What happens after I get the results?

The amniocentesis test can cause an agonising wait for parents as the data is analysed. For whether the results are negative or positive, relevant information is given below:

If the result if positive

If your test comes back with a positive result, it means that the foetus will have the defect or abnormality it was tested for using the amniocentesis test. If you get a positive result, your healthcare team will discuss the implications of the test result with you and will explain all the options open to you. You may consider terminating your pregnancy, or you may wish to continue on with your pregnancy; either way, the doctors and nurses will be there to support you and answer any questions you might have. If you do decide to end your pregnancy, your GP and midwife will discuss this with you and explain the procedure.

If you are struggling to come to terms with the test result you can also seek advice and support from charities such as The Down’s Syndrome Association and the National Childbirth Trust.

If the result is negative

A negative result will mean that your baby has not been found to have any signs of the disorders that the test checks for. Nevertheless, the result can be negative and you can still have a child born with the disorder tested for or another condition. This is because disorders are down to the genetic irregularities in the make-up of the child which cannot be completely tested as there are too many. Therefore, even if you have the test and it is found to be negative you may have a child born with a condition that went undetected. If this is the case then the following support networks cited above are of great assistance.