Aren't they in a bag full of water ? How can they breathe ?
2006-10-01 11:25:45 · 13 answers · asked by HahaIWin 1 in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
Oxygen goes in through the umbilical cord from the mother. The baby's lungs are not working to breathe air until it is out of the womb. The air the mother breathes in goes to her lungs, into her bloodstream, then "leaks" across the placenta and umbilical cord into the baby's blood via the belly button, where the cord attaches to a vein going into the baby. The oxygen then goes around the baby's body in its blood, and it "breathes out" by sending its carbon dioxide/"used air" by return pathway back out the belly button and cord, into the mom's blood, and then she breathes it out.
This is one important reason why pregnant women shouldn't smoke -- this air exchange process is important, and complex enough in a normal pregnancy. OXYGEN IS VITAL TO THE BRAIN AND TO LIFE IN GENERAL. You don't want to take extra risk about whether your baby is getting enough oxygen! Low weight babies, who tend to be sicker, can be born to moms who smoke.
P.S. Babies DO have lungs quite early in fetal development, they just aren't needed in utero.
2006-10-01 11:32:43 · answer #1 · answered by catintrepid 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
We breathe to get oxygen to keep our bodies alive. The oxygen is circulated by blood. The baby shares the mother's oxygen rich blood, so it does not need to breath until the umbilical cord is severed.
2006-10-01 12:24:23 · answer #2 · answered by angie_xiaomao 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't breathe. They recieve oxygen through the ambilical cord and their mothers blood. The mother breathes for them. That is why when a baby cries at birth its a good sign. It's his first breathes of air.
2006-10-01 11:28:48 · answer #3 · answered by Homeless in Phoenix 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do not receive oxygen in their lungs. They are attached to a placenta by an umbilical cord. This system transports air and nutrients to the developing baby.
2006-10-01 11:48:28 · answer #4 · answered by ValleyViolet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Through the umbilical cord, I believe. The umbilical cord is the only connection between the baby and mother.
2006-10-01 11:26:51 · answer #5 · answered by nice_boobs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They breath the fluid. Watch the Abyss. There is a good scene in there right before he goes under into the abyss.
2006-10-01 11:27:46 · answer #6 · answered by j.tech_77 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they dont "breathe" in there.
they get the oxygen they nead from thier mother through the umbilical cord.
thier lungs dont work until right at the very end anyway...they are the last thing to "finish cooking"....
2006-10-01 11:34:36 · answer #7 · answered by Melis__A 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Baby's dont breath in the womb.They dont have lungs until later in the pregnancy.And yes they are in a bad of "water" (amuotic fluid).
2006-10-01 11:29:12 · answer #8 · answered by FLORIDA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A fetus does not need its lungs to breathe, because the placenta performs this function. Hope this helps you out .......Flo
2006-10-01 11:31:23 · answer #9 · answered by flo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They get oxygen and everything they need from the Umbilical cord.
2006-10-01 11:27:01 · answer #10 · answered by Fleur de Lis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋