Amniocentesis is a method used to remove a sample of amniotic fluid for treatment or test. Amniotic fluid surrounds a baby during pregnancy and acts as a protection for the baby. It is a pale yellow and clear fluid.
It protects the baby from infections and injuries, helps the baby move correctly, and helps maintain the foetus’s temperature. Amniotic fluid contains proteins, enzymes, hormones, and cells shed by the baby. The fluid is sent for analysis.
In this article, we will talk about caring for the expecting mother before and after the Amniocentesis process.
The Need for Amniocentesis
There are several reasons for Amniocentesis to be done.
Lung test
Extracting a sample of amniotic fluid and conducting tests to figure out whether the baby’s lungs are grown enough for birth or not, this test is known as Foetal Lung Maturity Testing.
Treatment
Often during pregnancy, an excessive amount of amniotic fluid gets collected. To drain this excess amniotic fluid, Amniocentesis might be performed.
Genetic testing
Extraction of amniotic fluid to test it for certain conditions, such as Down syndrome, is genetic Amniocentesis.
Foetal infection
If a baby gets an infection or has some other illness, Amniocentesis can be used for the evaluation. This diagnosis can also be made to understand the severity of anaemia in infants (having Rh sensitisation). It is a rare condition in which the mother’s immune system produces antibodies against any particular protein on the surface of a baby’s blood cells.
Preparation for Amniocentesis
The patient doesn’t need to do anything unusual to prepare for Amniocentesis and may drink and eat as they like. However, it would be better if the bladder is full during Amniocentesis if it is performed before the 20th week of pregnancy. On the other hand, the bladder needs to be empty if this process is done post the 20th week of pregnancy. The mother needs to ensure that she is provided sufficient care after the Amniocentesis.
Ultrasound
The expecting mother will have an ultrasound done before this process. This technique uses high-frequency sound waves that generate images of the womb.
Anaesthetic
With the help of an anaesthetic, the area will be numbed before the needle is inserted into the belly. It may sting slightly and involves injecting a very small injection in the abdomen. However, anaesthetic is not necessary as some studies show that it does not have much effect in most cases.
Care After the Amniocentesis
It would be normal to have cramps that might be similar to period pain and spotting after the procedure of Amniocentesis is completed. To get some relief, the patient can take some over-the-counter painkillers. Any strenuous exercise or work is not advisable. If the patient faces any problem, then she must contact her healthcare professional immediately. Good care after the Amniocentesis is the most important thing to recover from it as fast as possible.
The patient undergoing this procedure can resume her normal work after this procedure is complete. But it is advisable to avoid any strenuous work or exercise or any sexual activity for two days.
The patient must contact her health professional immediately if she experiences fever or has some vaginal bleeding or if there is inflammation or redness in the area where the needle was inserted. The health professional will provide all the necessary support the patient requires even after the procedure is completed. The patient needs to contact her healthcare professional immediately if she faces any problems because Care after the Amniocentesis is essential for fast recovery.
What To Monitor After Amniocentesis?
The procedure of Amniocentesis can give a definite result in 99 out of 100 women that undergo this testing. But in a small number of cases, it is not possible to get a result that might be conclusive. Also, it does not test for every condition. Most of the women who undergo Amniocentesis will have a normal result, which means that none of the conditions tested for was found in their baby.
Conclusion
The procedure or process in which amniotic fluid is extracted for treatment or testing from the uterus is called Amniocentesis. Amniotic fluid contains several proteins and foetal cells in it. It surrounds the foetus during pregnancy and protects it from jerks.
But what to expect after an amniocentesis? After the procedure is completed, one might face some difficulties, like fever, vaginal bleeding, inflammation or redness, etc. If the patient experiences any difficulty after the procedure, they must call their healthcare professional immediately. This procedure might be troublesome for some women, but proper care After the Amniocentesis is very important to ease that pain.