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experience with CVS test?
I'm going to be having a CVS test in about 3 weeks (I'm 37 y.o. and 8 weeks pregnant now), and I just wanted to ask if people who've gone through this test could share their experience with me. I'll be doing it at a facility that specializes in these tests, and the failure (read - miscarriage) rate is reportedly really low. So I feel good about that, but I really hate needles...
Congratulations on your results! Best wishes for a happy and healthy rest of your pregnancy!
I am so happy to hear that your test results were good and yes you can start to relax and enjoy this pregnancy! I would be over the moon too!
My NT scan is coming up this Friday so I hope all will be well and good too.
My NT scan is coming up this Friday so I hope all will be well and good too.
In case anyone is out there reading this thread and considering the CVS test, here's the happy ending to my story. We just got the wonderful news on Friday that our baby has no chromosomal abnormalities! We didn't pay for the quick results, and it took only 9 days to get the full report (though they did say that this was a bit quicker than usual - it depends how fast the cells grow and how busy the lab is).
In the meantime, I did have a little scare when I passed a couple of small blood clots. The doctor checked me out, though, and the baby is totally fine with no signs of distress. She said the clots were probably left over from my bleeding episode that happened immediately after the CVS test (see my post above).
Anyhow, we're really happy and now feel like we can get properly excited about this pregnancy and look forward to meeting our first child this summer! :)
In the meantime, I did have a little scare when I passed a couple of small blood clots. The doctor checked me out, though, and the baby is totally fine with no signs of distress. She said the clots were probably left over from my bleeding episode that happened immediately after the CVS test (see my post above).
Anyhow, we're really happy and now feel like we can get properly excited about this pregnancy and look forward to meeting our first child this summer! :)
That's hysterical - on a forum about pregnancy, they censored my use of the word that is what babies do when they nurse!!! (I can't write it because I'm certain it will be censored again!)
Thanks for sharing your experience. These tests are generally safe but problems can arise for a minority of women and that's why we chose to bypass the amnio (our tri-test at 12 weeks looked good). The bad part and the bleeding is behind you and you should be OK now, maybe take it very easy for the next few days!
I had my CVS test yesterday, and I thought I'd share my experience. It did not go absolutely perfectly, but I think the important things all happened (they got a good sample and I don't think the test will cause me to lose the fetus).
So here goes. The first thing that happens (after you talk to a genetic counselor and the doctor and sign a bunch of papers) is you get an ultrasound to see how the fetus is doing and where the placenta is. Based on the location of the placenta, they decide whether you'll have a "transvaginal" or an "abdominal" test. The first of these is a tube that goes through your cervix and ***** out a bit of placenta tissue. The second is a needle through the belly.
My fetus's placenta is on the back side of my uterus, so I had the transvaginal procedure. The good thing about this is that it really doesn't hurt. The bad thing is that they are making a hole through the cervical mucus, so bleeding afterward is more likely.
So the first thing that complicated my procedure was that my uterus wasn't relaxed - parts of the sides were contracting and it was really obvious in the ultrasound. It turns out that they don't like to do the procedure unless the uterus is relaxed. So they first suggested that I wait for 30 minutes or so with the hope that it would relax on its own. Then they waited another 15 minutes and checked again. Still not relaxed. So they gave me a small injection of the stuff they use later in pregnancy to stop early labor, and that made ME feel all jittery, like I'd had a few cups of strong coffee, but my uterus apparently found it calming. Quite strange.
Anyhow, then they were ready to do the procedure. Like I said, it didn't hurt - the worst part in terms of sensation was the cleaning of the cervix with betadine. The procedure took a few minutes because my fetus was really in the way and they had to be super-careful to avoid touching it. They had to re-insert the little suction tube 3 times to get it right. But then, at long last (we had been at the doctor's office for 3.5 hours), we were done! The doctor said the sample looked good, and I should get results in a couple of weeks. He also mentioned that I might experience some spotting and not to worry about that if it happened.
So we go home and start making dinner. I was told to take it easy, but not that I couldn't move about the house normally. I had a little bit of cramping, but that was something that the genetic counselor had told me might happen, so I wasn't worried about it. Suddenly, I feel this gush of something coming out of me. I go to the bathroom and there's all this blood. Not just spotting - quite a bit was streaming out of me. But it was all just liquid blood - no clots or tissue or anything. I told my husband to take over my part of dinner-making, and that I needed to go lie on the couch. That's where I pretty much stayed all evening - with periodic additional spurts of bleeding and going to the bathroom to clean up. That was another odd thing - the bleeding came in spurts instead of a constant drip.
I called the doctor after the first incident. He said that my experience was definitely more bleeding than he would hope, but that it happens sometimes like this because of all the capillaries that get broken during the procedure. He told me to keep lying down and that the bleeding should subside within the next day or so. And to call him again if the bleeding increased, and to call him in the morning with a status report in any event.
The whole thing was soooo scary! But the doctor was absolutely right. The bleeding almost completely stopped by morning, and I feel fine today. So now we just need to wait for the results. I'll update again when I (hopefully) get good ones!
So here goes. The first thing that happens (after you talk to a genetic counselor and the doctor and sign a bunch of papers) is you get an ultrasound to see how the fetus is doing and where the placenta is. Based on the location of the placenta, they decide whether you'll have a "transvaginal" or an "abdominal" test. The first of these is a tube that goes through your cervix and ***** out a bit of placenta tissue. The second is a needle through the belly.
My fetus's placenta is on the back side of my uterus, so I had the transvaginal procedure. The good thing about this is that it really doesn't hurt. The bad thing is that they are making a hole through the cervical mucus, so bleeding afterward is more likely.
So the first thing that complicated my procedure was that my uterus wasn't relaxed - parts of the sides were contracting and it was really obvious in the ultrasound. It turns out that they don't like to do the procedure unless the uterus is relaxed. So they first suggested that I wait for 30 minutes or so with the hope that it would relax on its own. Then they waited another 15 minutes and checked again. Still not relaxed. So they gave me a small injection of the stuff they use later in pregnancy to stop early labor, and that made ME feel all jittery, like I'd had a few cups of strong coffee, but my uterus apparently found it calming. Quite strange.
Anyhow, then they were ready to do the procedure. Like I said, it didn't hurt - the worst part in terms of sensation was the cleaning of the cervix with betadine. The procedure took a few minutes because my fetus was really in the way and they had to be super-careful to avoid touching it. They had to re-insert the little suction tube 3 times to get it right. But then, at long last (we had been at the doctor's office for 3.5 hours), we were done! The doctor said the sample looked good, and I should get results in a couple of weeks. He also mentioned that I might experience some spotting and not to worry about that if it happened.
So we go home and start making dinner. I was told to take it easy, but not that I couldn't move about the house normally. I had a little bit of cramping, but that was something that the genetic counselor had told me might happen, so I wasn't worried about it. Suddenly, I feel this gush of something coming out of me. I go to the bathroom and there's all this blood. Not just spotting - quite a bit was streaming out of me. But it was all just liquid blood - no clots or tissue or anything. I told my husband to take over my part of dinner-making, and that I needed to go lie on the couch. That's where I pretty much stayed all evening - with periodic additional spurts of bleeding and going to the bathroom to clean up. That was another odd thing - the bleeding came in spurts instead of a constant drip.
I called the doctor after the first incident. He said that my experience was definitely more bleeding than he would hope, but that it happens sometimes like this because of all the capillaries that get broken during the procedure. He told me to keep lying down and that the bleeding should subside within the next day or so. And to call him again if the bleeding increased, and to call him in the morning with a status report in any event.
The whole thing was soooo scary! But the doctor was absolutely right. The bleeding almost completely stopped by morning, and I feel fine today. So now we just need to wait for the results. I'll update again when I (hopefully) get good ones!
Good luck!! I know you'll be fine and getting the phone call that all is fine is such a relief. I look forward to your update!
Hi,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience and sorry for my delayed response. I've been visiting family and wasn't sharing the pregnancy news yet, so couldn't go on this website. I hope my experience is as good!!! Jan 20 is my date for the test. I'll be sure to post and let folks know.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience and sorry for my delayed response. I've been visiting family and wasn't sharing the pregnancy news yet, so couldn't go on this website. I hope my experience is as good!!! Jan 20 is my date for the test. I'll be sure to post and let folks know.
Hi, I had my CVS just before this Thanksgiving at around 10 weeks. The doc used the vaginal catheter method. I was almost painless, just a bit uncomfortable for a few seconds and the doc was able to obtain a sample easily. In about 5 days, I learned that my baby is a chormosomally normal girl! I was also 37 y/o at the time turned 38 at the very end of November. I wish you the best!
Thanks for the reassuring response! I'm really horrible with needles as well. I got a seasonal flu shot the other day and decided it was best for me to lie down for it. I think the nurse probably thought I was crazy, but I get faint, too. Anyhow, it looks like I'll have the test in 4 weeks rather than 3 - I'll let you all know how it goes.
I didn't have CVS, but I did have amnio at 16 weeks. I am so scared of needles it's not uncommon for me to faint during a blood test!! I think they are similar type tests, and I can tell you that the anticipation was a million times worse then the actual test. I too made sure I went to a clinic and Dr. with really great success rates. The test was really quick, not painful, just a bit uncomfortable and really no worse then getting freezing at the dentist. And when I got that phone call that my baby boy was healthy and all was well I was able to relax and enjoy the remainder of my pregnancy. Good luck to you, and honestly, usually the worry ahead of time is way way worse then the actual procedure. Please keep us posted.
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