Amniocentesis results should be interpreted with the help of a doctor or nurse, but clear fluid and absence of abnormal chromosomes indicate a healthy result. The test can also reveal the gender of the baby and detect various conditions, including spina bifida and chromosomal disorders.
As with most types of medical tests, the best way to interpret amniocentesis results is with the help of your doctor or nurse. If you want to evaluate the results before talking to your health care providers, however, or if they are temporarily unavailable, you may want to consider the results of this test based on whether the fluid was clear and what other substances were found inside. Your results usually include the presence or absence of abnormal chromosomes, as well as the presence or signs that indicate spina bifida, a condition characterized by an abnormal opening in the spine. These test results will also reveal the gender of your baby and indicate whether your unborn child has a number of other conditions detectable with this type of test, including some bleeding disorders and developmental disorders.
Typically, the results of the amniocentesis will include information about the appearance and contents of the amniotic fluid. A healthy result usually means that the amount of fluid is normal for the stage of pregnancy and the fluid is clear. In some cases, small amounts of blood may be present, but this is usually not cause for concern. Typically, it’s not even the baby’s blood — it usually comes from the mother and doesn’t indicate any kind of damage. Sometimes the results may reveal the presence of fecal matter, which can prove to be a sign of a problem with the baby or the environment of the uterus.
As you interpret the amniocentesis results, you can also find out whether or not your unborn baby has a chromosomal disorder. This test can be used to reveal conditions such as Down syndrome, disorders involving the chromosomes responsible for determining gender, and many other chromosomal conditions. It can also reveal disorders that can be passed down from parent to child, such as cystic fibrosis. Often, the results of this test also indicate whether or not the developing baby has a bleeding-related disorder or some type of developmental condition.
The amniocentesis results will also likely include the level of a protein made in the fetal liver called alpha-fetoprotein. When levels of this substance are abnormal, this can indicate that a child has a defect such as spina bifida. This test can also reveal other types of brain or spinal cord defects.
With the amniocentesis results in hand, you can even tell if your baby is a boy or a girl. While it is true that many women learn the likely sex of their babies through ultrasound examinations, this method is not always accurate. An amniocentesis, however, can reveal the probable sex of your baby with more than 99% accuracy.
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