I have to see a genetic counselor this week, with a level 2 ultrasound. My baby has a brain cyst and low amniotic fluid. I may need an amnio, and never had one before. Im not sure if it hurts, I was told it wont.

They may want to do one in your case, you can refuse.
I probably will, after discussing it.
The only think I worry about is losing the baby because I want to know if the baby wont be “normal”. I’ld feel to guilty.
Im keeping my baby no matter what, I just hope the brain cyst isnt to big of a deal, and heals on its own. Other wise I may deliver a little early.

Amnio is your choice, you do not have to do it. I was referred to a genetic counselor for several reasons. The first set of reasons was because of my family’s history put me at a higher risk. They did an ultrasound on my heart and those problems were resolved.

The second set of reasons was that my baby’s ultrasound came back with areas of concern. The genetic counselor took that information, the baby’s NT scans, and her bloodwork to give us a better idea of how likely it was that the baby had certain problems (Down’s was one of them). She asked if wanted to do amnio, but because of the information she had given us – the baby would be more at risk from amnio than she would be for Down’s. So we declined, and the genetic counselor was fine with that.

So it really depends on why you’re going to see a genetic counselor as to what they’ll talk to you about. They might just look at your bloodwork so that you can make a more informed choice about future tests you choose to do. Or they might have you go for more bloodwork or other non-amnio tests to try and rule out a problem. They may also recommend amnio, but it is *your* choice as to whether you do it or not.

I believe they will ask you a whole bunch of questions about you and your hubby (or significant other) to determine your risks for certain things. They may take some blood form both of you for testing. If you need an amnio, they are uncomfortable but bearable. They usually give you a local anesthetic. You may feel a lot of pressure at the site. Good luck!

I had to go to a genetic counselor b/c my blood work said that my baby was at higher risk for neural tube deffects. They give you the option to do an amnio, but they won’t make you and you certainly don’t have to do one. There is a risk of miscarrige that goes along with it. They should explain all this to you. I didn’t have an amnio so I don’t know if it hurts. They determined that my baby was fine by high tech ultrasound.