Amniotic fluid (a clear liquid) surrounds the baby whilst it is in the womb.
Protects
Shock absorber
Helps maintain the baby’s temperature
Gives it the space and ability to move around which enables bone development.
The mother’s body makes amniotic fluid all the time although the levels surrounding the baby change constantly as it drinks and then wees. Around the time the baby is ready to be born there is about a litre of amniotic fluid in the uterus.
The majority of amniotic sacs will burst during labour (‘waters breaking’, ‘membrane rupture’) because of pressure from the baby’s head and the cervix.
However, it is not medically necessary for waters to break in order for a baby to be born, some babies are born with the amniotic sac intact – known as being born in the caul.
Gives it the space and ability to move around which enables bone development.
The mother’s body makes amniotic fluid all the time although the levels surrounding the baby change constantly as it drinks and then wees. Around the time the baby is ready to be born there is about a litre of amniotic fluid in the uterus.
The majority of amniotic sacs will burst during labour (‘waters breaking’, ‘membrane rupture’) because of pressure from the baby’s head and the cervix.
However, it is not medically necessary for waters to break in order for a baby to be born, some babies are born with the amniotic sac intact – known as being born in the caul.