Amniotic Fluid What roles does the amniotic fluid play in pregnancy?

When a woman becomes pregnant, an amiotic sac forms to hold the baby. Inside of the amniotic sac is amniotic fluid that the fetus will float around in until birth. Amniotic fluid has a slightly yellowish color and is liquid. At first, the mother's body will produce the amniotic fluid but eventually the baby will make it by swallowing the fluid and urinating into the sac. As your baby grows, the amount of amniotic fluid will increase.

Amniotic fluid is critical for a healthy pregnancy. Not only does the amniotic fluid provide a safe area for your baby to grow for 40 weeks, it also keeps the baby's environment a steady temperature to prevent heat loss. The amniotic fluid also allows your baby to move and develop properly. Because the baby can inhale and exhale into the amniotic fluid, it helps promote respiratory development and "practice breathing".

The amniotic fluid can tell doctors alot about your developing baby. Doctors are able to diagnose and confirm most birth defects, gender and check fetal lung development. If a doctor needs a sample of the amniotic fluid, he will suggest an amniocentesis. During an amniocentesis the doctor inserts a needle into the amniotic sac via ultrasound guidance to withdraw a small amount of fluid to be screened.

Comments: Amniotic Fluid

Comments 1 to 24 of about 50.
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hanna - 7 days ago.
PLEASE HELP ME, It's been a week where there is a small gush of water that comes out , im sure its not urine because there is some white thick stuff on top of it ?? what could it be please im 24 weeks pregnant

ymiser24 - 15 days ago.
Connor - I had that same issue with my last pregnancy. I ended up being put on bed rest. My fluid was supposed to be 10 cm and it was 4 cm. I did not get back to 10 cm until I was 36 weeks by then I was not returning to work. It is a good thing because the next week it was 3.5 again. So that is when they induced me because she had no fluid around her and they did not want her to go into distress.

jazzy - 25 days ago.
no orinary it wasnt sweat

OrdinaryMiracle - 30 days ago.
Jazzy - I have night sweats from the high hormone levels (preview for menopause!) and I sweat so much my whole bed gets wet. Could it be that?

jazzy - 30 days ago.
hey everyone i have a question,i woke up lastnight my bed was wet this the second time this happen,the first time this happen i went to the hospital bcuz i thought it maybe my water breaking,but they this the test to see,of course it came back and she said it wasnt.so i confused to what this fluid is.i smell it and it didnt smell like pee but it was yellow

aine - 35 days ago.
hey everyone i was on earlier about my baby bein breech well more drama...............i was sittin down and i had a gush about an hour and a half ago at 1130pm i am cramping but i think its more nerves!!...i phoned the hospital and they said to put on a pad and phone back if there is any more, sorry if tmi....but im just really damp and i have lost more of my mucus plug but no more dripping or gushing..........i am a wreck at the min , i just need to calm down sorry had to vent thanks everyone....good luck 2 u all xxx

tracey - 47 days ago.
I went Friday to have an amnio. I am 40 and one of the pre screen test came back a tad lower than they like. Added with my age, they suggested I have an amnio. After weeks of fear and anxiety I went in for the dreaded test. Oh I should mention, I lost my last child, Jake to SIDS. This added to my fear of losing this baby, a gift from GOD! Before the test, I met with the genetic counselor. I told her my fears of losing this baby not only to the procedure itself, but to learn this baby could have Tre somme 13 or 18 (meaning the pregnancy would be terminated) was overwhelming. I was escorted into the ultra sound room where the amnio would be performed. After about 1/2 hour of ultra sounding, the DR came in. She began the amnio. The first needle was unsuccessful at drawing out any fluid. They tried it again...still no fluid. The second attempt was very painful, much more than the first. The DR was still unable to retrieve any fluid. They want me to come back in two weeks to try this again. Has anyone had this happen to them? I am at my wits end. I am torn on wether I want to do this again, or let what will be, be. The reasons the DR gave me for the failed attempts were, my cervix is small, the baby was hiding in a place where they needed to get at, and my uteran wall kept contracting. Thats why the pain was so increased on the second attempt. Any suggestions?

aine - 57 days ago.
I asked the midwife to check that my waters hadnt gone so she done a swab ( im sorry if this is tmi but)..she hardly insertd the swab at all then she said to me if it turns at all black thEn they have gone...so she toOk it out and it was 1/2 black so i thought...oh my god i knew i was right!!...but then she said to me what do u think?? and i said ..well u told me if it went at all black they had gone!, so i think yeah ..well after about 5 mins of effing and ahhing she asked me again(like im the expert!!) and then she said no i dont think they have !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ARRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH !!Has his happened to anyone else ??

*Jess* - 63 days ago.
I went to the Doc and i was 26 weeks and 2 days but he said i was measuring like i was 34 weeks. i have only gained 12 ilbs since i have become pregnant. they done an ultrasound at 9 weeks and 20 weeks and they say my due date is right june 10 maybe a acouple days earlier but they said they wouldn't change it. He said i could have extra fluid or she may be just a big baby. Has anyone else experienced this or heard of it i would love to know i am just so scared she may come early. they are suppose to do another ultra sound here soon to see what is causeing me to get so big so fast.

connor - 65 days ago.
Hi everyone well i have had problems with my amniotic fluid since i was 25 weeks pregnant and now im 33 weeks pregnant and drinking a gallon of water a day is helping with the fluids to stay up so anyone who is having trouble drink a gallon of water a day and you should be fine. i have 6 more weeks left of my pregnancy so hope you guys do good.

Stephane - 66 days ago.
Can any one help me?I am 37 weeks now. I am diagonised with polyhydramnios (AFI is 24.5 cm in my last scan).Doctor advised me to do c-section on day-after-tomorrow.Is it neccessary do we need to go for planned delivery if we have polyhydrmnios?

aine - 67 days ago.
how do u know if your leakin fluid ???....not sure but after sittin down i can feel a (ever so slight ) trickle!! my pads (sorry tmi) will be damp i coulnt not wear them..is this normal i cant remember..........sorry.........im 34 weeks.

laurieandbaby - 69 days ago.
I had another u/s at 22 weeks 5 days, and my fluid levels are back to normal!

kimmys312 - 70 days ago.
i'm not sure if i'm leaking or if it's urine...how do i tell the difference?

Heather-08-01 - 74 days ago.
Hi everyone, I know I'm just a worrier, but if you wouldn't mind would some of you stop by and look at my latest u/s images - I think I look like I have low fluid levels - although nothing was mentioned about it - it would make me feel a lot better if some of you would tell me what you think. Right now I'm drinking copious amounts of water just in case...

laurieandbaby - 77 days ago.
I had my u/s yesterday at 21 wks 5 days and was told my amnio fluid levels are on the low end of normal. I had 2 pelvic exams yesterday to check for leakage. I'm scheduled for another u/s next week to check fluid levels. I am so worried.

bnts1993 - 78 days ago.
I am 33 weeks along and I notice yesterday a whitish discharge not clumpy or anything it was just white discharge so I wasnt sure if that was my mucus plug or something and I had more braxton hicks than usual. Then today the braxton hicks are 3-4 per hour but are speratic and this afternoon I noticed my underwear are really wet, more wet then usual and it had like a cleaning agent smell to it, I called my doctor and was transferred to a voice mail so I left a message but no one returned my call so I wasn't sure if I just wet myself or I have a slow leak in amniotic fluid and wasn't sure if I should call Labor and Delivery if it is me just being perinoid.

baybe32 - 79 days ago.
LoveAtFirstBump you're fine, that's totally normal, in fact at the top of this forum for Amniotic fluid it even states that the color is slightly yellowish.

LoveAtFirstBump - 79 days ago.
Hello ladies. I had an amniocentesis the other day and my amniotic fluid was yellow. It looked like urine. I’m 22 weeks pregnant. I thought amniotic fluid was supposed to be clear. Could there be something wrong?

njstewy - 80 days ago.
I've been told from my doctor that I need to start drink 80oz of water a day due to low fluid. .I guess I'm below the 5th percenital. .has anyone else have this? If so what did they do?

keri282008 - 93 days ago.
I went to the doc and had an u/sound done as well as measurments I am measuring 2cm off, I am 35 weeks now, but measuring 33 weeks. They said my fluid levels are low she said they are an 8. Is this something to be concerned about, they said if they got lower that they would induce, i just hope my baby girl will be ok. I am 2cm, fully effaced, i have been feeling wetness down their but they tested it and it wasn't fluid they said. Just wanted to know if you girls knew if 8 was considered ok! They will do another u/s on monday so we will see if it has dropped any lower.

firsttimeprego - 94 days ago.
Well, it sounds like most of us are enjoying the pressure of 'baby on bladder'! =D I'm sure even a slow leak of amniotic fluid will be unmistakeable for most of us, even first timers-like myself. I wouldn't get too worked about it..I think 98% of us are just experiencing Potty Pants..haha I'm 38 weeks and the past few days I've been almost constantly damp, thankfully I'm fully stocked up on lightday pads. =) I've gone through several today.. I'm also losing my mucus plug--that's a treat! We preggers just go through it all, don't we?! I could go to the bathroom every five minutes, I just don't feel like getting up everytime, so I hold it for a while..that way I can ACTUALLY urinate--that trickle is annoying for all the work it takes to get up and walk to the bathroom! I have the joy of feeling damp every time I move around now, I can THINK about peeing and there it comes! I just hope breastfeeding happens this easily.. =P Good luck with your pregnancies and deliveries!!

jamesmom - 94 days ago.
im not sure if im leaking any fluids or not. every time i stand up or walk around my house at all i have a gush of liquid. i dont think its urine but im not sure because with my first child they have to rupture the membranes for me. im having very mild irregular contractions and now im just confused. if anyone has any insight please write me on my page

PinkMuma - 96 days ago.
Hey guys, i think my waters are either leaking or is amniotic fluid. its been dripping steadly for a few days and every morning when i sit up it gushes/pours out. Any ideas on what i should do?

17mommy - 104 days ago.
usually if you think you are leaking fluids you can ask your doctor and they will do a strip test its easy and fast but i don't think there is one you can do at home.


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