Child Development Group Project Prenatal Development and Birth

1. Amniocentesis
Group Project # 7
Lauren Nicole Buckley

2. Research
• What is Amniocentesis?
• What is the need for the procedure?
• What are the benefits of Amniocentesis?
• Risks?

3. What is Amniocentesis?
• A prenatal procedure that is performed in order to
remove and examine fluid (tissue found in fluid)
from the amniotic sac (uterus/womb) that
surrounds the developing fetus.
• An ultra sound is given that determines a safe
spot for the insertion of the needle.
• Ultimately this procedure given by your
practitioner tests for any detection of
chromosomal abnormalities, as well as fetus lung
maturity.

4. Needs for Amniocentesis
• Based on the developing fetus, Amniocentesis
determines abnormalities in gene pairing.
• Assesses the maturity of the baby’s lungs.
• Diagnose or rule out a uterine infection.
• Checks the health of the developing fetus,
including blood sensitization (blood RH) mixing of
parent and fetus blood.

5. Amniocentesis Benefits
• Informs expecting parents of the possible chromosomal abnormalities
within 15-25 weeks of pregnancy.
• Detects the following gene abnormalities:
– Mental retardation
– Down Syndrome ( Trisomy 21, three copies of the chromosome)
– Turners Syndrome (absence of sex chromosome X)
– Klienfelters (XXY)
– Tay Sachs Disease (Gangliosides accumulate within the brains
nerve cells) deteriorates physical abilities
– Cystic Fibrosis ( Mucus membranes cloud lungs, chronic lung
disease.)
– Sickle Cell Disease (Hemoglobin S) ( crescent shaped blood
cells deliver less oxygen to bodies tissue)
– Pallister Killian Mosaic Syndrome (weak muscle development)
– Cleft pallete

6. Amniocentesis Risks
• Increased risk factors:
– Obesity
– Previous abdominal surgery.
• Possible complications include:
– Miscarriage ( Less than 1% chance)
– Bleeding, cramping, and leaking of vaginal fluids.
– Infection.
– Harm to the fetus from needle penetration.
– Blood mixing.
– Repeat testing

7. Is Amniocentesis right for you?
• Consulting a physician can better inform you of
the benefits and risks involved concerning your
well being and the health of your baby.

8. Work Citations
• Ganson Purcell Jr. MD. (October 2009).
Amniocentesis. In LifeScript healthy living for
woman. Retrieved 6/25/2012, from
http://www.lifescript.com/health/a-z/treatments_a-
z/procedures/a/amniocentesis.aspx.
• Christian Nordqvist . (08 Feb 2011). What Is
Amniocentesis?. In MNT Medical news today.
Retrieved 6/25/2012, from
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/21596
5.php.