Anyone had a CVS test ??? ... Would like to hear of your experience !!

[Jillbaby]

I realise that the last post in this was a couple of years back but I still thought I would post my thoughts as I have just got home from the CVS test. I had it done at Sydney Women's Ultrasound Centre at Chatswood and seriously, cannot speak more highly of the centre. The doctor we had was so caring and professional and was so, so, so, skilled. When we first arrived, we were checked in at reception and was called in within five minutes. The doctor went through all the statistics and outcomes with my partner and I and answered all of our questions responsively. We were then taken into a darker room that had a big Sony LCD screen right in front of the bed so I could see everything if I chose. An ultrasound was undertaken and pictures were given to my partner (who really wanted them so he could take them to work). I did not feel the anaesthetic at all until it was nearly finished (I had my eyes closed). I did not feel the bigger needle either, not one bit and it was all over in a couple of minutes, maybe less. I believe personally the skill of the doctor plays an incredibly important role in the patient's comfort and I would take a good guess that the doctor's skill is also linked to the rates of miscarriage for the test (not including the underlying miscarriage risk that exists regardless of the test). We also paid the extra few hundred dollars to have a preliminary result by tomorrow afternoon which will be about 30 hours after the test. I would highly recommend to all expectant mother's who are contemplating this test to pay to have it done privately at a reputable clinic. The very least, is that you get the best care and your mind is put at ease.

[smiles4u]

Jill ... that is the most encouraging experience for all to read here who hasn't had a CVS test ... i personally couldn't thank you enough as i know myself i had to hear 'that' as i truely thought what my experience would have kind of previously have been but obviously wasn't IYWIM ... And it makes me so happy to hear your experience was such an incredibly positive one

*** Also Jill i agree with you whole hearted that anyone looking to have a CVS test done try & get it done at a private hosp/clinic in more hope of the staff being more professional & more importantly experienced in this area !!!! ***

[snowchickie79]

Just read this updated post and it was great to read jillbaby's response about her CVS.

I'm in the same boat as you smiles4U in that my CVS was painful, and a very difficult experience. I think that in my case it was more the absolute incompetence of the doctor who gave us our NT results and within 4 minutes mentioned termination and then the fact that I felt the entire CVS including the anae needle plus the actual CVS procedure. I also do not think i was numb at all and in fact the pain almost caused them to loose the sample on the way out.

I went through a private clinic (SWUC) but the doctor who did my procedure was terrible. I went to SWUC for the rest of my ultrasounds but went to a different location. I would most certainly be checking up on the doctor who would be doing my CVS prior to the procedure if I ever had to have it again (My OB had heard bad reports about that specific doctor before when I finally got to tell him about it so i only wish I could have/or thought to ask him about it before hand).

But positive news from a negative experience was that we got the all clear knowing our little baby was perfectly healthy and I now have a beautiful healthy 1 year old daughter (She turns 1 on the 18the August) who is the apple of my eye and makes me giggle every single day..

[Gigi]

SMILES - i havent had a CVS, i had an emergency "ordered by the hospital" amniocentsis test, WITHOUT THE ANAETHETIC (after being told i WOULD be given an Anaesthetic) that was really awful, and i remember the LONG two weeks wait, being told i would be called and told the news after 14 days and then no-one called me, and when i went to the hospital to chase it up, i got told "the specialist who did your test has gone on holidays" etc - the royal runaround.

so i do sympathise.

but CONGRATS on the decision to conceive a sibling for C !! that's wonderful news!

i'm not sure i could go thru another amnio/cvs type test, after the trauma of the first one. plus the five days of intense cramping that followed. all for nothing. the nuchal test that came back with 1 in 6 chance of genetic problems, turned out to be a false reading !!!! they put me thru that amnio for nothing!!!

[DaintreeDream]

Smiles - I had a horrible horrible experience with my Amnio, it was done without anaesthetic (as with Gigi I was also told I was going to be given it) and they made my DH leave the room so I was alone and scared, I blacked out and was turned head down feet up on the table with the needle still in my belly!

I said that I would never have an amnio again. You proberly know my story but the results weren't good but I now have my beautiful DD and then when I fell pregnant with this baby I recieved a 1:2 chance of Trisomy 21 and a 1:11 chance of Trisomy 18, I felt I needed to prepare for the chance that the baby would have the same chromosome deletion as DD so I decided to go for a CVS.

I went to a different ob who was highly recommended, for me it was so much better than my experience with the Amnio. to me it still wasn't the nice-est thing to have done, but I WOULD do it again anyday but only with that ob (he is in Mulgrave, VIC, I am happy to pass on his details if you ever wanted them, he was wonderful). He used anaesthetic and allowed DH AND DD to stay in the room for the procedure. I experienced some nausea/dizziness (about 15 minutes later) but that is normal for me and just a little discomfort due to a little bruise, no cramping pains.

Just thought I would offer my experience, as it went from the Amnio being horrific and something I never wanted to do again to a CVS experience that I would happily do again to know that I have a healthy baby.

[csab]

HI hun, I had a cvs done with DD last yr, and my experience was quite good. I had the head of the feto maternal unit do mine. We were booked originally to have the cvs done internally, but he decided to check to see if it could be done thru the stomach. Due to the location of the placenta he decided against going thru the stomach as it would be to dangerous for him to do it that way as the the bowel was in the way. We ended up doing what we were originally booked in for, internally. I didnt need any aneasetic as it was more like a pap smear. They had my legs up on stirrups, put a hose inside and then washed inside after they clamp you open a bit, then put the needle thru the hose to get the sample, the whole time they watched the u/s. They then removed the sample then washed inside again then removed the clamps. After the procedure I laid there for about 10-15mins and was able to go home. I had my quick results in 2 days, and the full results in 2weeks/ Thankfully all turned out ok with both results.

All the best hun. Hugs

[SJM]

Hi there,

I will post my feedback even though this thread is a bit old...

I had a CVS done (2009) at 11 weeks at Ashford Specialist Centre in SA- they were great, very caring, and explained everything well. They were the only place recommended by my obs too. The actual procedure was not too bad (and I often faint while having blood tests!!!), it was just a bit uncomfortable, only lasted 5 mins or so I think. The worst thing for me was the stress of possibly causing a miscariage and what we would do if the results were not ideal.

I got a referral from my Obs for the CVS and she referred me to the Dr that she had used herself when she had a CVS while she was pregnant. I would say in my opinion for this sort of test it is worth spending more $$ to get a more experienced specialist perform this sort of test as I imagine that inexperience of the Dr increases the chance of miscarriage.

Cheers,
SJM