Importance Of Amniotic Fluid During Pregnancy

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In your womb, your baby gets his or her
all-essential nutrients and oxygen from the
placenta and the umbilical cord. However, the
amniotic sac and fluid can keep your baby
cushioned and absolutely safe.
Do You Know What Else the Amniotic Fluid Does
During Pregnancy?
Your little one in the womb grows in the amniotic
sac, which is a bag of two membranes known as the
amnion and chorion. This sac forms 12 days after
you become pregnant. The maternal plasma produces
the fluid and passes it on to the foetal
membranes. In fact, the amniotic fluid around the
baby during pregnancy has many important roles to
play

• Protects the Foetus

Amniotic fluid cushions and protects the
developing baby inside your womb from external
pressures or movement on the abdomen.
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• Keeps the Temperature Under Control

The amniotic fluid during pregnancy works as a
heatproof for the baby cuddled up inside you and
keeps the temperature warm.

• Helps In Muscle and Bone Development

As your developing baby swims around in the womb,
the amniotic fluid helps in the bone and muscle
development of the foetus.

• Helps In the Development of Foetal Digestive Tract

Your baby develops on a weekly basis. By 5th week
the babys digestive tube starts forming, and by
the 13th week, your little one swallows the
fluid. Well in the 13th week only, the meconium
develops in the gut. The meconium is the first
bowel movement inside the womb, thus proving that
foetal digestive system is developing.
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• Helps In the Development of Foetal Lung
  Development

The baby in your womb breathes, pushes the air
sacs open and stimulates its growth. In fact from
the 16th to 24th week of your pregnancy, the life
youre nurturing inside goes through the phase of
lung development.

• Supports the Umbilical Cord

While the umbilical cord helps the baby to grow,
the amniotic fluid protects the umbilical cord,
by providing a cushion between the baby and the
cord and preventing it from getting squeezed.
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What Is the Amniotic Fluid Index In Pregnancy?

• The normal index of the amniotic fluid is 5cm to
  25cm. Anything less than 5cm is believed to be
  low amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios). anything
  more than 25cm is believed to be
  (polyhydramnios).
• A study conducted on 50 healthy women and
  according to the study, the amniotic fluid index
  (AFI) measured in cms. It was thus concluded
  that
• At 34 W 14.59 (1.79)
• At 35 W 14.25 (1.57)
• At 36 W 13.17 (1.56)
• At 37 W 12.48 (1.52)
• At 38 W 12.2 (1.7)
• At 39 W 11.37 (1.71)

At around the 35th and 36th week of your
pregnancy, the level of the amniotic fluid is the
highest. During that time, the fluid is around 1
quart. However, once that period is over, your
doctor might observe signs of low levels of
amniotic fluid.
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What Are the Causes and Signs of Low Amniotic
Fluid in Pregnancy?

• Factors like the puncture of the amniotic sac,
  placental complications, pregnancy
  hypertension, diabetes in pregnancy are some of
  the factors that can give rise to low amniotic
  fluid in pregnancy. In fact, the symptoms of low
  amniotic fluid are
• Youre not gaining the appropriate weight 
• The uterus is small in size 
• Your baby is not moving enough 
• Youre leaking fluid through the vagina 

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What Are the Risks of Experiencing a Low Amniotic
Fluid in Pregnancy? 
If youre diagnosed with low amniotic fluid
during the early stage of your pregnancy, the
foetal organs might be compressed giving rise to
birth defects and there might be an increased
chance of miscarriage or stillbirth. However, if
youre diagnosed with low amniotic fluid in the
second half of your pregnancy, you might develop
complications like 

• Preterm birth
• Intrauterine Growth Restriction 
• Cord Compression 
• Meconium-stained fluid and 
• Caesarean delivery

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Are There Ways to Treat Low Amniotic Fluid in
Pregnancy?
Well! The assessment of low levels of amniotic
fluid depends upon the gestational age. If by
chance, youre not full-term, your healthcare
practitioner will monitor you very closely and
make you undergo tests like non-stress and
contraction stress tests. However, if, by chance,
youre about to complete full-term, there are
several natural and medical ways to increase the
amniotic fluid.

• Drinking Plenty of Water

During pregnancy, staying hydrated creates a lot
of difference. In fact, drinking water can
increase the levels of amniotic fluid between the
37th and 41st weeks of your pregnancy.
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• Consume These Fruits and Food to Increase the
  Amniotic Fluid

Have veggies like cucumber (96.7 water),
cauliflower (92.1 water), spinach (91.4 water)
and fruits like watermelon (91.5 water),
grapefruit (90.5 water) and tomatoes (94.5).

• Do Light Exercise

Just give 30 to 45 minutes to yourself, and
include some light exercises in your pregnancy
regime, for instance, brisk walking, swimming,
etc. 
Dont forget your prenatal check-ups. After all,
low amniotic fluids can be either mild or
severe. Along with this, if you want any more
information on pregnancy, postparturm, babycare,
and the benefits of cord blood banking, follow
our blog page.
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