Baby: Placental Blood
The placenta is the protective sac that holds the baby throughout the pregnancy. Within the placenta is the amniotic fluid. The amniotic fluid keeps the baby safe within the placental sac.
When the baby is ready to be delivered, the placenta ruptures and amniotic fluid is leaked. This process is described by the saying that ones water has broken. Once the mothers water breaks, the baby drops down toward the cervix for delivery. The cervix dilates to approximately ten inches and the uterus begins to contract. At this point the baby is ready to meet the world.
Delivering the Placenta
There are a lot of changes going on in an expectant mothers body. The placenta is created very early in the pregnancy. The umbilical cord is the only entry into the placental sac until the sac rupture prior to delivery. The baby receives all of his or her nutrients from the mother via the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is clamped and cut after the baby is born. Cutting the umbilical cord must be cut relatively soon after the baby has been delivered so the baby can begin creating its own life sustenance immediately.
Many television shows about infant delivery do not mention the placenta. In reality, the placenta is actually delivered within minutes after the babys birth. The uterus continues to contract, pushing the placenta down the birth canal. The placenta is delivered and may be used for stem cell extraction depending on what you have arranged prior to birth.
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