Amniotic fluid amount and its significance during pregnancy
Medical Review (Med. pregled), 2024, 60(5), 25-29.
K. Neykova1, P. Ignatov2
1 „Maychin Dom” State University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Medical University – Sofia
2 Faculty of Public Health, Medical University – Sofia
Abstract. The amniotic fluid (AF) plays various roles throughout pregnancy, the mechanic, antibacterial and the trophic ones being the most important. AF is the product mainly of membrane transudation in the 1 trimester of pregnancy, and the product of fetal kidneys and lungs in the 2 and 3 trimesters. The amount of AF is usually about 500- 800 ml, its maximum being achieved by 32 gestational weeks (g.w.), followed by a gradual decrease after 39 g.w. The changes in the AF amount can be associated either to maternal pathology, or fetal pathology. Therefore, the proper measurement of the amniotic fluid index (AFI) or the largest vertical AF pocket is of major importance in identifying pregnancy complications and choosing the mode of action.
Key words: amniotic fluid, amniotic fluid index, oligohydramnion, polyhydramnion
Address for correspondence: Konstantsa Kr. Neykova, MD, PhD, e-mail: