Health Library
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Thomson DrugNotes
- Wellness Tools
- In-Depth Reports
- Pregnancy Center
- Care Guides
- Spanish Surgery and Procedures
- Thomson DrugNotes Spanish
- Spanish Pregnancy Center
- Health Illustrated Encyclopedia
- Spanish Health Illustrated Encyclopedia
- Surgery and Procedures
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Amniotic fluid
Basic
Alternative Names
Visual Reference
References
Ross MG, Ervin MG, Novak D. Fetal physiology. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2007:chap 2.
Gilbert WM. Amniotic fluid disorders. In: Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL, eds. Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2007:chap 31.
Cunnigham FG, Leveno KL, Bloom SL, et al . Fetal growth and development. In: Cunnigham FG, Leveno KL, Bloom SL, et al, eds. Williams Obstetrics. 22nd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2005:chap 4.
Overview
Definition
Amniotic fluid is a clear, slightly yellowish liquid that surrounds the unborn baby (fetus) during pregnancy. It is contained in the amniotic sac.
Information
While in the womb, the baby floats in the amniotic fluid. The amount of amniotic fluid is greatest at about 34 weeks (gestation ) into the pregnancy, when it averages 800 mL. Approximately 600 mL of amniotic fluid surrounds the baby at full term (40 weeks gestation).
The amniotic fluid constantly moves (circulates) as the baby swallows and "inhales" the fluid, and then releases, or "exhales," the fluid through urine.
The amniotic fluid helps:
- The developing baby to move in the womb, which allows for proper bone growth
- The lungs to develop properly
- Keep a relatively constant temperature around the baby, protecting from heat loss
- Protect the baby from outside injury by cushioning sudden blows or movements
An excessive amount of amniotic fluid is called polyhydramnios . This condition can occur with multiple pregnancy (twins or triplets), congenital anomalies (problems that exist when the baby is born), or gestational diabetes .
An abnormally small amount of amniotic fluid is known as oligohydramnios. This condition may occur with late pregnancies, ruptured membranes, placental dysfunction , or fetal abnormalities.
Abnormal amounts of amniotic fluid may cause the health care provider to watch the pregnancy more carefully. Removal of a sample of the fluid, through amniocentesis , can provide information about the sex, health, and development of the fetus.
Review Date: 2009-09-02
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Keywords: ,care, provider, problems, small, loss, develop, abnormal, around, disorders, known, while, information, new, injury, urine, lungs, term, then, excessive, bone, keep, helps, temperature, sample, slightly, diabetes, move, 2005, 800, provide, congenital, amounts, removal, developing, properly, multiple, proper, clear, sudden, full, health, outside, york, abnormalities, movements, protect, carefully, allows, hill, sex, mcgraw, liquid, philadelphia, born, late, heat, abnormally, moves, elsevier, approximately, 2007, watch, williams, relatively, dysfunction, membranes, condition, normal, swallows, constant, occur, sac, releases, unborn, exist, ruptured, gestational, anomalies, constantly, 22nd, twins, greatest, amniocentesis, protecting, yellowish, ross, physiology, problem, weeks, triplets, contained, placental, chap, 600, polyhydramnios, gilbert, blows, inhales, eds, circulates, cushioning
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only--they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2010 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
