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Genetic amniocentesis

Genetic amniocentesis is a procedure offered at Pinon Perinatal for diagnosis of certain genetic disorders, chromosome abnormalities, or specific birth defects. You may be offered and amniocentesis if you will be 35 or older at the time of delivery, or if birth defects are seen on ultrasound. The results will show the baby's chromosomes, which can diagnose or exclude conditions such as Down syndrome. Levels of certain substances made by the baby during pregnancy are measured to assess risk for neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

The amniocentesis procedure is done with ultrasound guidance, so that a pocket of fluid away from the baby can be found. The amniotic fluid, which surrounds the baby during the pregnancy, contains skin cells shed by the baby. A small sample of the fluid is taken through a thin needle, which does not touch the baby, and the fluid is sent to a laboratory for testing. There is a small risk with amniocentesis; probably less than 1 out of 750 procedures performed may result in miscarriage. The procedure is usually performed after 15 weeks of pregnancy.