If humans spent their first 9 months of existence in fluid, why can't we breathe underwater?

Question

I know no one really knows the answer but have any of you ever thought about this?

Answer 1

In Utero the baby is NOT breathing. It does not need to provide oxygen to its blood because it receives oxygenated blood from mom, via the placenta. The baby takes its first breath after birth.

Answer 2

First off, our lungs don't have enough surface area to absorb enough oxygen from water. Also the lining of our lungs is adapted to handle air rather than water. When inside the womb, the fetus is not breathing- rather it is being supplied with everything it needs from the mother through the umbilical cord, including oxygen. You could have figured that question out on your own with a little more thought.

Answer 3

During that time a baby does not breath anything, oxygen is transported through the umbilical cord and into the bubs circulatory system. When a baby comes out, they breath their first breath.

Answer 4

We DO know the answer, thanks to science. As the first answerer wrote, fetuses do not "breathe" while in the uterus. They get their oxygen directly from their mother thru the bloodstream.

Also, gills wouldn't do a human much good, because at this point in our evolution we need much more oxygen than can be derived from water.

Answer 5

We received the oxygen we needed from our mother's blood.

If we had been 'breathing' the amniotic fluid our lungs would have been filled with it at birth and we would have, in effect, drowned.

Answer 6

Because when you were born you evolved from a fish into a mammal. It's like when you were writing your question in the bizarro category and when you submitted it you were suddenly in the philosphy category. Poof ! Just like that.

Answer 7

because we didnt have to breathe in our mothers womb
from the umbillical cord we not only take nutrients but also part of our mother's life energy using as air to sustain our bodies

Answer 8

you must believe of a super person, creating all these mysteries in life... yes, science is there, to make all plausible explanation to the great human machine... created by the Almighty One... there must be God...

Answer 9

We actually can breathe superoxygenated liquid. it has to be specially prepared.

Answer 10

Because GOD wants to show us the value of mother