Should I Get Amniocentesis?

Are you 35 or older?

Do you have a positive quad screen (a blood test that indicates the risk of birth defects such as Down syndrome, trisomy 18, neural tube defects and abdominal wall defects)?

Do you have any abnormal ultrasound or screening test results?

Do you have a family history of a genetic disorder?

Have you had a previous child or pregnancy with a birth defect (such as Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, or Tay Sachs disease)?

Do you want to know if your baby has a serious health problem, so you can decide if you want to keep your baby?

Based on your answers it is not necessary to have an amniocentesis. Amniocentesis is a prenatal test used to diagnose diseases and genetic disorders during pregnancy. It is a test that examines the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby in your uterus. Amniocentesis is not a routine test and is done only when your doctor estimates that there are good reasons for it. On the other hand, the quadruple screen is a routine blood test that measures the levels of four substances in your blood that can indicate birth defects. If the test shows a risk higher than the average, your doctor may suggest amniocentesis.

Based on your answers you should have an amniocentesis. Amniocentesis is a prenatal test that is usually done between the 15th and 20th week of pregnancy. The test is used to examine the fluid in the uterus that surrounds your baby, which is called the amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid contains a number of substances that can indicate possible health problems of your baby. To take the amniotic fluid, the doctor needs to insert a needle through the abdomen into your uterus. The amniotic fluid is then analyzed in the laboratory. Amniocentesis is not performed routinely and the results are used to make a diagnosis.