It cushions the fetus against injury. Amniotic fluid regulates temperature for the baby. It provides a way of assessing the health and maturity of the baby. Following the 24th week of pregnancy, the volume of amniotic fluid continues to increase as your due date approaches. Composition of amniotic fluid changes during pregnancy.
Amniotic fluid contains old fetal blood cells, lanugo hair and vernix.
As pregnancy advances, fetal urine makes an increasingly important contribution to the amount of amniotic fluid present. The fetus swallows amniotic fluid during much of pregnancy. If it can't swallow amniotic fluid, you will develop a condition of excess amniotic fluid, called hydramnios or polyhydramnios. This is called oligohydramnios. The fetus doesn't appear to have a great deal of room to move in the uterus by the 24th week.