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Analyzing Amnio
The Ins and Outs of Amniocentesis
By Laura Cone
Miriam Schneider of Manhattan, N.Y., had amniocentesis (amnio), a test for birth defects and other conditions, after successful infertility treatments. Schneider had not one, but two completely healthy twin girls.
"I decided to have amnio because when I was 39, my husband and I went through in vitro fertilization and we had ICSI [intracytoplasmic sperm injection]," says Schneider. "We wanted to make sure there were no birth defects."
Physicians typically recommend amniocentesis for women 15 to 20 weeks pregnant who have an increased risk of certain birth defects or malformations in the fetus. By testing a few teaspoons of amniotic fluid, a genetic counselor or doctor may detect chromosomal abnormalities, fetal anemia, the baby's gender, Rh disease and genetic disorders including cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease and Tay-Sachs disease.
Schneider has a history of Down syndrome in her family. "We did not want to know the sex, so that was not a reason we did it," Schneider says. "My husband is 33 years older than I am. With his age and my age, the challenges of raising a severely handicapped child – we did not want to have that be a problem we would face."
Schneider says amnio raises moral questions for some people. She had a cousin who was also 39 when she became pregnant, but decided not to have amnio because she wanted to keep her child no matter what the outcome.
"For her, it would not have made any difference in the outcome of the pregnancy for her, so why undergo the procedure with the risks it entails?" Schneider says. "She never did it and she had fine, healthy children. I know another couple who felt the same way and had a baby with Down syndrome and she is the delight of their life. If your personal beliefs do not allow you to entertain the idea of an abortion, then I would not recommend it at all. If you have feelings about what kind of quality of life you want for yourself and your family and abortion is an option, I would say yes, do it."
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