Amniocentesis
What happens
Using ultrasound as a guide, a fine needle is passed through the wall of the abdomen
into the amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby. Within the fluid are cells that contain
the same chromosomes as your baby. A small sample of this fluid is drawn off and sent to a laboratory for testing.
Most women feel only mild discomfort.
Usually, the fluid will be tested for Down’s syndrome and other serious syndromes. The results should be available within three working days.
If all the chromosomes have to be looked at, it can take up to three weeks. This test will reveal your baby’s sex, so tell your midwife or doctor whether, at this stage, you want to know if your baby is a boy or a girl
Amniocentesis can be offered from 15 weeks of pregnancy if
you have a positive or higher risk Down’s syndrome screening result.
an ultrasound scan detects an abnormality that is associated with a genetic disorder
your past history or family history suggests that there may be a risk of your baby having
a genetic or chromosomal disorder such as Down’s syndrome, sickle cell disorder or thalassaemia.
The risks
Amniocentesis has a 0.5–1% risk of miscarriage. At most, one test in 100 will result in pregnancy loss. When deciding whether or not to go ahead with this test, try to balance the risk of miscarriage against
the value of the result to you.
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