Amniocentesis

My amniocentesis appointment was scheduled for September 25, 2014 at 10 am. An amnio procedure is a needle inserted into the abdomen and 2-3 tablespoons of amniotic fluid is withdrawn. I was very nervous. Neither of us slept very well. As we enter the room we are greeted by the friendly ladies at St. Vincent. Our Genetic Counselor, Erica, and our ultrasound tech, Kathy. Both can tell that I am nervous and are assuring me that everything will be fine. So I sit back in the chair and Kathy checks the baby on the ultrasound. Heartbeat is good, everything looks fine. Dr. Harold Bivins comes in and shakes Joshua's hand and asks if I'm ready. I try to smile and he pats my arm and says everything will be fine. Kathy uses the ultrasound so Dr. Bivins knows where Baby is the entire time. They lay the chair all the way back and tilt it so my feet are higher than my head. Then they clean my belly and start opening packages. I close my eyes, take deep breaths and try to relax. Dr. Bivins tells me that first I will feel a prick, like giving blood. Then a pinch, then a cramp. It is NOT fun. In fact, it hurt pretty bad. Okay I have given birth twice. An amnio is not the cry-out-in-pain sort but it's definitely more than a discomfort! Joshua watches the whole thing. He watches Dr. Bivins insert the needle into my belly, watches the screen to see our baby, and watches the needle fill with amniotic fluid. It is a clear, yellowish color. It is relatively quick (but felt like an eternity for me) and I had a lot of emotions running through me. I was still in pain (I mean come on, there's a hole in me now!) and I was feeling just very emotional overall. Dr. Bivins tells me I did great and their sample is perfect. They sat me up in the chair before I could ask to just lay there for a while. BIG MISTAKE!! Kathy is talking a lot, I don't remember what she was saying because I started to get really hot. I felt pressure in my neck and shoulders. I look over at Joshua and say "I am going to pass out" Kathy doesn't hear me so I interrupt her and say "Can you lean me back a little please?" She leans the chair back a teensy bit. I still feel horrible! Erica asks if I want a Sprite and I say yes please. I ask her to put the chair back more and Kathy says "Are you sure you want it back, or do you wanna sit up?" And I said "LEAN. ME. BACK!" My head gets heavy, and I am so so hot. I don't know what happens next. I passed out and had a seizure.
For me it was like this: I feel hot but cold, so cold I am shivering. I can't stop shivering and my eyes are fluttering like crazy. I try to squeeze them shut but they still flutter and I am still shaking! I can hear talking. I hear them say I had a seizure and Dr. Bivins comes in and tells them to roll me on my side. I am awake now so I reach for Joshua who is up and right by me. I grab his shirt and sob. Everyone in the room has a hand on me, rubbing me, getting me cool towels. I HATE SEIZING. It is the worst!! Poor Joshua. I can't imagine how scary it is to see me do that. He said he was worried I would bite my tongue because it was sticking out a little bit. Later Joshua said it didn't look as bad as it felt. I didn't convulse violently, just shook a little bit. And my eyes weren't fluttering but they were rolled back. And my jaw was locked with my tongue poking out. :(
I rested on the bed for a while and talked to Joshua until I felt a little better. We get a wheelchair and they take me to the car. On the way home I still felt hot and dizzy. That was a very long hour and fifteen minute drive! I was so happy to be home! I rested all day thanks to my amazing sister Glory!