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Amniotic Fluid
Amniotic fluid is the name for the liquid that surrounds the baby in the amniotic sac during pregnancy. This yellow-tinged clear fluid cushions and protects the baby, allows the baby space to grow and to move around easily, keeps the bany at a relatively constant temperature and helps protect the baby from infection.
By the end of pregnancy, there can be between a half and one a half litres of amniotic fluid in the amniotic sac.
It is normal for the amniotic sac to break during labour (this is called ‘waters breaking’). When this happens, the amniotic fluid will begin to trickle out or flow out in a rush.
If, as can sometimes happen, the amniotic sac breaks prematurely, then most women will go into labour within 24 hours. However, some women can continue with the pregnancy for weeks as the amniotic fluid that is being lost is constantly being replaced. During this situation, it is important to monitor for infection.
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