other than the very first blood tests one takes when you first find you're pregnant...my U/S is scheduled for this week, the other blood screens are scheduled for later in the month. The amnio was talked about at the very first meeting and at the last meeting (which they had told me was for blood screening, but then they messed up and had i down for a regular check up). It's very much like its a foregone conclusion because of my age. Particularly because of the increased risk of D/S; however, he's saying that it can give me a heads up on all sorts of issues the baby could have and would allow me to have medics on standby during the birth of the baby. So, yeah, I'm feeling it is because of the age.

Don't get me wrong...knowing things in advance and having people ready to jump if necessary is a real positive...I just don't know if I want to know that something's wrong through the pregnancy, like D/S, if nothing can be done for it in the first place. Too, I don't want to risk damaging the baby or damaging the baby further, you know?

Peppernut · July 2011

Does he not do NT scans? I would think if you're worried about how risky the other tests are, the NT would be the way to go!

We did the cvs (and the amnio with Margaux) because we wanted to make sure that if we had a baby with issues, we'd be delivering at a hospital that could handle it... and termination was an option if it was a severe, non-viable trisonomy. Interestingly, M's prenatal issues were all things they found on the NT and anatomy scans, and even though we picked a high-risk hospital, they still missed her heart problem. SO, really, you never know.

The advantage of knowing (or suspecting, if you do the NT instead of an amnio) about D/S is you can get the grief and disappointment of the baby not being "perfect" out of the way ahead of time, and relax and be happy when he or she arrives!

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