Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

Im just wondering how many of you had amnio in the past, even if your ultrascreen results were low risk??

How much did or does the amnio hurt?

TIM

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

Hi! I had a CVS (Chorionic Villi Sampling) which is performed similarly to an amnio - a CVS grabs some placenta cells, instead of amniotic fluid. Also its performed between 10 and 12 weeks, so very early in the pregnancy, its actually done PRIOR to the ultrascreen, but I was thrilled, because it allowed us to rest easy knowing the real deal on the chromos. We also found out the gender super duper early. CVS was done for me due to maternal age (I'm relatively ancient) and was covered by insurance.

Lets say on a pain scale of 1-10 it was mostly a "4" with scattered MOMENTS of 7-8? It really depends on where your placenta is located, sometimes they have to wiggle the needle to get the sample they want. The needle insertion is nothing though, I barely felt it at all. Plus you're watching it on the TV so that's wonderfully distracting. I suspect the amnio is less uncomfortable, because they can just pop in and grab the fluid so less wiggling required??

Good luck to you, snowflake!!!!

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

I had it with DD#1 They thought she had downs and did the amnio which didnt hurt that much just some burning and the tests came back great she is 9 now and in 3rd grade

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

thanks ladies
im terribly nervous

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

I would read up on the risks of amnio and cvs before I did any testing. We chose not to do the ultrascreen because of the HUGE rate of false positives. I believe the rate of miscarriage with amnio is about 4%? Don't quote me on it.

Our genetic counselor told us 75% of downs syndrome cases are caught with the ultrascreen, however 96% yes that is right I said 96%!!!!! are false positives. Of course you should do whatever you feel comfortable with but I would VERY carefully measure the risks.

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

Posted by melijane

I would read up on the risks of amnio and cvs before I did any testing. We chose not to do the ultrascreen because of the HUGE rate of false positives. I believe the rate of miscarriage with amnio is about 4%? Don't quote me on it.

Our genetic counselor told us 75% of downs syndrome cases are caught with the ultrascreen, however 96% yes that is right I said 96%!!!!! are false positives. Of course you should do whatever you feel comfortable with but I would VERY carefully measure the risks.

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

Posted by snowflake08

Posted by melijane

I would read up on the risks of amnio and cvs before I did any testing. We chose not to do the ultrascreen because of the HUGE rate of false positives. I believe the rate of miscarriage with amnio is about 4%? Don't quote me on it.

Our genetic counselor told us 75% of downs syndrome cases are caught with the ultrascreen, however 96% yes that is right I said 96%!!!!! are false positives. Of course you should do whatever you feel comfortable with but I would VERY carefully measure the risks.

that seems bizarre
i heard there is a 5% false positive rate
96 is crazy

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

Posted by SweetTooth

Posted by snowflake08

Posted by melijane

I would read up on the risks of amnio and cvs before I did any testing. We chose not to do the ultrascreen because of the HUGE rate of false positives. I believe the rate of miscarriage with amnio is about 4%? Don't quote me on it.

Our genetic counselor told us 75% of downs syndrome cases are caught with the ultrascreen, however 96% yes that is right I said 96%!!!!! are false positives. Of course you should do whatever you feel comfortable with but I would VERY carefully measure the risks.

that seems bizarre
i heard there is a 5% false positive rate
96 is crazy

Sorry to crash here, but I just wanted to state I think you are both right -

What it is is that 5% of women who take the test will get a positive result, and out of that 5%, over 90% will have healthy babies.

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

The genetic counseling we had indicated that the M/C risk from amnio is only 1%, not 4%. I'm not sure if that goes up for multiples though???

The interesting thing is that AT age 35, the risk of having a Downs baby is ALSO 1% - in other words, EQUAL to the risk of m/c from the test.
So that's why "maternal age 35" is the point at which amnio is recommended - assuming no other factors, the risk of the test and the DS diagnosis is equal.

Message edited 6/17/2008 1:08:30 PM.

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

Posted by melijane

Posted by SweetTooth

Posted by snowflake08

Posted by melijane

I would read up on the risks of amnio and cvs before I did any testing. We chose not to do the ultrascreen because of the HUGE rate of false positives. I believe the rate of miscarriage with amnio is about 4%? Don't quote me on it.

Our genetic counselor told us 75% of downs syndrome cases are caught with the ultrascreen, however 96% yes that is right I said 96%!!!!! are false positives. Of course you should do whatever you feel comfortable with but I would VERY carefully measure the risks.

that seems bizarre
i heard there is a 5% false positive rate
96 is crazy

Sorry to crash here, but I just wanted to state I think you are both right -

What it is is that 5% of women who take the test will get a positive result, and out of that 5%, over 90% will have healthy babies.

That makes sense

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

im planning on having it, i just wanted to know what other people were doing

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

Posted by snowflake08

Posted by melijane

Posted by SweetTooth

Posted by snowflake08

Posted by melijane

I would read up on the risks of amnio and cvs before I did any testing. We chose not to do the ultrascreen because of the HUGE rate of false positives. I believe the rate of miscarriage with amnio is about 4%? Don't quote me on it.

Our genetic counselor told us 75% of downs syndrome cases are caught with the ultrascreen, however 96% yes that is right I said 96%!!!!! are false positives. Of course you should do whatever you feel comfortable with but I would VERY carefully measure the risks.

that seems bizarre
i heard there is a 5% false positive rate
96 is crazy

Sorry to crash here, but I just wanted to state I think you are both right -

What it is is that 5% of women who take the test will get a positive result, and out of that 5%, over 90% will have healthy babies.

That makes sense

i understand what she's saying, but that is not what i read - i didnt read that 5% will get + results; i read 5% are false positives - 87% of down syndrome babies were detected

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

sorry - i was referring to the ultrascreen, not the amnio

5% of ultrascreens have a false +

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

I had an amnio about 3 weeks ago. I will say that it did hurt more than I thought it would. I had cramping that day and I took it SUPER easy in the days that followed. To me it was totally worth it for the piece of mind.
Getting the phone call that everything was 100% without a doubt A-OK in regards to chromosomal development was a huge relief to me.

I'd like to add that the risk for miscarriage is actually less than .5 percent nationally. At the genetics center I had mine done (in Baltimore), their stats were 1 in 800.

I read your thread and can't remember if I posted on it- but I wanted to tell you that you are in my prayers.....

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

Before my ultrascreen, my numbers were 1 in 176 for DS. After the ultrascreen, they were 1 in 314. After the AFP, they were 1 in 354. So my risks went down with each test. I was 37 at the time of these tests and will be 38 when I deliver.

I did NOT have the CVS. I had an amnio. The risks are NOT 5% for an m/c. I am pretty sure there are national averages as well as averages for a doctor's individual practice. My doctor's office had me at a 1 in 300 chance for an m/c after the amnio. I think the usual is about 1 in 200.

My amnio was performed in my OB's office. A perinatologist ran the sono machine NOT a tech. There are NO techs in my doc's office. While the sono was done, my OB put the needle in. It hurt and it hurt a lot. My skin was not taut - rather still loose from a very large weight loss a few years back. It was like trying to pop a semi-deflated balloon. I put myself on bedrest for 2 days. I should have done 3.

Everyone's experience with every test is going to be very different. There are no universals.

I wish you the best.

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

My dr. told me that I did not need the ultrascreen if I was going to have the amnio.
I had the amnio at 16 weeks, and it was done at the hospital.
It went very quickly and was really not painful. (just the little pinch of the needle). I had some cramps afterward (like menstrual cramps), and stayed on the sofa for a few hours... but actually went to work that night.
And was all back to normal the next day.

It was not a bad experience for me, and I was thrilled when I got the good results a few days later.
Good luck to you

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

thanks so much for your stories ladies

Re: Questions about amnio and ultrascreen

I did the CVS as well; there is a slightly higher risk with it as opposed to an amnio, but I wanted to know earlier and if it's done by a dr who does a lot of them, it should be fine.

It was not painful for, more uncomfortable, but it did not take very long.

Message edited 6/18/2008 6:21:32 AM.