Human Growth and DevelopmentPrenatal Development-Embryonic Period |
When is amniocentesis usually performed and why? |
Amniocentesis is usually done after the fifteenth week of pregnancy. It is a prenatal test used to screen for and identify genetic disorders or test for lung maturity. During the procedure, a thin needle is inserted into the amniotic cavity to remove some of the amniotic fluid, which contains fetal cells and various chemicals produced by the fetus.