2006-09-09 20:47:13 · 18 answers · asked by m4zzo 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Unborn babies--fetuses don't acquire oxygen through the use of their lungs, but through the mother's bloodstream which is fed to them via the umbilical cord (along with other vital nutrients required for growth). Fetuses do "breathe" in the amniotic fluid while in utero, however it doesn't provide oxygen but instead is used to "practice the act of breathing" and strengthen the intercostal muscles.
Fetuses actually do "eat" while inutero too, but not the kind of food you are thinking of...they eat their shedded lanugo (which is downy like hair that covers the fetus at an early gestational period) and vernix caseosa ("cheese" like coating covering the baby to aid in lubrication during birthing--the white stuff they are covered in)...sometimes they will have a bowel movement while still in the amniotic sac!
Fetuses will also urinate small amounts as well while in utero.
Hope I cleared things up!
2006-09-09 20:59:48 · answer #1 · answered by ♥austingirl♥ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How Do Unborn Babies Breath
2017-01-15 04:54:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although as adults we breathe and use our lungs to replenish our blood with oxygen, fetuses, do not use their lungs until after birth, when they take their first breath and their lungs expand and fill with air. While in the mothers womb, or uterus, the fetus's lungs are not functional. So that means that do not breath, and you might now ask, how do they receive oxygen to survive? They receive oxygenated blood via the umbilical cord (umbilical vein I believe). Its also interesting to note that since the lungs are nonfuctional, most blood that the fetus receives through umbilical circulation is shunted away from the developing lungs.
Most exchange of material in a fetus occurs in the placenta, which pretty much surrounds the fetus and amnion (the fluid that surrounds the fetus). At the placenta oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other nutrients, and wastes are exchanged through the process of diffusion. Maternal and fetal blood do not mix at the placenta.
Hope this helps!
2006-09-09 21:01:25 · answer #3 · answered by thejollibengali 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fetus receives its nutrients and oxygen in the blood via the umbilical cord. It also breathes the amniotic fluid, but that is to exercise the diaphram, not to obtain oxygen.
2006-09-09 20:58:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, the reason we breathe is because we need to get oxygen into our blood. While a baby in the amniotic fluid can't breathe, it does recieve oxygenated blood from the mother through the placenta.
2006-09-09 20:50:07 · answer #5 · answered by Amanda 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
They don't breathe through their mouth and nose. They get oxygen through the umbilical cord. They don't take their actual "first breath" until they hit air. (that's also how they can be born in tubs)
2006-09-09 20:49:32 · answer #6 · answered by teeniey37 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fetuses don't breathe. They get their oxygen via the umbilical cord.
2006-09-09 20:50:09 · answer #7 · answered by IVF Expert 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
babies do not breath while they are in a womans belly, they dont breath for the 1st time until they hit air for the 1st time.
2006-09-09 20:55:34 · answer #8 · answered by Sugarpulm 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The oxygen is delivered through the blood. But they get hic-ups a lot. Explain that one.
2006-09-09 20:53:26 · answer #9 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They dont need to breathe. They get nutrients viz umbilical cord.
2006-09-09 20:50:16 · answer #10 · answered by ipodipod 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋