Amniotic fluid surrounds the developing embryo throughout gestation, protecting the fetus and umbilical cord from trauma while allowing mobility to facilitate structural growth and development. The underlying forces that regulate amniotic fluid are exceedingly complex and dynamic, synchronizing volumes within…
Hydrops fetalis (HF) is defined as the presence of excessive fetal fluid in two or more of the following spaces: abdominal ascites, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, skin edema, polyhydramnios, or placentomegaly. The diagnosis is made by ultrasound imaging evaluating body…
Summary of Key Points The pathways influencing amniotic fluid volume (AFV) are dynamic and complex and are not completely understood. The balance of maintaining the overall AFV occurs at three key areas: fetal urine production and fetal swallowing, the intramembranous…