At 34 Weeks, Doctor Wants Me to Have amniocentesis...very Nervous!!

I had twins and was over 35, there was no way I'd have an amniocentesis. I worked for OB/GYN's and though for the most part they are safe, it was not medically necessary enough for me to risk it. Twins were perfectly normal, now they're 2. Whatever you decide would be up to you, and no one will fault you if you do, just know the risks, please.

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I went into labor at 33 weeks with my daughter and they did an amnio to test for her lung development. As the baby's lungs mature, the surfactant can be measured in the amniotic fluid. I was scared about the amnio, but I honestly can't remember a thing about it - I don't even remember that it hurt. Also, there had been research that suggested that having an amnio can put a mom into pre-term labor, but they have since found this to be un-true.

In your case, I don't see why the docs would want you to deliver early. There is nothing wrong with having a big baby, especially if you are already planning a c-section. Has your doc explained she would want to deliver early if your baby is big? There is a reason why we carry our babies for 40 weeks or so - that's how long it takes for them to finish developing before they are ready to be outside the comfort of your body. As a mom of a preemie, I would VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you obtain a concrete medical reason for delivering your baby early, and follow up with a second opinion. Once you are well informed, you make the decision based on what feels right to you.

Also, I am currently pregnant with our second child and had a checkup two days ago. In the ultrasound, our baby was measuring at a nice 70% for his gestational age at 24 weeks. When the nurse measured my fundal height a couple minutes later, I was measuring at 26 weeks. The size of my belly was not an accurate reflection of the size of the baby. If the doc thinks your baby is big, you may want to request an ultrasound to validate the suspicion of a big baby.

Good luck to you - I'll keep my fingers crossed for a nice healthy 40 weeker. :)

I would not risk it........... You are so close to the end and just because you are measuring big doesn't mean that your baby will be early.

They thought I was having a 7# baby and he ended up being 9#2oz. I had a friend who had her first 3 girls early- all natural deliveries. (3 weeks early! and they were fine.) Her last one, went to 39 weeks when they did a c-section.

The upside to a late amnio is this:

The concern about an amnio is a miscarriage. At 34 weeks you're not at risk for miscarriage, just a preemie delivery. :) :) :) So I personally wouldn't worry, as there is no downside. (Well, the needle... but hey... you get what I mean :)

r

Question: is there a medicine reason why you need to deliver early? You can't guess when you will go into labor, it doesn't work that way. Yes, the last month of pregnancy sucks, but it really is best to let the little guys come when they want. Nature knows best.

I had an amnio because of my maternal age over 35. I was very nervous and did experience quite a bit of pain during the procedure. If I had to do it again, I would not. I spotted a little after the procedure and was so afraid I'd miscarry. Thank goodness, I had a full term healthy son. I wish you the best with your new baby.

I think you need to get some more information from your doctor before you make the decision. Such as, what are the alternatives to this procedure? Can they do a high-level ultrasound to check the size of the baby, amniotic fluid levels and if you have enough "room"? Also, ask about the rate of complications for YOUR doctor doing amnios. I did have one with my first pregnancy and the fact that my dr had a very low rate of complications made me feel a bit more at ease. I didn't think it hurt much at all; just kind of odd, but I had mine very early in my pregnancy, so it could make a difference.

I don't have any experience with an amnio, but I will tell you I have met several (4) moms who were measuring large for thier gestational age and begged to be induced early because they didn't want to have 10 lb babies. Some were induced, some had doctors who wouldn't go for it. And in all their cases, they delivered perfectly normal sized babies who weren't large at all for their "age". I personally would not want to take the additional risks of an amnio on the chance that you might go early. Unless the doctor thinks you are going to go in the next 3 weeks, you will be full term in 3 weeks, regardless of how you are measuring. And I think lung develoment is actually complete at 36 weeks. So that is only 2 weeks from now. And I believe an amnio can trigger early labor, from things I have read. Is there any other reason they want to do one?

Like I said, I don't have any personal experience with an amnio so my opinion doesn't count for much against the moms who have, I just thought I'd share my friends' experiences with measuring large and delivering early.

I am anxious to hear what you find out.
Mk

I had one with my son. I felt some pressure during the procedure but had no problems afterwards. I went home and took it easy by just going to bed and resting. I wanted to do the procedure to make sure my son was okay and healthy. Everything turned out great. I just didn't over think about it and just tried to be calm about it. I am normally not that calm about things in life. When I was pregnant I seemed to do what was best for my baby. God bless you, your baby and your family.

If you don't want the amnio ask if you can get steriod shots (2). I had them with 2 of my children, just because they were going to be preemies. the steriods will help your baby's lungs develop faster than without it. Hopefully your baby will not need any oxygen or a NICU stay when he/she is born.
God bless!

Hi Melissa,
I had an amniocentesis at about the same time in my pregnancy. It was uncomfortable, but not horrible. They had to really work to get enough fluid for the test. Turned out the lungs were mature enough so everything was good. My labor was going to be induced the next day, but I went into labor on my own that evening. The test was kind of like everything else related to having a baby...well worth it once the baby is in your arms. I wish you well!
M.

I had 1 with my son at 5 months it hurt bad. And I had bad cramps after. Doc can give u more info. But if the scedual the c section they usually go off babys size so it maybe something to look into for yourself. I had my bc I went into prelabor after a car wreck.

Updated

I had 1 with my son at 5 months it hurt bad. And I had bad cramps after. Doc can give u more info. But if the scedual the c section they usually go off babys size so it maybe something to look into for yourself. I had my bc I went into prelabor after a car wreck.

Hi Melissa,
While pregnant with my son, I always measured 2-3 weeks larger than how far along I was (he was born at 7lb15oz and 10 days late). I am 5'2" also, so it's not so much that the baby is big, rather we have shorter abdomens than taller women so the baby grows out more than up and down.
I wouldn't do the amnio- its slightly dangerous, and doesn't sound needed at all!
I think your doc may not have the same values or ethics you do- a lot of docs choose to do procedures that are completely unnecessary and potentially very harmful.
Good luck, remember it's OK to measure big. Most smaller women do! :)

ummm....are you having twins? i would rather be put on bed rest than have an amniocentesis, i think that's ridiculous. then again, i'm not a doctor. but, i've also have two boys. i would rather wait it out if i were you. because either way if you go into labor you will have no other choice but to have the baby unless they stop the labor. but if it's forced to come, you're messing with mother nature. My first pregnancy was always 3 weeks ahead of schedule by size; and at 37 weeks i demanded that they take him out he was already 9 pounds, but the doctor wanted to wait one more week and that was fine because i knew i had to let mother nature take its course. i would be really careful with that choice. do your research on it too. good luck and congratulations.

Hi Melissa,
I did have a 31week baby with a emergency c-section,so on my second child at 36 weeks they wanted to do a amnio test to check his lungs out. I was starting to have preclampsia and they needed to run this test. I was 38 at the time. I swore up and down that I would not have this because I was afraid of needles, But they did a numbness shot first and they let me have a support person, my husband was in a new job so I told him to work. Anyways, it was not that bad. They found that he was in great shape and we delivered the next morning at 36 weeks. He was 5lbs but compared to his brother he was healthy and is now a smart little 5yr old. I would just listen to the doctors. But why are you concerned you will not make it. Are you having health issues if you are then do the amnio test. But talk to the doctor and decide together. The procedure is not as bad as others make it But close your eyes so not to see the needle I did and it helped alot. It was over before I opened my eyes. oh yeah I had relaxing music on too, to soothe my nerves. Good Luck and God bless!

That would make you about 39 weeks gestation at the time of your delivery. Why would she want to do an amnio at that point. It is not a routine procedure to check for lung maturity at 39 weeks. I am wondering why should you go through a procedure like that at 39 weeks, just to check maturity? I do not know if this is a repeat c-section or what the primary reason behind it being scheduled, but if she is just requesting it for no other reason besides her wanting to know if a baby's lungs are mature at 39 weeks gestation & you are uncomfortable with it; just say no. No need at 39 weeks with a normal progressing pregnancy and without maternal complications. Sounds as if you are growing a LGA (Large for gestational age) baby; is she thinking wanting to do the amnio soon and deliver you even earlier than the April 30th date. If this is the case, then to cover her butt she kind of has to do it to perform the delivery. Now you also say you do not know if you will make it that far; well if you are thinking you are going to go into labor sooner and have a scheduled c-section scheduled, well then once you go into labor, the c-section will happen without an amnio. So still will not "HAVE TO" have it done. I will be honest, they are uncomfortable, even if using local. They do most times make you have uncomfortable contractions after the extraction this late in preganancy. The procedure does come with a small amount of risk factors, but I say if everything is normal with the exception of the measuring larger than gestation and you are scheduled for a section and do not need to deliver before then, then just decline and wait until you can meet your baby in a month. Sorry that is a lot, but there are so many "if" factors that I do not have the answers to from your post. Good Luck & Congratulations.

I've had 2 amnio's with each of my pregnancies... due to my age. LOL

It was fine. It is a fast procedure... it feels like a menstrual cramp. The Doc gave me a numbing shot first, and that hurt more than the actual procedure. Its just a shot.
My Husband was with me. After that, you go home and you need to rest, not lift anything heavy etc.

If I had to do it again, I would.

Is it recommended for you due to age? Or just for the lung development? I had never heard of that before, per the amnio and seeing the lung development.
Can't they do it by some kind of ultrasound??? I'm not a Doc, so I don't know how those things work.

For me, having had 2 c-sections... my Doc does it 2 weeks prior to the due date. My first c-section was an emergency, and my 2nd c-section was planned.

All the best,
Susan