I had an amniocentesis this morning and this is what happened: I lay on a couch and exposed my expanding stomach so the consultant could scan the foetus and take some measurements (all normal). My boyfriend came to hold my hand and we had a great view of bones and skull and he heart pumping away etc. It’s moving around like a mad thing and jumps when I laugh.
The consultant and midwife put on sterile gloves and wiped my stomach with disinfectant before putting the needle in. This happens with the scan still on so they can chose the best place to go in. The needle was uncomfortable – like giving blood but didn’t hurt. The consultant started to wiggle it around and got about an inch in but the uterus contracted and the foetus moved. Apparently this is fine and normal, but it was weird for me ‘cos it felt like period pain and it has been a long time since I had a period. I asked if they used longer needles for fat people and there was a brief silence until the consultant asked for a bigger needle and went in from the other side that’ll teach me. This was like a dull ache until he warned me that there would be a jab and that I must not flinch – this hurt when it went through the uterus, but not so much that I moved at all. The needle goes in first and then pulls back to reveal a blunt tube so as soon as it is through it is safe if the foetus.
Afterwards I went to the loo and then sat down for 5 minutes and had a cup of tea. The midwife told me that the results would take a couple of weeks and told me to call if I had any leaking of fluid or bleeding from the vagina. She said I could take paracetamol for cramp if I had any and that it was normal if I did. Also, bad news – no sex for 2 weeks as orgasm can make the uterus contract.
It’s now midday and I had this done at 9.30. It feels uncomfortable – like a bruise, but definitely not like cramp. I feel like someone has rummaged around inside me.
It’s now 9pm and my tummy still feels a bit disturbed but not anything near pain that would need a paracetamol.
Its’ now 24hrs since the amnio and I feel ok, a bit twingy but my stomach has gone back to its old flabby self and doesn’t feel as stiff as it did yesterday. I slept really well last night with happy dreams. I am not sure if the twinges are the uterus being tetchy or the foetus moving, but it is no where near painful – its just that I am conscious of it. No bleeding or fluid discharge either so it feels like its all going to be ok.
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