Which of the following is a potential risk associated with amniocentesis?
Premature labour
Fetal heart rate abnormalities
Maternal infection
All of the above
Amniocentesis is an invasive procedure and as with any invasive procedure, there are risks involved. Premature labour is a potential risk because the needle used to extract the amniotic fluid may cause a tear in the amniotic sac. Fetal heart rate abnormalities can occur due to the stress caused by the procedure. Maternal infection is another potential risk as the needle could introduce bacteria into the uterus. Therefore, all of the above options are potential risks associated with amniocentesis.