One of the biggest fears women have about going through amniocentesis is the fear of a miscarriage. Conventional wisdom holds that the risk of miscarriage after amniocentesis varies from 1 in 200 to 1 in 400. While these may not seem so bad, the fact remains that a pregnant woman would be extremely reluctant to take any kind of risk that involves her pregnancy. Even later reports suggesting that the chances of miscarriage after amniocentesis are much lower, almost 1 in 1000, would hardly offer any solace to a pregnant woman.
However, modern day techniques may have lowered that figure even further to 1 in 1600. This risk assessment was arrived at after researchers accounted for the fact that their test subjects may have been at a higher risk of miscarriage due to factors unrelated to the amniocentesis, such as advanced age.
So while the exact figure is still under dispute there is still an element of risk involved in the procedure. This risk lessens as the pregnancy proceeds. While the risk may not be as high as it was initially thought, it still exists and needs to be factored in before taking a decision to proceed with the test.
If you are considering opting for this procedure, talk to your healthcare provider about the necessity as well as the risks involved. Since it will involve a risk to the lives of both you and your unborn child, it is okay to question your healthcare provider about his or her level of experience in performing this procedure.
There are certain signs that you should look out for that may indicate a problem after amniocentesis.
While these symptoms appearing after amniocentesis may not by themselves be a cause for concern, they should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. Symptoms of severe pain, fever and chills should also be reported as they may be caused by uterine infections that require treatment.
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