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By Mayo Clinic staff
Amniocentesis is usually done in an outpatient facility or the health care provider's office.
During the procedure
First, your health care provider will use ultrasound to determine the baby's exact location in your uterus. You'll lie on your back on an exam table and expose your abdomen. Your health care provider will apply a special gel to your abdomen and then use a small device known as an ultrasound transducer to show your baby's position on a monitor.
Next, your health care provider will clean your abdomen with an antiseptic. Generally, anesthetic isn't used. Most women report only mild discomfort during the procedure.
Guided by ultrasound, your health care provider will insert a thin, hollow needle through your abdominal wall and into the uterus. A small amount of amniotic fluid will be withdrawn into a syringe, and the needle will be removed. The specific amount of amniotic fluid withdrawn depends on the number of weeks the pregnancy has progressed.
You'll need to lie still while the needle is inserted and the amniotic fluid is withdrawn. You may notice a stinging sensation when the needle enters your skin, and you may feel cramping when the needle enters your uterus. The entire procedure usually takes about an hour, although most of that time is devoted to the ultrasound exam. In most cases, the fluid sample is obtained in less than two minutes. The small amount of amniotic fluid that's removed will be replaced naturally.
After the procedure
After the amniocentesis, your health care provider may use ultrasound to monitor your baby's heart rate. You may experience cramping or a small amount of vaginal bleeding immediately after the amniocentesis. Your health care provider may suggest resting after the procedure. You may want to ask someone to drive you home. You'll likely be able to resume normal activities the next day.
Meanwhile, the sample of amniotic fluid will be analyzed in a lab. For genetic amniocentesis, some results may be available within a few days. Other results may take one to two weeks. Results of maturity amniocentesis are often available within hours.
If you develop a fever after amniocentesis or if vaginal bleeding, loss of vaginal fluid or uterine cramping lasts more than few hours, contact your health care provider.
- Ghidini, A. Amniocentesis: Technique and complications. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 18, 2010.
- Eddleman K, et al. Pregnancy loss rates after midtrimester amniocentesis. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2006;108:1067.
- Diagnosing birth defects. American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp164.cfm. Accessed Jan. 18, 2010.
- Cunningham FG, et al. Williams Obstetrics. 23rd edition. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6021591. Accessed Feb. 8, 2010.
- Simpson JL, et al. Prenatal genetic diagnosis. In: Gabbe SG, et al. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2007:1.
- Amniocentesis. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1164.asp. Accessed Feb. 10, 2010.
- Cystic fibrosis: Prenatal screening and diagnosis. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp171.cfm. Accessed Feb. 9, 2010.
- Gillen-Goldstein J, et al. Assessment of fetal lung maturity. www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 10, 2010.
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Invasive prenatal testing for aneuploidy. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 88. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2007;110:1459.
- Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Accessed Feb. 15, 2010.
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