Chapter 12 Amniotic Fluid Flashcards
Liquid product of fetal metabolism
Amniotic fluid
Amniotic fluid is present in the
Amnion
Membrane that surrounds the fetus
Amnion
What is the purpose of the sac (5)
- Provides a protective cushion
- allows fetal movement
- stabilizes the temperature to protect fetus from extreme temperature changes
- permits proper lung development
- allows for exchange of water and chemicals
What is tested to determine if C-section can be performed
Lung development
Label
Reasons one might have an amniocentesis performed at 14-18 weeks (5)
- Being 35 or older; risk of birth defects/Down syndrome
- having a previous child or pregnancy with a birth defect
- abnormal blood triple or quadruple screening (AFP)
- family history of genetic disorders (cystic fibrosis, tay-sachs, sickle cell, hemophilia, Huntington chorea, muscular dystrophy)
- > 3 miscarriages
Reasons one might have an amniocentesis performed past 20 weeks (2)
- Fetal lung maturity
- fetal distress: HDN or infection
How is amniotic fluid formed
First produced by amnion and placenta. Then fetus plays active role to balance composition and production
Mechanism involved with balancing amniotic fluid (4)
- Intestinal absorption following fetal swallowing of fluid
- Capillary exchange in pulmonary system as alveoli of fetal lungs develop
- water and electrolytes removed and replaced by products of fetal urination
- maternal exchange remove waste products and adds water, nutrients and electrolytes
Variation of what 3 things indicate fetal distress
Fetal urine, lung fluid, and maternal circulation
During first thmester approx. 35mL of amniotic fluid is derived from
Maternal circulation
At 37 weeks ammotle fluid peak at 800 to 1200mL. Increased urine is regulated by
Fetal swallowing
Lung fluid adds what to amniotic fluid to measure lung maturity
Lung surfactants
Excess amniotic fluid from failure of fetus to swallow >1200 mL
Polyhydramnios
Polyhydramnios cause
Neural tube disorders, structural/chromosomal abnormalities, cardiac arrhythmias, infections
Decreased amniotic fluid from increased fetal swallowing, membrane leakage <800 mL
Oligohydramnios
Oligohydrammos causes
Umbilical cord compression
Amniotic fluid composition
Similar to maternal plasma with sloughed fetal cells
Amniotic fluid contains biochemical substances produced by fetus such as (9)
Bilinibin, lipids, enzymes, electrolytes, urea, creatinine, uric acid, proteins, hormones
Fetal urine increases (3)
Creatinine, urea, uric acid
Fetal age can be estimated by
Creatinine