Patient's question:
Can I avoid amniocentesis? I'm 4 months pregnant. I've had liver function tests, kidney function tests, thyroid function tests, urine analysis, blood cell analysis, and finger tip whole blood analysis. The fetal heartbeat is also normal. The doctor said I don't need to do the triple screen and can go directly for amniocentesis. Can I skip it?Doctor's answer:
Hello, it is generally believed that amniocentesis will not harm the fetus because all operations are performed under strict ultrasound monitoring, and the position of the fetus can be clearly seen. Therefore, there is no need to worry that the will injure the fetus. Amniocentesis is generally suitable for pregnant women around 16-20 weeks. As the gestational age increases, the fetal cells in the amniotic fluid become older and it becomes difficult to culture results. If the gestational age is too small, the number of fetal cells in the amniotic fluid is also low, making it equally difficult to culture enough cells for microscopic observation. In early pregnancy at 16 weeks, amniocentesis is not recommended because it is more likely to lead to miscarriage.Advice: Therefore, amniocentesis does have an impact on the fetus. Issues such as premature rupture of membranes or infection may lead to miscarriage or preterm labor, and these risks are approximately 0.5-1%. However, compared to the lifelong problems of Down syndrome children, the puncture is only temporary.