Homebirths with High Tech Testing

[LizD]

I submitted this question on the other "I'm Pregnant" forum, but would like thoughts from those of you in the Homebirth zone who might not see my other query. 8 year old daughter was born at a birth center (freestanding), this baby will be born at home (knock wood). For various reasons, mainly incredible stress surrounding this unplanned pregnancy, I have decided I have an absolute need to diagnose any chromosomal abnormalities.

As you no doubt know amniocentesis has an estimated risk ranging from .25% to 3% (rather wide and depends upon which source you read). Has anyone else here made use of such valuable technologies as these and suffered no ill effects? Anecdotally, I have never spoken to a woman who's lost a baby due to the amnio, yet I have spoken to many who have had them- even more than one during the same pregnancy!

Obviously the referral to the fetal medicine specialist will come from my midwife's backup OBGYN, which has the advantage of meeting him and his staff. What questions should I ask? What precautions should I take? I have read up on the actual procedure but wonder about aftercare- rest? Do I need a ride home? Of course I will ask these questions of the practitioners but I value a wide range of anecdotal evidence from other women as well. Thanks so much for your responses!

[jordmoder]

Hi Liz-

Well, I haven't had an amnio, although I did do the CVS (chorionic villus sampling) with my 28 month old. That was done between 10-13 weeks and is considerably more risky (1:200 miscarriage chance vs. approx. 1:400 for amnio) and although the information was reassuring and I got it very early, by 13 weeks (I was 40 at the time) and I know many women who have also done CVS, it was stressful for me.

I understand the earliest you can do an amnio is around 15 weeks; ok this takes me off track a bit to ask how pregnant are you now, do you live near a large university hospital, would you be interested in a much less invasive, although not totally absolute method of determining whether or not an amnio is even necessary? That is, an early ultrasound and two blood draws.

That's what I did with this baby (now 32 weeks), got very reassuring results and so did not do an amnio.

Write me back, or pm me and I'll tell you more if you're interested.

I can also write more about the practicalities of amnio - when it's done, what you do afterwards, etc.

It's big stuff to think about - I've been there a couple of times...

Barbara