Check your baby's lung development if you have a risk for giving birth too soon ( premature birth).

Neural tube defects, severe birth defects of the baby's brain and/or spine, such as spina bifida and anencephaly.

Tay-Sachs disease, a disease that destroys nerve cells, causes mental and physical problems, and often death in early childhood (uncommon).

Sickle cell disease, a group of red blood cell disorders that can cause anemia and other health problems.

Cystic fibrosis, a disease of the mucus and sweat glands that causes thick sticky mucus, which can lead to problems with breathing and digestion.

Down syndrome, a disorder that causes intellectual disabilities and other health problems.

Genetic and chromosomal disorders, including:.

If a screening test shows your baby could have a problem, your health care provider may recommend amniocentesis or another diagnostic test to find out for sure.Īmniocentesis is used to diagnose certain health problems in an unborn baby. They can only show if your baby might have a health problem. Prenatal screening tests have no risks for you or your baby, but they don't diagnose problems. Diagnostic tests are different from prenatal screening tests for genetic disorders. That means it will tell you whether your baby has a specific health problem, and the results are almost always accurate. The fluid contains cells that provide important information about your unborn baby's health.Īmniocentesis is a diagnostic test. Amniotic fluid is a clear or pale yellow liquid that surrounds and protects an unborn baby throughout pregnancy. The test is usually done between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy.Īmniocentesis looks at a sample of amniotic fluid. (2014, October 16).Amniocentesis is a test done during pregnancy to diagnose certain genetic disorders, birth defects, and other conditions in an unborn baby. Ruptureof membranes: has your water broken

Low amniotic fluid levels: oligohydramnios.(2015, August).

Amniotic fluid: physiology and assessment.

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If you do this and don’t see any fluid on the pad, the fluid you are seeing is probably urine. If it isn’t, the fluid could be amniotic fluid.Īnother option is to put on a pad or panty liner and concentrate on holding your pelvic floor muscles tight, as if you are trying to stop your urine stream. If the fluid is yellow in color, it’s likely urine. Place a sanitary pad or panty liner in your underwear and examine the fluid that is on the pad after 30 minutes to an hour. Vaginal fluid is usually white or yellow in color.Īnother way you can try to determine if the fluid is amniotic fluid is to first empty your bladder. clear, white-flecked, and/or tinged with mucus or blood.

So it can be difficult to determine if fluid is urine, amniotic fluid, or vaginal fluid.Īmniotic fluid may have a few of the following qualities: Your vaginal tissues also may produce extra fluid to help your baby pass more easily. When you’re pregnant, you may feel like everything leaks: Your bladder becomes fuller faster, and you may leak urine. This can result in a slow leak of amniotic fluid. While it’s possible to break the water balloon, causing a strong gush of fluid (known as your water breaking), it’s also possible that a small hole could develop in the sac. Think of your amniotic sac like a water balloon.

Best test strips for amniotic fluid