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Amniotic fluid surrounds and protects the developing fetus, providing nutrition, insulation, and encouraging healthy development. It is initially provided by the mother but is later mostly of fetal origin. The fluid is important for the development of healthy lungs, digestive systems, and muscles. Disorders involving too little or too much fluid can lead to developmental problems and require close attention.
Amniotic fluid is fluid that surrounds a developing embryo to provide nutrition, insulate the embryo from shock, and encourage healthy fetal development. Humans often know it as a symptom of labor because the membranes that hold fluid usually rupture during labor, in a phenomenon people call “water breaking.” When a woman’s water breaks, it means the baby is on the right track.
12 days after conception, the amniotic sac, also known as the amnion, begins to form. This sac protects the developing fetus and slowly fills with amniotic fluid and swells as the fetus grows. Initially, the mother’s body provides the source of fluid, but over time much of the fluid is of fetal origin. At the end of pregnancy, much of the fluid is in fact urine generated by the developing fetus.
In the early stages, the amniotic fluid is clear and provides vital nutrition to the fetus as it develops. Over time, it fills with skin cells from the fetus, along with free-floating stem cells. These cells can be extracted in an amniocentesis to obtain information about the development of the fetus. By the 34th week of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid has reached its maximum level and will begin to decrease in the last weeks of pregnancy.
This liquid is similar to seawater in terms of chemical composition and plays a number of important roles. In the second trimester, the developing fetus drinks and breathes amniotic fluid, which contributes to the development of healthy lungs and digestive systems. The fluid also gives the fetus room to move, allowing it to develop a healthy skeleton and strong muscles. As an interesting side note, fluids conduct sound very well, so the fluid acts like a giant amplifier, allowing the developing fetus to hear the sounds of its mother’s body along with the outside world.
Two disorders involve the amniotic fluid. In oligohydramnios, there isn’t enough fluid and the fetus can develop a variety of developmental problems, including clubfeet. There is too much fluid in polyhydramnios. These conditions are usually diagnosed with the use of an ultrasound and the prognosis varies depending on the circumstances. As a general rule, both conditions deserve close attention so that problems with the fetus can be identified and addressed early on.
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