Have You Ever Had an Amniocentesis Procedure Done?

Don't do it! I wouldn't trust it...All babies lungs are developed by 37 weeks. Ask how much extra he'll get for the amniocentisis. It's all about the $$$

I had one done as I was 39 when pregnant with my son. Completely not a big deal. Went back to work afterwards. No heavy lifting for a little while. Not painful at all. I wouldn't worry about it.

i had several(8-10) with my first, and two or three with my second - while it certainly doesn't "feel good", it's not the horror you're probably imagining either. don't look at the needle or the ultrasound screen, have your husband or other support person there to hold your hand and comfort you, take a few deep breaths and it's over :) good luck!

I had one done as well. I kept going into labor and my doctor kept stopping the labor. They did an amnio to see if the baby's lungs were ready for him to be born. I remember being very worried but it was a really interesting thing to watch. I watched the monitor screen. It did not hurt and the needle was no where near the baby. I was at the end of my pregnancy so miscarriage was not a concern at that point. Don't be surprised if the amnio results are "inconclusive". That means they are not sure even with the test.
Good Luck

I had it done with both my kids since I had them when I was 36 and 39. It was nothing at all, no pain, no problems, rest for 24 hours afterwards and then worry until the results come back. They swabbed my belly with some kind of numbing stuff, then I felt some pressure but no pain, and saw the needle on the ultrasound, staying away from my baby's feet. The main concern is that the tiny hole in the sac could rupture bigger and cause miscarriage or labor is induced prematurely or the needle brings infection in the uterus. But if you follow the directions to not exert yourself at all and rest, and if you go to a reputable practitioner, I think the risks are very low.

I have never had one done...even at age 42 with my recent pregnancy. If you're unsure whether you want to have one done or not, maybe you could ask your doctor if a sonogram can determine if the baby's lungs are mature enough for delivery.

they talked about doing one with me when I was pregnant with our first. when the perinatologist told us that 1 in 500 women who have it done end up having a miscarraige we decided against it. those odds were just to scary to us.

I had it done 5 times with 4 of my pregnancies. It doesn't hurt at all. It sounds worse than it is. It feels like getting blood work to me. I hardly feel a thing. I had to have them to check for lung maturity because of the same reason. With one of mine, the lungs weren't developed so they repeated the test a week later. Good luck and congratulations!!

I had the Amnio, (my choice), with BOTH my children.
It was fine.
It feels like a menstrual cramp.
Then you go home and rest/stay off your feet.
My Hubby came with me.

It was fine.

I would do it again in a heartbeat, if I were pregnant again.

The numbing shot is more uncomfortable than the actual procedure.
The procedure is quick. (well per my Doc doing it and he is VERY experienced with this).
I could even watch it on a video screen above my head. But I was too chicken to watch it. But my Hubby did.

It is not a traumatic horrible painful procedure.
Going to the Dentist is worse. Well to me that is.

I had the Amnio, per maternal age. I was over 35 when pregnant both times.

I had this done and it was fine. I got it done at a big teaching hospital in a major metro area. The needle is big but it wasn't particularly painful. I just lay very still and it wa over in a jiffy. I was surprised by how painless and fast it was (caveat: I do not have super abs, which makes it more painful apparently when they go through the muscle wall)....

Same issue as you with my first. I had the amnio at 37 weeks before a c-section. Easy peasy. The later amnios do not have the same risk as the early term ones.

I know you have had lots of responses, but I wanted to give you some additional feedback. I had placenta previa and had to have one done at 36 weeks for the same reason. Like everyone else said it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated, but the needle was, after all a needle in your abdomen. It was uncomfortable, but only for a second. Also a few things to note: with my doctor, they did two different tests to test for the lung maturity, I did not get the results back until the following day (as I was getting prepped for the c-section) and my son passed one test and failed the other. They still completed the c-section and he is fine - so far no signs of asthma or other breathing problems and he is an incredibly active 3 year old. Also what happened for me (just so you are aware) is the amnio caused contractions (small ones, I couldn't feel them), so I had to rest quietly with a monitor for about an hour after until the contractions stopped. Another thing with an early birth, the doctors may ask if you feel comfortable with the baby being put in a neonatal icu for monitoring if they suspect anything unusual with the lungs. We opted for that, but I really don't think now he needed it, I would have had my hawk eyes on him anyway - just know that if they ask, it really is your option. I say that because it took us 5 days to get him out and a lot of back and forth with the hospital (long story).

I've had one done and my advice to you is not to sweat it. It feels like pressure on your abdomen, but not painful. Afterward, I wished I hadn't worried so much. Good luck, you'll be fine!!

You trust your doctor - that says it all. I also trusted mine and his team completely. I actually had a CVS done at 12 weeks with baby #2. The numbing needle hurts a little, of course...when the big needle hit my uterus, I jumped a bit - just more of a startling weird feeling than pain. I was scared that my jumping would hurt the baby...the dr said everything was fine. You actually get to see your baby on the screen there, pretty cool. They show you how far the baby is from the needle. Good luck.

I had one with my first pregnancy because of age. Just be sure not to lift anything afterward.

I had one done with my daughter because I was 40 and I wanted reassurance that she was genetically fine. It was no big deal, no pain, over in minutes. I watched on the screen and it was interesting. And yes, she was/is fine!