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The Amniotic fluid also called liquor amnii is the protecting and nourishing fluid surrounding the baby in the amniotic cavity or sac of a pregnant woman. The amniotic fluid is covered by the amniotic membrane within the amniotic cavity, and is formed very early in the development of the human embryo. The amniotic fluid gradually changes its constituents as pregnancy advances.

Functions of the amniotic fluid.

• The amniotic fluid provides a liquid environment in which the fetus( unborn baby) can develop and exercise in absolute freedom.

• The amniotic fluid provides an environment of constant temperature for the baby.
• Its constituents changes as pregnancy progresses , in that way it meets the nutritional requirements of the fetus as it changes.

• It causes enlargement of the amniotic cavity (and therefore of the uterus) so that the developing fetus is not distorted by pressure from the walls of the uterus.

• It provides a means of excretion of substances like urine from the fetus

• The fetus also swallows the amniotic fluid. It is not known how much nutritional benefit this may have for the fetus , but it enables it to develop its mouth ,as well as its swallowing and breathing mechanisms.

• The amniotic fluid also functions as a shock absorber which is most efficient in preventing damage to the fetus as a result of a blow or undue pressure. If undue force is brought to bear upon any particular part of the uterus then the placenta may suffer damage or may even be separated, but it is virtually impossible to damage the fetus itself as a result of direct or indirect injury.

Many women fear that their baby might be hurt by a fall or a direct blow on the uterus or abdomen during pregnancy. If a woman does suffer from direct injury or if she falls down on her abdomen she is unlikely to cause any harm to her baby but it is advisable that she consults her doctor ,if she develops pain or if she is unduly concerned. The three most common causes of abdominal injury during pregnancy are falling down the stairs, tripping over the edge of a pavement , and motor accidents . But no matter the kind of fall or accidents that a pregnant woman goes through, she should make it known to her doctor in her next antenatal visit or check up, just in case of any strange occurrences.

The Temperature of a baby is often taken through the armpit , the rectum, the ear or the mouth. But most doctors do not recommend taking an infant’s temperature through the mouth until the child is up to four years of age, because putting a thermometer into an infant’s mouth is dangerous.

These are the common methods of taking an infants temperature ;

• The armpit/underarm(axillary) method - here the infant’s temperature is taken using a digital or oral thermometer . Take off the baby’s shirt and Dry armpit with a towel, place the tip of the thermometer in the upper part of the armpit and hold baby’s arm over it, gently pressing the elbow against baby’s side. The armpit method is very efficient especially when the baby won’t lie quietly for a rectal reading to be done or when the baby has diarrhea. The normal temperature for this method is 97.6ºF(Fahrenheit).

• The rectal method - the infant’s temperature is taken here using the digital thermometer. Put baby on your laps or on the bed and put a small pillow under his/her hips to raise the bottom for easier insertion of the thermometer. With one hand ,spread the baby’s buttocks, and with your other hand slip the tip of the thermometer into the rectum or rectal opening(anus). Keep the thermometer in place by using your other fingers to press the buttocks together. The thermometer should be prepared before usage, by lubricating the sensor tip with a lubricant like olive oil or Vaseline . The rectal method of taking an infants temperature is the most accurate because it picks up the temperatures from the core of the body. The normal temperature for this method is 99.6ºF.

• The oral method - this method is done using the pacifier thermometer, since the oral thermometer cannot be used for the baby until he/she is four years of age or more. The pacifier thermometer is shaped like a pacifier and therefore inserted into the baby’s mouth to take a reading. It takes about four minutes to get a reading ,which usually reads between 0.3ºF and 0.5ºF lower than the rectal thermometer. With a squirming and non-cooperative baby this method will be really difficult. The normal temperature for the oral method is 98.6ºF.

• The tympanic (ear)method - is solely used for taking an infant’s temperature through the ear. The thermometer used here is called the Tympanic thermometer ,which is quite expensive and difficult to use. It is mostly used by paediatricians ,and you can get your readings in seconds but it is not as reliable as the rectal method of taking an infants temperature. Experts advice withholding the use of this method until a baby is over three months old.

Before proceeding with any of the methods of taking an infant’s temperature , it is advisable to keep the baby calm for at least half an hour before taking the temperature , because crying and anxiety in the baby can elevate the temperature reading. Also avoid giving the baby any food prior to the time you would be taking an oral temperature reading,so as not to alter the readings.

The thermometer should be washed with cool soapy water and properly rinsed after use. The sensor tip should be swabbed with alcohol.

All human cells contain 44 chromosomes plus two sex chromosomes making it a total of 46 chromosomes. The 44 chromosomes are responsible for all hereditary characteristics and also affect the structure and function of the body. A normal female cell contains two sex chromosomes ,which are the X chromosomes and denoted as XX,these chromosomes are responsible for all the female characteristics. The normal male cell also contains two sex chromosomes ,but of which one is the X chromosome and the other the Y chromosome, denoted as XY.

The ovum is made up of 22 chromosomes plus one sex chromosome which is an X chromosome, the sperms ,each also contain 22 chromosomes and one sex chromosome which can either be an X or Y chromosome, so if the ovum is fertilized by a sperm with the 22 plus X chromosome, the baby will be a girl (44 plus XX), but if the ovum is fertilized by a sperm with 22 plus Y chromosome, the baby will definitely be a boy( 44 plus XY). So the sex of a child is entirely dependant on the type of sperm that fertilizes the ovum, and therefore no woman should be blamed for not being able to produce a male or female child.

Methods used to Determine the baby’s sex.

Amniocentesis .

This is a process whereby some of the fluid surrounding the baby (amniotic fluid) is withdrawn and the cells which it contains are stained by a special method and then carefully examined under the microscope. If the XX chromosomes are present they form a characteristic stain within the nucleus of the cell, known as Barr body, which can be seen when the cells are examined under the microscope. This method can give you a 99% accuracy if done after about the 15^th week of conception, but it could cause miscarriage of the unborn baby, and is generally carried out if a baby is suspected to have a risk of genetic disease or mongolism.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) .

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is an antenatal test that detects if the baby has any chromosomal disorder such as Down syndrome. Here placental tissues are used unlike in amniocentesis where cells from the amniotic fluid are utilised. It can be performed between the 10th and 14th week of pregnancy and is also dangerous to the mother and baby. From the results obtained in the test, the baby’s sex would be known.

The Ultrasound (sonogram) .

The ultrasound is the most common of all the procedures used to determine the sex of the unborn child. Ultrasounds done between the 18th and 25th week of pregnancy are usually the most accurate , Because at this stage the baby’s sex organs are already well developed and very obvious through the ultrasound.

The ultrasound might fail if the baby isn’t in the right position or if it is done before the 18^th week of pregnancy, but it is a safe method when compared to the Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) and Amniocentesis .

Baby’s heart Rate.

Counting the baby’s heart rate in the uterus is probably the simplest method of determining the unborn baby’s sex. The normal heart rate is between 120 and 160 beats per minute. A heart rate which is persistently below 140 beats per minute is usually a male, whereas one which is higher than 140 beats per minute is usually female. But this method is only about 70% reliable.

There are many other methods according to old wives tales and folk lore, including suspension of an object on the end of a piece of string over the pregnant uterus, when the object moves in a clockwise direction the child is said to be a male ,and if it moves anti-clockwise the child is said to be female. Although many parents are anxious for any indication of the sex of their unborn baby, a majority also would in retrospect, prefer not to know until the baby is delivered.