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Amnioreduction
Occasionally pregnancies are complicated by excess amniotic fluid or polyhydramnios. This can be diagnosed by ultrasound. In most cases the excess fluid does not harm the baby, but as the uterus (womb) is often much larger than it would otherwise be, the woman may be at increased risk of premature labour, which depending on the gestation carries risks to the baby when it is born. In certain circumstances to try and reduce this risk amnioreduction or removal of amniotic fluid can be performed. The procedure for this is similar to that for amniocentesis with some significant differences
- A larger needle (?guauge) is used and as a result the skin is first numbed using local anaesthetic
- Up to 2 litres of fluid may be removed rather than 15mls, this can take up to 30 minutes
- Following the procedure a woman may need to stay in hospital for observsation
- Unlike amniocentesis which only needs to be peformed once amnioreduction may need to be repeated every week as the fluid usually reaccumulates.
As there is fluid available we would usually test the baby's chromosomes (as detailed with amniocentesis) unless previously done