Amniocentesis need some information please!

I went to a specialist today to have my amniotic fluid level checked because I was told that it was low at my last appointment. Well, my fluid was fine but while they were checking her head to toe they found a small hole, maybe two in between her left and right ventricles of her heart. The ultrasound techs sounded like they had seen this pretty regularly, and that it should close up on its own by the time she's born, but if not then by the age of two it should close up. Well, when the doctor came in to talk to me he started going in a totally different direction and suggesting very strongly that I have the amniocentesis done to rule out down syndrome and some other birth defects. Me and my husband decided not to do any genetic testing when we found out that I was pregnant because regardless of if she has down syndrome or not she is our child and nothing would change that. The doctor told me that there was only a 1 in 800 chance of me losing my baby, but I told him that I wasn't willing to take that risk when regardless of the outcome she was going to come home with us and be loved. After told the doctor that I didn't think I wanted this done and he acted like I was doing something wrong and like I didn't care that something could be wrong with my child. I just wanted to know if there was anyone who went through the same thing or something similar.

Meh... I had the amnio because I wanted to be 100% sure. Everything turned out to be fine (save for some techs that didn't know what the hell they were doing with my samples... long story) and there were no complications from the amnio.

I had almost the exact same thing happen. If my baby was male there was a good chance there would be some degree of a defect. It didn`t matter to us- we weren`t going to abort regardless of the outcome- so we didn`t get it done... And the dr was acting like we were bad people for it!

I have had 2 amnios. One with this and one with my last. I think the reason why the doc was pushing for it was so that they know whats going on that way when the baby is born or even before if something happens then they will be prepared. It hurts but as long as you follow what they say afterwards there shouldn't be a problem. I laid around for 24 hours doing pretty much nothing after mine.

@ZenMama: I have heard terrible things about the amnio and it scares me to think that there is even a chance that it could hurt my little girl.
@Flag: Was there anything wrong? Our doctor was upset that I told him I didnt want it done, but next time I go back to him they are going to have a pediatric cardiologist sit in the ultrasound room with us to see what he thinks. I'm just praying that he says it will go away on its own because, even the techs said that it was a very small hole.

@Moody Momma: Did they do it while in the Ultrasound room? I'm just worried and it's not life or death so im just not sure where i stand on the whole thing. They said that the hole was tiny and they made it sound like it was normal and apparently this doctor that I go to is always persistent on getting an amnio done when anything is wrong..

Quoting Kelli Riles:" @Moody Momma: Did they do it while in the Ultrasound room? I'm just worried and it's not life or death ... [snip!] ... it was normal and apparently this doctor that I go to is always persistent on getting an amnio done when anything is wrong.. "

They have to do it while the ultrasound tech holds the wand on your belly so they don't poke the baby. If you feel as tho you don't want it then don't get it. My first son passed away at 32 weeks from downs syndrome. We had no idea that he had it because all the ultrasounds came back normal and the AFP came back a false negative. And honeslty, I could never go thru what I did ever again. The not knowing what had happened and all that was just to hard. And what a lot of people think when a woman gets an amnio is that if there is something wrong then they will terminate. Thats not always the case. I don't care if my kid comes out with defects or something really wrong but I want to know that way I can prepare myself. I really hope that everything turns out alright!!

Quoting Moody Momma:" They have to do it while the ultrasound tech holds the wand on your belly so they don't poke the baby. ... [snip!] ... or something really wrong but I want to know that way I can prepare myself. I really hope that everything turns out alright!!"

There was never anything indicating on the u/s of any kind of defect? The only reason I am asking is because when I was in my mother I had a small hole like the one that they said my little girl has and it closed up on its own. So im wondering if it's just genetic we don't have any kind of down syndrome or anything like that that runs in our family, but I'm just so confused I guess is the right word.. I called my regular doctor to get a second opinion and they said that the only reason they could see them wanting to do something like that is not necessarily for down syndrome, but to rule it out and to make sure that she's not going to be born with something that would require surgery right away and if she will need surgery right away they could have the team ready to go.

Well maybe think of it this way...even though u know your gonna take your baby home regardless of any defect or issue the Dr may wanna know of any issue he can so before there's an emergancy at birth that u would have known if you had done the test...doing the test helps everyone know what can possibly happen..I understand not wanting to do the test because of ur reasons I feel the same but at the same time design know what they're doing and if feels a serious test like that needs to be done I would trust him 100%

Drs not design lmao stupid auto crap

Quoting Kelli Riles:" There was never anything indicating on the u/s of any kind of defect? The only reason I am asking is ... [snip!] ... something that would require surgery right away and if she will need surgery right away they could have the team ready to go. "

I had 4 ultrasounds with our first. First was at 6 weeks, second was the gender scan, 3rd was because I tripped over the sweeper and had alot of pain and the 4th was because I lost 3 lbs. All of them my doc looked over and not once did they see any "marker" for downs. We didn't know it was downs syndrome until 2 weeks after he passed away when they sent his blood away to be checked. I was 19 and on both sides of the family there is no one with downs. Just a flook.

Quoting Kelli Riles:" There was never anything indicating on the u/s of any kind of defect? The only reason I am asking is ... [snip!] ... something that would require surgery right away and if she will need surgery right away they could have the team ready to go. "

Down Syndrome isn't hereditary... it's a chromosomal defect and a hole in the heart is one of the indicators. Your doctor has a valid point... if this turns out to be something that requires surgery when she is born I am sure that they (as well as you) would want to know that ahead of time.

Quoting **ga mom**:" Well maybe think of it this way...even though u know your gonna take your baby home regardless of any ... [snip!] ... at the same time design know what they're doing and if feels a serious test like that needs to be done I would trust him 100%"

Yeah, but when I called my regular doctor he said there was really no need they aren't doing it to check for d/s they are doing it to rule it out, but my regular doctor has told me that he would talk with them, but I don't think I'm going to have it done. She only has a very small hole in between her left and right ventricles. At my next appointment they are going to have a pediatric cardiologist sit in and look to see how severe it is.