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Birth Injury
- Feeding Tube Mistakes During Pregnancy Lead to Death and Despair
- Despite New Law, Midwives May Still Need Practice Orders to Practice Safe Medicine
- New Guidelines May Help Prevent Unnecessary Caesarean Sections
- Can you sue for your child being born?
- New Link Found Between Cerebral Palsy and Fertility Treatments?
News
Posted on 4/7/2010
Posted on 4/5/2010
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Birth Injury
- Problems that are associated with a premature delivery
- Infants resuscitated at birth have an increased risk of a low IQ score, even if they remain healthy during the neonatal period
- How to prove that your child's cerebral palsy is not a genetic abnormality
- Do not choose a nurse midwife for your pregnancy or labor and delivery until you read this!
- Mom entitled to damages for emotional anguish from birth of stillborn baby
Q: What are the risks of amnioscentesis?
A:
Amnioscentesis is a medical procedure used in the prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections, in which a small amount of amniotic fluid, which contains fetal tissues, is extracted from the amniotic sac surrounding a developing baby and the fetal DNA is examined for genetic abnormalities.
A needle is inserted through the mother's abdominal wall, then through the wall of the uterus, and finally into the amniotic sac. With the aid of ultrasound guidance, a physician punctures the sac in an area away from the fetus. and extracts approximately 20 milliliters of amniotic fluid. After the amniotic fluid is extracted, the fetal cells are separated from the sample. The fetal cells are grown in a culture medium. Under microscope, the chromosomes are examined for abnormalities. In regard to the baby, the puncture heals and the amniotic sac replenishes the liquid over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Amnioscentesis is performed between the 16th and 20th week of pregnancy. Most people do amnioscentesis during the 18th week of pregnancy.
Possible complications include infection of the amniotic sac from the needle, and failure of the puncture to heal properly, which can result in leakage or infection. Serious complications can result in miscarriage. Amnioscentesis carries a risk of miscarriage often due to the rupture of the amniotic sac. The risk of amnioscentesis is highest when the procedure is done early in pregnancy, before the two layers of fetal membranes have sealed. A recent study (2006) estimated the risk of amnioscentesis related to miscarriage as low as 1 in 1,600.
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John H. Fisher
303 Clinton Avenue
Kingston, New York 12402-3058
Phone: 518.265.9131
Toll Free: 866.889.6882