Amniotic fluid is just as essential during pregnancy as its more talked-about companions, the placenta and umbilical cord. Amniotic fluid changes its make-up throughout gestation, going from being mostly water and electrolytes to containing proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates to help the fetus develop. It also shields the fetus from shocks, regulates its temperature, and prevents its limbs from fusing together!
What happens when there are problems with the amniotic fluid, and what could actually happen? Let's take a look: Low amniotic fluid or oligohydramnios means there isn't enough of the stuff, as you guessed. It can lead to lung and limb defects, including compressed lungs, and puts the baby at risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth. Too much amniotic fluid, or polyhydramnios, can cause umbilical cord prolapse (where the cord is born before the baby, resulting in a lack of oxygen), and makes the membranes more vulnerable to rupture before they should. Polyhydramnios is often connected to an existing birth defect in a baby, or maternal conditions like gestational diabetes. An amniotic fluid embolism has got to be the winner when it comes to terrible problems with amniotic fluid.
Thankfully, it's extremely rare but that also means that medical experts do not understand it very well. In an amniotic fluid embolism, amniotic fluid goes through the placenta into the mother's blood stream. It can reach the mother's lungs, where it can lead to breathing difficulties and even death. Meconium in the amniotic fluid can also lead to complications. Meconium is a baby's first stool, which is normally passed after birth. When a baby is in distress, either during labor or even before it, the baby can pass meconium into the amniotic fluid. Meconium aspiration syndrome, where the baby "breathes" in the meconium-stained liquor, can cause serious breathing problems.
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