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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffPercutaneous umbilical blood sampling carries various risks, including:
- Miscarriage. Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling carries about a two in 100 risk of miscarriage. This is higher than the risk of miscarriage associated with other prenatal diagnostic tests, such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis.
- Bleeding. Bleeding from the needle entry site is possible.
- Slowing of the baby's heart rate. The baby's heart rate may slow temporarily after percutaneous umbilical blood sampling.
- Infection. Rarely, percutaneous umbilical blood sampling may cause a uterine infection.
Remember, percutaneous umbilical blood sampling is offered when the test results may have a significant impact on the management of the pregnancy. Ultimately, the decision to have percutaneous umbilical blood sampling is up to you. Your health care provider or genetic counselor can help you weigh all the factors in the decision.
