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  |  Pregnancy  |  Tests  |  Should it be painful?
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Should it be painful?

by Peg Plumbo

question
I'm 38 years old and 15 weeks pregnant. I had a terrible, painful experience during an amniocentesis with my first child: three sticks and 20 minutes with a needle in me. Is there anything that can be done to stop the pain during an amnio? I do not feel that the triple blood test is accurate enough to consider as an option.

answer
Either the AFP (Alpha fetoprotein) test or the triple test (also known as the Bart’s triple test, the Leeds test, the Biomark and the Beta triple) can give you a clearer idea of your risk, but you are correct that an amnio can distinguish the exact nature of any problem that exists. Some couples feel that the benefit of ‘knowing’ outweighs the risks (and pain) of an amniocentesis.

A local anaesthetic is given for an amnio, but it never quite takes away the discomfort of the manipulation and pressure once the procedure begins. It is certainly permissible to ask for more local anaesthetic if you need it. If you feel you could consider such an option, using acupuncture or acupressure during the procedure has helped some women I have worked with. I have also seen deep relaxation (hypnotism) make a profound difference.

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