OK. It wasn't so bad. I believe that what you think.... how you feel emotionally/mentally.... helps to determine how you feel physically. So I made an effort to relax. I told myself I would be fine. I told the baby to keep out of the way. First you have a regular ultrasound to determine WHERE the placenta is located in the uterus. Position determines method of CVS. They can either go abdominally or vaginally. This placenta was high and back so they went abdominally. When they go abdominal they need something in your bladder.. but not too much. So I had to let some.. not all out before they continued. That's tricky! Anyway, they clean off the site they plan to use. I think they used iodine? It was browinish in color. Then they injected the novacaine? I think it was novacaine. All the while another doctor is still doing the ultrasound as guidance. I could see the novacaine needle going in by watching the ultrasound. The doctors are talking to each other and helping each other with which direction to go etc... The location for the novacaine had to be same location and direction planned for the OTHER needle. The other needle was about this long: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The length above. And probably about that thick I am guessing. As the needle goes in the doctor is telling me everything. You will feel a burn. You will feel a cramp. That kind of thing. Her description was worse than what I felt. I really didn't feel much of anything. BUT..... that pass didnt' work. Although they thought they were in a good spot... my body didn't want to cooperate. The doctor would me ALMOST at the placenta and the placenta would shift further away. They didnt have a longer needle or catheter so they had to try again in a different location. OK, so they start over from the beginning. Same thing.. cleanse the skin... inject the novacaine... insert needle.... location os GOOD!.... insert catheter. The catheter keeps the site open for the needle. Think of a straw. They withdrew some placental tissue sample. ( we hope thats what they got! ) and rushed the sample out the door to whoever was there waiting to test it. First sample was not enough. This is why it is good that the catheter part is in. They dont have to repierce into me because they are already there. By the way, this second time they went in I did feel more than the first time. I could tell that I was more tense and I think that contributed to feeling more of the pain. As I relaxed it became better. OK so they try again and rush that out the door. It is small but enough! No time for anyone to change their mind.... the catheter came right out. I was free to go. I had some very minor minor cramping right after. It maybe lasted a minute. Not a minute long. A minute worth of a twinge here and a twinge there. As they were doing the procedure I could see the baby moving all around. Heartbeat remained fine. Baby was oblivious to all goings on. The needle stays away from the amniotic sac and baby. The placental tissue is all outside the sac. So the only one getting poked was ME! I could walk just fine afterwards. No problems. I wouldn't go skipping or running however. I took it real easy. There is no lifting allowed afterwards either. The rules are to rest. Same ole same ole for me. I have to be on the lookout for signs of infection.... fever etc... I am confident that I will be fine. Now it is the waiting game for results. They will do a preliminary test first. This will tell me PROBABLY boy or girl. If they say BOY then pretty good chance it is indeed boy. However, if they say GIRL it COULD be that they got MY tissue and not the baby's so it was ME that they tested. Final definant results take 10 days. This would also be when they would have definant answers about Down's syndrome etc.. The testing for the CAH will take 3 weeks or more. I hope that helps anyone else thinking about CVS. I would do it again without hesitation. I almost think I prefer CVS over amnio now. I like that the CVS stays away from the amniotic sac and baby. And the earlier time frame of course is much better. Today I am feeling fine... post CVS. I am continuing to take it easy. If I reach or twist a certain way I might get a twinge where they poked me. That's it! Susan