getting an amnio and scared to death!

Question

Hola everyone! Well, my new OB strongly suggested that I get an amnio because I will be 38 at the time of delivery and my odds are very high of getting a child with Trisomy... wow, something to think about, something like 1/140 which is very high...

I need reassurance. Anyone else get an amnio? What was your experience? Please tell me it didn't hurt! Anyone get negative results from amnio analysis?

thanks for your help! I need it!

VASusan · Answer

Of course they want "all the pieces of the puzzle". That's the way most drs are, but don't let drs pressure you if you're not comfortable with the risks. I was pressured by two neonatologists when I had my level 2 ultrasound at 23 wks to have an amnio even though our baby had NONE of the markers for genetic defects and I had to keep saying I didn't want it. My age really freaked them out. Instead of reassuring us with the good ultrasound results, they played on our fears. They don't even have statistics for my age. God has all the pieces of the puzzle and that was/is enough for us. We did agree to have an EKG on the baby's heart since genetic problems almost always affect the baby's heart and her heart was normal. The EKG is non-invasive like an ultrasound.

Sweetc39 · Answer

Thank you for your time & your answer to my question.  It helps greatly!

Glenda306 · Answer

I would check into the statistics online and see what they say.  If a thorough u/s shows NO other abnormalities, you may want to avoid the amnio.  Trisomy 18 is NOT Down's syndrome, but is a highly fatal chromosomal abnormality.  Trisomy 21 IS Down's.  Look up the details on Trisomy 18 and see if an u/s reveals any other of the markers.  My OB told me that age alone can sometimes cause you to "fail" certain tests.

Sweetc39 · Answer

I am 39 years old.  I had the blood work done 3 weeks ago & they called me today to inform me that My blood work came back with the odds of haveing a child with trisomy 18 the odds were 1/661.  I am scarred to death.  I have 2 beautiful daughters 16 & 6 and never had the blood`work done with them, this time around my doctor said it was best to have it.  I want to have the test done, but than again I think if I have it done & it comes back as positive of haveing a Down Syndrome child than there is nothing I can do about it.  Do I leave it in god's hands or take the test?
                     Are my odd's high?  Please Help

Glenda306 · Answer

I am 40 and will be 41 when this baby is born.  We had NO intentions of getting an amnio with this or our last baby (I was 36 when she was born) for this reason: If the baby had Trisomy 21 (Down's) there was nothing to be done and we didn't want to risk another m/c (had 2).  We would NEVER consent to an abortion and why spend the next few months worrying over something like that....  That being said, we DID end up going to a perinatologist after some abnormal findings on our 20w u/s.  The specialist discovered 2 extra holes in the baby's heart and was convinced that our baby had Trisomy 13 or 18 which a very often fatal.  Faced with that, we consented to the amnio and it turns out that our baby is fine.  In hindsight, we kind of think we shouldn't have worried since we have a single umbilical artery which frequently is associated with heart defects.  There were no other major signs of Down's or any other Trisomy which was another big clue.

If your age is the ONLY reason for suggesting an amnio, I wouldn't risk it.  If there is some other indication of something that you NEED to prepare for, then you may want to consider it.  Just make sure you get a highly experienced dr to do it, if you go ahead with it.

Best wishes.

maybebaby29 · Answer

Sorry. Preggo brain makes reading near impossible. :)

PamelaBee · Answer

IsabelleCanada will be 38yrs old when she delivers, she is not 38wks and getting an amnio.

maybebaby29 · Answer

Curious why she waited until 38 to give this urging instead of the recommended 16 weeks for an amnio? I had mine by choice at 16 weeks and while it was scary, it really was fine (if you're worried about pain, etc). For me it was a lot of excessive worry about  the what ifs (from pain to miscarriage) but it turned out fine. I felt nothing more than a tiny sting when the needle went in. The rest of the needle going in felt like I had to pee. :) Even when it went through the uterus, it didn't hurt. I felt something but nothing horrific or even painful. Wishing you all the best in the world.

Miranda9 · Answer

Hi Isabelle. "Seeing Spots" gave you great advice. I have nothing to add, I just know that if you're worried about your odds being greater because of your age, don't be!! The blood test and nuchal fold test combine to give you your own odds and from that, you can determine whether you want to do amnio. I also think that 1 / 140 doesn't sound high to me.

adgal · Answer

Try not to worry.  If this is what you have decided is the best choice for you, I have no doubt all will be just fine.  I haven't had one, but fully plan to when I get to that point.  My sister in law had one with my nephew as one of her other tests had come back with an increased risk of something...I think it was Downs Syndrome.  She told me afterwards that it was a pretty easy procedure, not painful and it did give her the reassurance that all was well with my nephew. I have to agree with the others though, those odds are actually really really good.  I have no doubt you are carrying a healthy baby.  Good luck to you!!!

SeeingSpots · Answer

Did your OB give you any other options?  I am 36 and will be delivering in May '09.  Instead of an amnio I did the Sequential Screen ultrasound testing, which looks at the thickness of the nuchal fold and also blood work to screen for Down's Syndrome and Trisomy 18.  They then get further blood work done around 16 wks, which gives a more accurate diagnosis.
With the first panel I had a risk factor of 1/215, which they considered a "pass" (a risk of 1/50 or lower is a fail).  After my second screening, my odds got bumped up to 1/1,200.  Oh, and the results were available in days, not the 2-3 wks that it normally takes for an amnio.
We chose to go this route due to the slight risk for a miscarriage (or for infection to mother/preterm labor) from amniocentesis (we were told 1/200 women).  Having been through repeated miscarriages naturally, I just didn't want to take any unnecessary chances.  Had my Sequential Screen results come back with a "fail" result, we then could've rethought our decision and gotten an amnio at that point.
Anyway, regardless, I'm sure you will be just fine.  I think it's sad how many women get frightened by these increased odds of "advanced maternal age".  When I had to meet with the genetic counselor before my ultrasounds she did make me feel better, in that she said your odds of having a healthy baby are always greater than the odds of not... I like to look at the decimal percentage instead of the fraction.  In your case, the odds are .007% of having a child with Trisomy.  Makes it seem a whole lot less likely, huh?  :)
Good luck!!

LisaRG · Answer

I had an amnio when I was pregnant with my DD at 40 years old.

I would not look as they did the procedure.  I let my husband to that. 
 It was not painful, but I had a little expected cramping later that night and I was told by the DR that I had to go home, stay off my feet and drink a glass of wine!  Wine apparently relaxes the uterus.
Not to shabby. 

Don't let to much information and percentages scare you.  I know many, many Moms older than you when they were pregnant and all of them have healthy children, including me.
Lisa

rdh1981 · Answer

I had one at 18wks when I found out my son had a very rare heart condition. My doctor wanted to do an amnio to rule out any other defects, I hate saying that word. The amnio was not that painful, but my husband almost collapsed when he saw the size of the needle. My doctor was very careful and did a great job explaining everything while he was doing it.  

Everything came back clear on the testing , but sadly I lost my sweet little Cooper, this summer and he was only 7wk old. He put a great fight, and now he is the best Guardian Angel I have!!

Try to relax, it will be over before you know it!

SoCalTricia · Answer

What makes your odds "very high" for Trisomy? I mean, any higher than any other "older" mother? Honestly, 1/140 doesn't seem all that high to me! Maybe I'm an optomist! :-)

I haven't had an amnio yet...but my neighbor who just had a baby had one. She said it didn't hurt, it was more "uncomfortable"...kind of more of a pressure, than pain. I don't know if this is the common experience...but it's the only one I've heard of so far!

Tricia