Those months of life when a woman is expecting a baby can be called one of the most beautiful and wonderful. But not every representative of the weaker sex everything goes smoothly. Sometimes various difficulties and complications may arise. This article will focus on a medical term called amniocentesis. What is this you will learn later. It is also worth mentioning how and in which cases this manipulation is performed. What happens to a woman after amniocentesis will also be discussed in this article.
Examination of a pregnant woman
While expecting a baby, the expectant mother has to undergo various diagnostic procedures. The most common of these is a blood and urine test before each visit to the gynecologist. Also, several times during pregnancy, prenatal diagnosis is performed. This procedure includes an ultrasound examination and a blood test for the likelihood of abnormalities in the development of the fetus. Amniocentesis analysis also applies to prenatal studies. However, it is not always carried out and not every expectant mother.
Amniocentesis: what is it?
This procedure is not only diagnostic, but also therapeutic. Her method is to obtain the fluid that the amniotic membrane contains . Simply put, amniocentesis is a way to more thoroughly study the condition of the fetus and a method of conducting some types of correction.
Who is assigned this procedure?
If your doctor is guarded by the results that the prenatal diagnosis gave, then you may be advised to undergo such a procedure. It is worth noting that with a similar outcome of events, you can abandon the study. But at the same time, a woman must be sure that she will not be able to terminate the pregnancy , regardless of the results.
Also, amniocentesis (what it is, you already know) is prescribed to those women who have acute polyhydramnios. In this case, the condition of the future mother can be adjusted. During the procedure, part of the amniotic fluid is removed and the condition of the fetus is regulated.
The procedure can be prescribed in the case when intrauterine surgical treatment of the fetus is performed. However, in the Russian Federation such methods have not yet been provided.
Amniocentesis is also indicated for those women who need to terminate a pregnancy at a later date. Remember that this requires certain indications. The mere desire of a woman is not enough.
Conducting research
Many women who have never heard of a procedure such as amniocentesis know that this is only known on the day of the study. If you are assigned such a diagnosis, then you should familiarize yourself with the method of its conduct and the timing in advance. Depending on the indications, the time of the manipulation may be different.
Amniocentesis timing has the following:
- Early diagnosis. It is carried out for a period of 8 to 14 weeks of embryo development. Doctors do not welcome such an early study, since there is a high probability of complications.
- The usual diagnosis. It is carried out after 14 weeks. However, the most optimal time for research is 18-22 weeks of the baby's life.
- Late amniocentesis. It is carried out exclusively for limited indications or, if necessary, termination of pregnancy.
How is the procedure performed?
To begin with, it is worth saying that this diagnostic method does not provide any anesthesia. Many future mothers who have undergone this procedure say that it does not hurt.
Before the manipulation, the woman is offered to take a sedative, which is allowed during pregnancy, and drink a few glasses of water. The presence of fluid in the bladder is a prerequisite. Only in this case, the uterus rises and creates for doctors the most convenient conditions for the introduction of the needle.
Also, before the start of the procedure, the woman undergoes a control ultrasound examination. This is necessary in order to study the position of the fetus and the number of embryos in the uterus.
During the manipulation, the baby’s actions are monitored by a special apparatus. He controls the introduction of the needle. A puncture is made in a place where there is no placenta and umbilical cord loops. The risk of hurting the baby is minimal.
When a long needle is inserted into the amniotic membrane, a catheter is connected and water is taken for analysis. The required volume can be from 10 to 20 milliliters. If abortion is necessary, then amniocentesis is most often performed “blindly”. A woman is injected into the amniotic membrane with a special solution that affects the fetus, killing it.
What to do after the procedure?
Immediately after the manipulation, a woman can go home. However, doctors examine the expectant mother and examine the condition of the fetus. In some cases, the fairer sex is recommended to stay in the hospital for several hours.
If the expectant mother went home, then she is prescribed bed rest for several days. It is strictly forbidden to lift heavy objects and strain. In most cases, pregnant women are prescribed sedatives and muscle spasm relievers. In some cases, complications after the procedure can begin solely due to the nervous tension of the pregnant woman.
Amniocentesis results are issued within a few days. In a medical institution, the report is immediately transmitted to the attending physician. Based on the data received, a decision is made on further tactics.
Risks of the procedure
Like any other intervention in the body of the expectant mother, amniocentesis has certain risks and the possibility of complications. Let us consider in detail the possible consequences of the procedure.
Abortion
About two women out of a hundred have an independent termination of pregnancy after manipulation. In this case, the period at which the diagnosis was carried out plays an important role. So, in the third trimester, the fetus has every chance of survival with the provision of appropriate assistance. If early amniocentesis was performed, then the pregnancy ends in a miscarriage in the event of a complication.
The threat of abortion
After the procedure, approximately half of all women report cramping pains in the lower abdomen. In this case, the diagnosis “threat of premature birth” can be made. If the study was conducted in the first trimester, then the occurrence of detachment of the membranes is possible. With timely assistance, a woman has every chance to maintain a pregnancy.
Infection development
If aseptic norms were violated during the procedure, then the amniotic fluid may be infected. In any case, this manipulation has a certain percentage of the risk of joining the pathological process. In this case, the expectant mother needs to begin appropriate treatment as soon as possible. Otherwise, pathology can adversely affect the fetus.
Amniotic fluid leakage
After the procedure, some expectant mothers complain of leakage of amniotic fluid. In this case, a special test is carried out, and when confirming suspicions, the woman is placed in a hospital, where she will remain until the time of birth.
Child injury
In more rare cases, during an amnocentesis, an unborn baby may be injured. Only a few women out of a thousand expectant mothers face this phenomenon. However, there is a risk of such a pathology and it is worth mentioning.
Summarizing
After reading the article, you became aware of such a concept as amniocentesis (what it is, how and when it is performed). Before manipulation, you must always consider the possible risks. Consult a physician before agreeing to be examined. I wish you good health and good research results!