How Do I Minimize the Risks of Amniocentesis?

It is difficult to reduce your own amniocentesis risk, as you are not the person performing the procedure. You have to rely on a doctor to keep you and your developing baby safe, but there are some things you can do to minimize the risks, including choosing a doctor with an excellent reputation and track record for successful procedures. You can also reduce the risks of amniocentesis by making sure the person who assists the doctor is either another experienced physician or an ultrasound technician who has assisted many successful procedures in the past. Additionally, you may do well to carefully follow your doctor's instructions during and after the procedure in order to reduce the risk of serious problems.

When you need an amniocentesis, you won't have a good deal of control over the procedure. Instead, you typically have to put yourself and your developing baby in the most capable hands possible and then hope for the best. As such, the most important thing you can do to reduce the risks of amniocentesis is choose your doctor well. This means making a list of doctors who have excellent professional reputations and then researching to learn about their track records. If it seems that a particular doctor is associated with a high number of miscarriages or other problems related to this test, you will likely do well to cross him off your list.

The person who assists your doctor is also important when you are trying to reduce the risks of amniocentesis. For example, you may feel more comfortable and confident about the procedure if another experienced doctor assists your physician. In lieu of a second doctor, however, you may also feel confident about having a trained, experienced ultrasound technician assist during the amniocentesis. A well-qualified assistant may not only help reduce the risk of a problem during the procedure, but may also lessen the chances that you will need a second amniocentesis to draw more fluid.

As with most procedures, you can also reduce your level of risk by following your doctor's instructions. For example, remaining still during the procedure may help to reduce the risk of an accidental injury to your unborn child. Additionally, staying calm may also help ensure that the test proceeds smoothly.

It is important to keep in mind that even when you choose the best doctor and follow his instructions carefully, you cannot entirely eliminate the risks of amniocentesis. There is always a risk that the baby will suffer an injury from the needle or that the mother will have a miscarriage following it. Fortunately, however, the risk of such events is usually low.