Amniocentesis not linked to miscarriage

NEW YORK, Nov 17 (Reuters) Amniocentesis performed during the fourth through sixth month of pregnancy, known as the "midtrimester," does not increase the rate of miscarriage, according to a report in the journal Obstetrics&Gynecology.

Amniocentesis involves the insertion of a needle into the mother's abdomen and then into the uterus to obtain a sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the developing baby. This fluid can be analyzed to determine the presence of chromosome disorders, such as Down's syndrome, as well as the sex of the baby.

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