Amniocentesis

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• Definition of Amniocentesis
• Description of Amniocentesis
• Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Amniocentesis

Definition of Amniocentesis

Description of Amniocentesis

• The age of the mother is 35 years of age or older. The risk of bearing children with chromosomal birth defects increases as a woman ages, thus if a woman will be 35 or older at the time of delivery, most physicians offer the option of prenatal testing for chromosomal disorders. Among the most common of these disorders is Down syndrome, a combination of mental and physical abnormalities caused by the presence of an extra chromosome.

• A previous child or pregnancy resulted in a birth defect. If a couple already has a child (or pregnancy) diagnosed with a chromosomal abnormality, a biochemical birth defect, or a neural tube defect, the couple may be offered prenatal testing during subsequent pregnancies.

• Family history shows an increased risk of inheriting a genetic disorder. Couples without a previously affected child may also be offered prenatal testing if their family medical histories indicate their children may be at increased risk of inheriting a genetic disorder.

• One or both prospective parents may be "carriers" of a disorder, or a disorder may "run in the family." Prenatal testing would be done only if the suspected condition can be diagnosed prenatally.

• There is suspected neural tube defects. These defects of the spine and brain, including spina bifida and anencephaly, can be diagnosed by measuring the level of alphafetoprotein (AFP) in the amniotic fluid. Amniocentesis to measure AFP is offered if there is a family history of neural tube defects, or if earlier screening tests of AFP in the mother's blood indicate that the pregnancy is at increased risk.

• The doctor wants to assess fetal lung maturity. Fetal lung assessment is important if the mother needs to deliver the baby early. By testing the amniotic fluid doctors can tell whether the baby's lung's are developed enough to breathe on their own.

• Detection of Rh disease is needed. Rh disease causes antibodies in the mother's blood to attack fetal blood cells and an amniocentesis detects the disease and enables the doctors to take appropriate measures to reduce complications.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Amniocentesis

Is there a possibility the baby will have birth defects?

When should the amniocentesis be done?

How will the test be done?

What will the amniocentesis show?

What are the possible outcomes?