Amniocentesis

So what’s this AMNIOCENTESIS? It’s actually a procedure conducted on pregnant women who are identified in the high risk group, i.e. high risk of delivering a baby with Down’s Syndrome (DS) at full term. This is a recommended test after a first trimester blood test confirms/indicates that the mother is of a higher risk at delivering a DS baby. It’s optional but if the mother chooses this, then amniotic fluid would be drawn out from the womb for a series for tests.

Never expected that I’ll actually go through this. I’ve read about it, during my first pregnancy. However I’ve not heard any of my friends or close friends go through it either.
OK, I’ve read that they will insert a large needle into your tummy and extract the amniotic fluid from it. How large? Different people whom have not gone through it have different perceptions.

First the obgyn scans to ensure the right position to ‘poke’ you, somewhere below the navel. She marks the spot…and then the procedure starts. Then the local anesthetic injected. It was just injected on the surface and I was having my doubts if it was actually going to work. First time ma…and next she tells me that she’s gonna put in the larger needle into me. I decided to just look at the scan (besides, I couldn’t even really see, cos my bunched up tee slightly blocked my clear view of it. So I see baby on one side and then the needle goes in on the other. I couldn’t feel the pain, but there was a strange sensation I felt when the whole 4 inches went in. It wasn’t thick needle but it was indeed long. Yes, 10cm long. But to me, I think it was bearable. It was the sight of the syringe that looked rather huge ;p

Then I see her slowly trying to extract the fluid out the moment she did that, I saw baby move. Baby lifted its arms. So cute. Like in the position I was. And 15ml was extracted.

All it left was a needle scar, sealed by plaster.

When I pressed the ‘spot’ the next day, there was a slight pain. Very mild I suppose. I mean just like u injuring yourself that kind of thing la.

So it’s three weeks later before I will know the results. 3 agonizing weeks but I’m trying not to think so much about it. Let’s have a good CNY first and pray for the best.