Collection<unk>  is removed from the mother by an amniocentesis procedure, where a long needle is inserted through the abdomen into the<unk>  sac, using ultrasound guidance such that the fetus is not harmed. Amniocentesis is a low risk procedure, with risk of pregnancy loss between 1 in 1500 – 1 in 700 procedures. Amniocentesis can be performed to obtain diagnostic genetic information, evaluate for intrauterine infection, or rarely, to assess for fetal lung maturity if early delivery is required. If warranted, fluid is collected between 16–42 weeks of fetal development. The amount of fluid removed depends on the indication for the procedure and the testing that will be performed on the fluid. Analysis Analysis of<unk>  can reveal many aspects of the baby's genetic health as well as the age and viability of the fetus. This is because the fluid contains metabolic wastes and compounds used in assessing fetal age and lung maturity, but<unk>  also contains fetal cells, which can be examined for genetic defects.<unk>  normally has a pH of 7.0 to 7.5. Because pH in the upper vagina is normally acidic (pH 3.8-4.5), a vaginal pH test showing a pH of more than 4.5 strengthens a suspicion of rupture of membranes in case of clear vaginal discharge in pregnancy. Other tests for detecting<unk>  mainly include nitrazine paper test and fern test. One main test that is performed on<unk>  is the L/S ratio test (lecithin/sphingomyelin). This test is used to determine fetal lung maturity. Both lecithin and sphingomyelin are lung surfactants that are present in increasing amounts in the maturing fetus, though past week 33, sphingomyelin levels remain relatively constant. Measuring a ratio of L/S of 2:1 or greater indicates that the fetus can be safely delivered, with functioning lungs. Complications related to<unk>  Too little<unk>  is called oligohydramnios. In a minority of cases it can be a cause of problems for the mother and baby. These include contracture of the limbs, clubbing of the feet and hands, and also a life-threatening condition called hypoplastic lungs. The Potter sequence refers to a constellation of findings related to insufficient<unk> . On every prenatal visit, the obstetrician, gynaecologist or midwife should measure the patient's fundal height with a tape measure. It is important that the fundal height be measured and properly recorded to track proper fetal growth and the increasing development of<unk> . The obstetrician, gynaecologist or midwife should also routinely ultrasound the patient—this procedure will also give an indication of proper fetal growth and<unk>  development. Oligohydramnios can be caused by infection, kidney dysfunction or malformation (since much of the late<unk>  volume is urine), procedures such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS), and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Oligohydramnios can sometimes be treated with bed rest, oral and intravenous hydration, antibiotics, steroids, and amnioinfusion. The opposite of oligohydramnios is polyhydramnios, an excess volume of<unk>  in the<unk>  sac.<unk>  embolism is a rare but very often fatal condition for both mother and child. Medical applications It is being used in some surgeries of the outside of the eye. It is also being studied for some orthopaedic conditions. Stem cell research Recent studies show that<unk>  contains a considerable quantity of stem cells. These<unk>  stem cells are pluripotent and able to differentiate into various tissues, which may be useful for future human application. Some researchers have found that<unk>  is also a plentiful source of non-embryonic stem cells. These cells have demonstrated the ability to differentiate into a number of different cell-types, including brain, liver and bone. It is possible to conserve the stem cells extracted from<unk>  in private stem cells banks.
Amniotic fluid
Peritoneal fluid
Body fluid
Tubular fluid
Cord blood
Fluid compartments
Fetal circulation
Human liquor