Amniotic fluid index at 37 weeks of pregnancy

For pregnant women, most of their knowledge and understanding of amniotic fluid is only heard from the previous generation. They roughly know that it is the space for the fetus to develop and grow, especially when the due date is approaching, amniotic fluid needs attention. However, they still have a vague understanding of some data such as the amniotic fluid index that appears in prenatal examinations, and how to judge whether it is too much or too little. Today we will provide some explanations on this issue, including reference values ​​for 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Amniotic fluid is one of the elements that maintain the survival of the fetus. Before the embryo begins to form, amniotic fluid must first be present to support the thick uterine wall and provide the fetus with the free space it needs for growth and development. Its functions also include: acting as a buffer when the uterus is subjected to external impact, maintaining a stable temperature, analyzing components to understand the health and maturity of the fetus, etc., and during labor pains, the pressure transmitted by the water bag can also help dilate the cervix.

The amount of amniotic fluid varies from person to person, and usually increases gradually with the number of weeks of pregnancy, reaching 50cc at 12 weeks, about 300 to 400cc in the second half of pregnancy, and reaching a maximum of about 1000cc at 36 to 38 weeks of pregnancy, and then decreases significantly after the due date. In the early stages of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid is mainly secreted by the amniotic membrane covering the placenta and umbilical cord. After four months, the fetus's swallowing of amniotic fluid and urination can regulate the amount and composition of the amniotic fluid, and the flow of amniotic fluid in and out of the respiratory system will also be affected.

Amniotic fluid protects the fetus from external impacts, participates in the fetal metabolism, protects the mother, and reduces discomfort caused by fetal movement. During a normal pregnancy, the amount of amniotic fluid gradually increases with the gestational age, generally reaching about 1000 ml at 37 weeks of pregnancy and about 800 ml at full term. Too much or too little amniotic fluid is an abnormal condition and requires the attention of expectant mothers.

Above we have provided some reference values ​​for the importance of amniotic fluid and its amount in various pregnancy periods. What we need to pay special attention to is that when we are 37 weeks pregnant, we should pay special attention when participating in prenatal checkups, because this is the stage of expected delivery. If there is too much or too little amniotic fluid at this time, we should make arrangements for delivery immediately according to the doctor's advice.