Amniocentesis

How To Prepare

You will be asked to empty your bladder just before the test.

You will need to sign a consent form that says you understand the risks of amniocentesis and agree to have the test done. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).

If you have premature labour or problems with this pregnancy, such as placenta previa or placenta abruptio, an amniocentesis will probably not be done because of your higher chance for problems.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: October 12, 2006
Medical Review:	Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics Liisa Honey, MD, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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