Hellobee Boards

No I wouldn't do it. We wouldn't terminate even if the test came back positive so to me it's not worth the risk.

Yes, I had one at approximately 16 weeks (am 19.5 weeks now). I had one for several reasons, including (but not limited to) I am over 35 (I am 36) and this is my first pregnancy, the medical history on my mom's side is not well known (closed adoptions, etc.),, and I would choose to terminate the pregnancy in the event there was a chromosomal abnormality/ abnormality that would have caused my baby to have a short and painful life.

The non-invasive tests are great tools, but they are not diagnostic tools, and I wanted to know for sure (well, within 99% accuracy, which is as good as it's gonna get - no promises in medical treatment and all). It was most certainly not a decision I made lightly, by any means, but in the end, I realized that it was what was right for me and my DH.

I am more than happy to answer any questions about the procedure, if anyone would like - just let me know.

we didnt need one, but even if the doctor suggested it we wouldnt do it. It poses a risk of infection and I just dont think its worth it

I had a CVS with my first pregnancy and an amnio with the second.
I absolutely plan to have one or the other with any future pregnancies- given our history, we have a slightly elevated chance of abnormalities, there are conditions for which we'd terminate, and for conditions where we wouldn't terminate I would 100% rather known in advance and be able to prepare.
A good friend of mine has a daughter with Down's; they found out at 16 weeks through an amnio, and were so glad to have had that time to adjust emotionally and to prepare logistically. They got to go through a lot of the process of grieving certain hopes and expectations for their daughter that would never come to pass, and by the time she was born they were able to really focus more on the joy of her birth. And they'd already lined up pediatricians and other specialists who were well-versed in care for kids with trisomy 21, and they themselves felt pretty well-informed about potential medical needs and issues. They adjusted their plans for maternity leave and childcare in light of the fact that their daughter would have special requirements. They started talking about it with friends and family and colleagues to help educate them, and build up a good support system.
I really hate the assumption that the only reason to pursue genetic testing is because it would affect your decision to continue the pregnancy. I definitely understand people not feeling the need for that information, but having that conclusive information can be so valuable for many purposes in addition to "terminate-or-not" (including some peace of mind for anxious moms-to-be, particularly those with a history of losses).
In contrast to the friend I mentioned above, my cousin has a son with a genetic disorder that, while manageable, can be really scary and requires daily and careful management. They didn't find out until their newborn son suddenly became very ill, and they went through an incredibly stressful period of wondering whether he'd make it, wondering what was wrong, and feeling helpless and scared and confused once they did have a diagnosis. (They will do IVF and pre-implantation genetic testing for any future kids)

I had an amnio done with my second pregnancy because our first baby was born with trisomy 18 and was not diagnosed until after he was born. We chose to do the amnio with the second pregnancy because our doctor recommended it and we also wanted to be prepared, in terms of medical support, in case we did have another baby that needed a little extra help.