OverviewAmniocentesis is done to remove amniotic fluid and cells from the uterus for testing or treatment. Amniotic fluid surrounds and protects a baby during pregnancy. Show
Amniocentesis can provide useful information about a baby's health. But it's important to know the risks of amniocentesis — and be prepared for the results. Why it's doneAmniocentesis can be done for a number of reasons:
Genetic amniocentesisGenetic amniocentesis can provide information about the baby's genes. Generally, genetic amniocentesis is offered when the test results might affect how to manage the pregnancy. Genetic amniocentesis is usually done between weeks 14 and 20 of pregnancy. Amniocentesis done before week 14 of pregnancy might lead to more complications. Reasons to consider genetic amniocentesis include:
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RisksAmniocentesis carries risks, which occur in approximately 1 in 900 tests. They include:
Remember, genetic amniocentesis is usually offered to pregnant people for whom the test results might greatly affect how they manage the pregnancy. The decision to have genetic amniocentesis is yours. Your health care provider or genetic counselor can give you information to help you decide. How you prepareYour health care provider will explain the procedure and ask you to sign a consent form. Consider asking someone to accompany you to the appointment for emotional support or to drive you home afterward. What you can expectAmniocentesis is usually done in an outpatient obstetric center or a health care provider's office. During the procedureFirst, a health care provider will use ultrasound to pinpoint where the baby is in the uterus. You'll lie on your back on an exam table with your belly showing. Your health care provider will apply a gel to your belly 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. A numbing medication generally isn't used. Most people report only mild soreness during the procedure. Guided by ultrasound, your health care provider will insert a thin, hollow needle through your stomach wall and into the uterus. A small amount of amniotic fluid is drawn into a syringe. The needle is then removed. You need to lie still while the needle is put in and the amniotic fluid is taken out. You might feel a sting when the needle enters your skin. You might feel cramping when the needle enters your uterus. After the procedureAfter amniocentesis, your health care provider will continue using the ultrasound to monitor your baby's heart rate. You might have cramping or mild pelvic pain after an amniocentesis. You can return to your regular activities after the test. The sample of amniotic fluid will be looked at in a lab. Some results might be available within a few days. Other results might take several weeks. Contact your health care provider if you have:
ResultsYour health care provider or a genetic counselor will help you understand your amniocentesis results. For genetic amniocentesis, test results can rule out or diagnose some genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome. Amniocentesis can't identify all genetic conditions and birth defects. If amniocentesis suggests that your baby has a genetic or chromosomal condition that can't be treated, you might face hard decisions. Seek support from your health care team and your loved ones. Oct. 07, 2022 Which Clinical data indicates that the client at 39 weeks gestation is in true labor?Progressive cervical dilation is the only positive sign of true labor; the cervix dilates in response to regular, coordinated uterine contractions.
How would the nurse know if a client is in true labor?Common chief complaints include painful contractions, vaginal bleeding/bloody show, and fluid leakage from the vagina. It is up to the clinician to determine if the patient is in labor, defined as regular, clinically significant contractions with an objective change in cervical dilation and/or effacement.
Which event is the best indicator of true labor?pattern of uterine contractions. Cervical changes are the only indication of true labor and are used to determine true and false labor. Changes in the amount of bloody show, fetal position and station, and pattern of uterine contractions are unreliable indicators of true labor.
How does the nurse know that a client at 40 weeks of gestation is experiencing true labor?The 5-1-1 Rule: The contractions come every 5 minutes, lasting 1 minute each, for at least 1 hour. Fluids and other signs: You might notice amniotic fluid from the sac that holds the baby. This doesn't always mean you're in labor, but could mean it's coming.
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