We don't do it in my hospital because our ethnic mix doesn't warant the development of the expertise. Amniocentesis will not guarantee you a normal child. It cannot detect most non-chromosomal genetic defects, nor can it detect defects of body structure, such as harelip, cleft palate, congenital heart disease, hypospadias, pyloric stenosis, clubfoot or congenital hip dislocation. Defects caused by exposure to toxic substances will also not be detected by amnio. The main risk of amnio is that it may increase the chance of miscarriage.
Different sources disagree on how much.
Probably the studies counting fetal death within 4 weeks of amnio give the best estimate. This is the same as the backround loss rate at 16 weeks. Even though there is no statistical increase in pregnancy loss after amniocentesis, it is an invasive procedure and patients should be appraised of a potential loss of the pregnancy as a result of infection, bleeding, or rupture of membranes. The incidence of fetal injury is negligible. After the test, you may experience cramping, fever and chills, vaginal bleeding or leaking amniotic fluid.