Who is a candidate for amniocentesis?
Women over the age of 35 have an increased chance of carrying a baby with chromosomal abnormalities. Therefore, the current recommendation is that women who will be age 35 or older at the time of delivery consider having an amniocentesis for fetal chromosome testing. Chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus can lead to mental retardation or other birth defects as seen with Down’s syndrome. The possibility of having a baby with a chromosomal defect increases with the age of the mother. • At age 35 the chance is about 1 in 178. • By age 40, the rate increases to 1 in 63. • By age 48, the ratio is 1 in 8. • For women younger than 35, the risk of complications as a result of amniocentesis may outweigh the possibility that the baby has a chromosomal abnormality (see below, “Is Amniocentesis Safe?”). • After 35, the chance of carrying a baby with a chromosomal abnormality may be more common than experiencing the complications associated with this procedure. If there is a family history of chro
