Amniotic fluid aspiration is a method of examining whether the fetus has abnormalities and risks of Down syndrome. Many expectant mothers have undergone amniocentesis before, and there are also many expectant mothers who are on the road to doing amniocentesis. Amniotic fluid aspiration is a diagnostic method for determining whether a fetus has Down syndrome. So does amniocentesis have to be done? Does amniocentesis hurt?
Is amniocentesis necessary
Is amniocentesis necessary? The necessity of amniocentesis deserves attention. For expectant mothers with low-risk Down syndrome screening, amniocentesis is not necessary because it carries certain risks. For expectant mothers at high risk of mid-term Down syndrome screening, amniocentesis must be performed to confirm whether the fetus is Down syndrome. Only through amniocentesis can the risk of birth defects be minimized to the greatest extent possible.
Which pregnant women need amniocentesis
Expectant mothers who meet the following conditions are recommended to undergo amniocentesis:
1. Those suspected of having neural tube defects or other fetal abnormalities or abnormally high levels of alpha fetoprotein in maternal blood during ultrasound examination;
2. During pregnancy, there may be infections caused by certain pathogens such as rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, or toxoplasmosis;
3. Expectant mothers who have given birth to children with congenital defects, especially those with chromosomal abnormalities;
4. There is a possibility of chromosomal abnormalities in both spouses;
5. At the time of childbirth, the expectant mother is over 35 years old.
Does amniocentesis hurt
Does amniocentesis hurt? Amniotic fluid aspiration is an invasive examination that may cause some pain, but for high-risk pregnant women, it is an essential examination item. Amniotic fluid puncture examination can determine whether the fetus has chromosomal problems.
The doctor will confirm the puncture location through B-ultrasound, then apply alcohol to the expectant mother's abdomen, cover the abdomen with a perforated surgical cloth, and use a long needle about 15 centimeters long to puncture the abdomen from this position. The needle will pass through the abdominal wall and uterine wall in sequence. Most people only experience mild pain upon initial penetration, similar to the pain of stabbing a finger to extract blood, which is tolerable. But don't worry, during this process, doctors will carefully avoid the fetus under ultrasound monitoring.
At present, a non-invasive detection technology for thalassemia has been patented by multiple institutions. This technology only requires the extraction of maternal peripheral blood and cervical mucus samples for testing, without the need to puncture amniotic fluid or villi. But this technology is still in the clinical trial stage, and although there are successful cases, it will take some time to truly popularize.
Through the introduction in this article, it can be known that amniocentesis is only necessary for pregnant women with a high risk of Down syndrome. If you do not have a high risk of Down syndrome, then you do not need to undergo amniocentesis. Actually, amniocentesis can cause some pain, but it's not too painful. There's no need to be nervous, it won't have too much impact on you.
