Patient's question:
Because I am a woman of relatively high age, I am now 38 years old and have only just become pregnant. So, I feel sad because of the potential health issues for the child due to my age. I plan to have an amniocentesis to thoroughly check if the child has any genetic diseases. When should an amniocentesis be done?Doctor's answer:
According to your explanation, you have a high-risk pregnant woman who is not suitable for Down syndrome screening. You can decide between amniocentesis or non-invasive DNA testing. It is understood that there are three common chromosomal abnormal diseases: trisomy 21 and trisomy 13. Amniocentesis is usually performed between 16 and 24 weeks, with the optimal gestational age being 18 to 22 weeks. This is because the fetus is smaller at this time, there is relatively more amniotic fluid, and it is easier to extract amniotic fluid with less risk of harming the fetus. It is recommended to register at the obstetric outpatient department of a regular private top-tier hospital for regular prenatal examinations. Amniocentesis usually requires early booking.