Does amniotic fluid smell full#

To better understand amniotic fluid, it is important to discuss its origin. But in the meantime, the lungs are allowed to grow and their sensitive linings are kept moist by the surrounding amniotic fluid.ĭevelopment of Amniotic Fluid Origin of Amniotic Fluid It will take nine months before the infant can expand its lungs to take its first breath. Fetal respiration bypasses the lungs completely for the entire pregnancy, in favor of diffusing nutrients and gases between the fetus and the mother through the placenta. The liquid itself acts as a barrier between the fetus and its surroundings that effectively cushions the baby from external jolts or blows.Īnother body system that benefits from the aqueous nature of the amniotic sac is the nascent respiratory system, specifically the lungs. Likewise, amniotic fluid envelops the fetus in a homeostatic environment where the temperature is constant and the fetus loses no warmth in the process. Motion is an essential part of the baby’s development as it encourages bone growth of the fetal limbs. The light, amorphous nature of amniotic fluid renders it the ideal medium for fetuses to move in. The importance of amniotic fluid lies in its functions. There are few evolutionary processes as important as successful fetal growth. Like most conserved processes, there has been an evolutionary drive to conserve amniotic fluid in fetal development. Other smells can be the result of infection, and you should consult a doctor if you are concerned about discharge during pregnancy. If discharge smells like urine, it is likely due to this increased pressure. Sometimes, the baby can severely increase the pressure on the bladder, causing some urine leakage. Unlike urine and other vaginal fluids, amniotic fluid has no distinct smell. You should consult a doctor if you are not certain about vaginal emissions during pregnancy. However, if the fluid is not clear it may signify problems with your pregnancy. This pressure increases with more than one baby, and women with twin or triplets are at a higher risk for a premature rupture of membranes. Some leakage may occur during a normal pregnancy, as pressure is exerted on the amniotic membranes.

What Does Amniotic Fluid Look Like?Īmniotic fluid is typically a clear liquid. Amniotic levels are important to maintain, as an overflow or underflow of amniotic fluid can render disease in the infant and/or mother, as discussed below.

Does amniotic fluid smell full#

On the other hand, at full term, or forty weeks of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid stands at around six hundred milliliters.

The highest levels of amniotic fluid are present at the thirty-four-week mark with an average of eight hundred milliliters. Amniotic fluid levels notably fluctuate during pregnancy, as well.