Do babies breath in utero?

Question

I am 26 weeks and look at different websites to see what is developing with our baby. A couple have said that babies actually breath the amniotic fluid to get the response to involuntarily breath once they are born and to work the lungs. Is this true has anyone heard this before.

Answer 1

Does a fetus breathe at all inside the mom or does it take its first breath when it is born?

This is a great question--with a two-part answer. Starting in the third trimester, the fetus does make the motions of breathing, and in this way moves amniotic fluid in and out of her lungs. This activity can sometimes be seen on ultrasound examination. The flow of amniotic fluid into the lungs is believed to be important in fetal lung development.

Before birth, these breathing movements have nothing to do with getting oxygen. The fetus gets her oxygen from her mother, through the placenta and umbilical cord. True breathing begins just after birth, as the fetus turns into a baby and takes her first breath of air.

Answer 2

Yes, they do. They breathe the amniotic fluid in and out; it's said to be "practice" for their lungs for after they are born. It's a reflex, and since the lungs aren't needed to get air in utero (thats from the umbilical cord, of course), there's no harm from the fluid at all.

The only potential problem can be near birth, when some babies pass a bit of meconium; it's a "stool" that comes from cells the baby has swallowed (it swallows the fluid as well as breathing it while in utero). If the meconium is "inhaled," it can cause lung problems. However, this is quite rare, and not something to worry about.

Answer 3

The baby in utero the baby doesn't breath. The blood which gets oxygenated from the mother's blood bypasses the lungs.
When the baby is born the fist breath changes the direct of the blood. And fills the lungs with air. Once in the outer world the baby's lungs have to function to get oxygen to the blood. It is truly a miracle.

Answer 4

Yes its true that's how they build strength in their lung muscles. They also swallow the amniotic fluid, and the amniotic fluid changes flavour depending on what mom eats, babies will swallow more if it is something they like the taste of.

Answer 5

Babies get oxygen through the umbilical cord until the cord is cut then they take their first breath after they clean out the throat. When you hear a baby cry that is a good thing because they have taken their first real breath. The do drink in the fluid but they don't breathe it in.

Answer 6

Yes, it is true. It gets the babies lungs used to the inhale and exhale motions, and primes the little muscles for breathing. Pretty cool, huh? That's also why they have to suction goop out of their noses and mouths when they are born! :0) God bless you and the little one!

Answer 7

Yes actually they do *breath* in the uterus, it helps them practice for the big day when there born :) You know all that gunk that's in a baby's throat when there born? That's the stuff they were *breathing* in when they were in the uterus.
Congrats!

Answer 8

No. they dont breathe in utero. They get the oxygen and nutrients from the amniotic fluids. That couple was right.

Answer 9

yep they do, they are practicing for life outside the womb, just wait till your baby gets hiccups! God bless.

Answer 10

yes they do it helps them learn to breath when you give birth!!! Thats what they suck out of there nose and throat then they can take there first real breath!!!