Amniotic Fluid In Pregnancy

Amniotic Fluid In Pregnancy
Normal amounts may vary, but, generally, women carry about 500 ml of amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid is an important part of pregnancy and fetal development. This watery fluid is inside a casing called the amniotic membrane (or sac) and fluid surrounds the fetus throughout pregnancy. Amniotic fluid helps protect and cushion the fetus and plays an important role in the development of many of the fetal organs including the lungs, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.

Fluid is produced by the fetal lungs and kidneys. It is taken up with fetal swallowing and sent across the placenta to the mother's circulation. Amniotic fluid problems occur in about 7 percent of pregnancies. Too much or too little amniotic fluid is associated with abnormalities in development and pregnancy complications. Differences in the amount of fluid may be the cause or the result of the problem

Amniotic fluid is essential for proper fetal development and provides your baby with protection and buoyancy In pregnancy, your body produces an increasing amount of amniotic fluid until about 28 to 32 weeks, at which time you have about one quart. You maintain this level of fluid until 38 to 40 weeks, when your baby is considered full-term and the fluid level normally begins to decrease.

The effect of oligohydramnios on the baby depends on the cause, the stage of pregnancy during which it occurs, and how little fluid there is. If it occurs in the first half of the pregnancy, oligohydramnios can cause fetal abnormalities of the lungs and limbs, poor fetal growth, and increases the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth and stillbirth. Your baby "breathes" the fluid into its lungs and swallows it, promoting healthy growth of his or her lungs and gastrointestinal tract.

Too little fluid for a prolonged period may cause abnormal or incomplete lung development, called pulmonary hypoplasia. The amniotic fluid also promotes normal development of muscle and bone by allowing your baby to move around within the uterus It may also cause your baby to breathe in thick meconium (your baby's first bowel movement) during or shortly after birth. The inhaled meconium can irritate and partially or completely block your baby's airways, making it difficult for her to breathe