Dorothy FarrarAmniotic fluid
Doctors refer to the clear, watery liquid found in the amniotic cavity (amniotic sac) as amniotic fluid . The amniotic fluid and the amniotic sac are parts of the tissue of the embryo.
Definition
Anatomy
In the first few weeks of pregnancy , the amniotic sac begins to form. The amniotic sac fuses with the chorionic cavity in the third month. The chorion, which is part of the placenta , is connected to the umbilical cord so that exchanges with the mother can occur. The amniotic sac itself is strong but relatively thin. The amniotic fluid and the amniotic sac are medically part of the tissue of the unborn child. In the amniotic fluid are, among other things, urea, proteins , water , glucoseas well as lactate, sodium, fetal epithelial cells as well as potassium. The unborn child drinks the amniotic fluid from the 14th week of pregnancy. The amount is around three liters per day.
If the amniotic fluid is used up, an immediate renewal takes place. In the last few weeks of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid is exchanged every three hours. This exchange takes place via the urinary tract as soon as the unborn child shows kidney activity. The amniotic fluid is absorbed through the child’s intestines , transported to the placenta and then enters the mother’s bloodstream.
On average, the amount of amniotic fluid is two liters; if there are any deviations, there may be a malformation in the unborn child or an illness in the mother. The color of the amniotic fluid is determined to be milky to yellowish.
Function
The amniotic fluid serves as a kind of shock absorber so that the mother is not permanently injured by the unborn child floating weightlessly. As a result, the amniotic fluid also ensures that the child has enough space, can move around extensively and can develop unhindered. The embryo needs the amniotic fluid to guarantee healthy and unimpaired development.
However, the amniotic fluid not only protects the mother, but also protects the unborn child at the same time. In this way, any violent effects such as a bump or a blow can be dampened. Furthermore, the amniotic fluid forms a very good protection against any high or low temperatures.
The amniotic fluid, which is already formed in the fourth week of pregnancy, also prevents adhesion with the embryo and the amniotic sac. Furthermore, the amniotic sac also supports the beginning of labor, as the cervical canal widens and is thus supported like a wedge. The fetus begins to drink the amniotic fluid from the twelfth week. The digestive system and the lungs of the unborn child are trained by absorbing the amniotic fluid .
Diseases
- Polyhydramnion
- Oligoamnion
- amniotic fluid embolism
The amniotic fluid serves as an indicator of the health of the unborn child. Around 30 milliliters of amniotic fluid should be measured in the 10th week of pregnancy, around 350 milliliters in the 20th week of pregnancy and 1,000 milliliters from the 30th week of pregnancy. If there is an increase, the doctor speaks of a polyhydramnios; in a reduction of an oligoamnion.
If there is too little amniotic fluid, any malformations can occur. By means of an amniotic fluid test, the doctor can examine and, if necessary, confirm any hereditary diseases or chromosomal abnormalities. The amniotic fluid sample is taken from the mother’s abdominal wall.
If, for example, amniotic fluid enters the circulatory system of the expectant mother, an amniotic fluid embolism can subsequently develop. If the mother suffers an infection from [[toxoplasmosis], this is passed on to the amniotic fluid, so that the health of the child must be assumed to be damaged.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.