For those unaware, Luca and I have decided to take the plunge and give birth to a third baby. We are expecting a little girl in June. A few weeks ago, I made a highly controversial decision with respect to my growing fetus: I chose to undergo an amniocentesis.

“Amniocentesis is an invasive medical procedure that takes a small amount of amniotic fluid out of a pregnant woman’s belly for testing of genetic disorders such as Down Syndrome,” explains Michelle Lu-Ferguson, OB / GYN at ParkwayHealth. “Amniotic fluid is the liquid that surrounds the fetus inside the mother’s womb.”

The controversy surrounding this relatively simple medical practice is two-fold. First, amniocentesis poses a slight risk to the fetus/. “Leaking of amniotic fluid post-procedure can sometimes lead to infection, which can lead to miscarriage early in pregnancy or preterm (prior to 37 weeks) labor / birth later in pregnancy,” warns Lu-Ferguson.

“Another risk is that the needle used to withdraw the amniotic fluid can touch the baby, which in rare cases could cause an injury,” adds Lu-Ferguson. “Blood from the placenta can also leak into the mother’s bloodstream, causing problems for later pregnancies.”

When I revealed to friends and family our decision to get an amniocentesis, some chastised me for putting our baby at risk, given that I have no family history of genetic defects. These reprimands were usually accompanied by horror stories of mothers who had “killed” their babies by putting them through this “unnecessary” medical procedure.

The second controversial aspect of amniocentesis relates to the delicate issue of abortion. Upon disclosing my decision to get an amniocentesis done, one horrified pro-life friend asked me: “What happens if you find out something is wrong with the baby? Would you actually abort it?” Putting aside its impertinence, her question touched on a key philosophical objection to this type of screening test and other similar procedures.

“If a woman does not plan to abort, then amniocentesis may not be necessary,” opines Lu-Ferguson. “To prepare parents and doctors for serious birth defects which need urgent care at birth, non-invasive, genetic ultrasound testing is likely sufficient, as well as recommended.”

“To amnio or not to amnio” is one of the most difficult and highly personal decisions you will have to make during your pregnancy. The best piece of advice I can impart is to make the best decision for your family, whatever that is, despite the whirl of hullabaloo it may cause.

Raising kids in Shanghai? Follow our family’s many adventures on the Family Matters blog.