What process allows the baby to get oxygen and nutrients and remove waste?
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 How does a developing baby breathe?Or eat? From mom, of course. Shown is a detailed representation of the placenta. And this is where all these interactions occur. Placenta and Related StructuresThe fetus could not grow and develop without oxygen and nutrients from the mother. Wastes from the fetus must also be removed in order for it to survive. The exchange of these substances between the mother and fetus occurs through the placenta. PlacentaThe placenta is a temporary organ that begins to form from the trophoblast layer of cells shortly after implantation. The placenta continues to develop and grow to meet the needs of the growing fetus. A fully developed placenta is made up of a large mass of blood vessels from both the mother and fetus. The maternal and fetal vessels are close together but separated by tiny spaces. This allows the mother’s and fetus’s blood to exchange substances across their capillary walls without the blood actually mixing. The fetus is connected to the placenta through the umbilical cord, a tube that contains two arteries and a vein. Blood from the fetus enters the placenta through the umbilical arteries, exchanges gases and other substances with the mother’s blood, and travels back to the fetus through the umbilical vein. The fetus and the placenta. Notice the fetus is attached to the placenta by the umbilical cord, made of two arteries and one vein. Amniotic Sac and FluidAttached to the placenta is the amniotic sac, an enclosed membrane that surrounds and protects the fetus. It contains amniotic fluid, which consists of water and dissolved substances. The fluid allows the fetus to move freely until it grows to fill most of the available space. The fluid also cushions the fetus and helps protect it from injury. Summary
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This page titled 13.67: Fetal Development and the Placenta is shared under a CK-12 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by CK-12 Foundation via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request. Developing babies need oxygen beginning early in pregnancy. But a baby won’t take their first breath until after birth. This means that babies don’t truly breathe in the womb. Instead, the umbilical cord provides the baby with oxygen until the first breath. Lung development begins early in pregnancy, but is not complete until the third trimester. Between 24–36 weeks of pregnancy, the lungs begin developing alveoli – the tiny lung sacs that fill with oxygen. Until these sacs are fully developed, a baby may have difficulty breathing on its own outside of the womb. Women giving birth sometimes worry about how their babies will breathe, especially as the baby travels down the narrow confines of the birth canal. The umbilical cord continues to supply a baby with oxygen until after it is born. Fast facts on how babies breathe in the womb:
How do babies breathe in the womb?Several biological systems and processes play a role. They include: The umbilical cord
After 5-6 weeks of pregnancy, the umbilical cord develops to deliver oxygen directly to the developing fetus’s body. The umbilical cord connects to the placenta, which is connected to the uterus. Both structures house many blood vessels, and continue to grow and develop throughout pregnancy. Together, the umbilical cord and placenta deliver nutrients from the mother to the baby. They also provide the baby with the oxygen-rich blood necessary for growth. This means that the mother breathes in for the baby, and the oxygen in her blood is then transferred to the baby’s blood. The mother also breathes out for the baby, as carbon dioxide from the baby is moved out through the placenta to the mother’s blood, the removed with exhale. Substances going into the developing baby, such as oxygen, never interact with the substances leaving the baby, such as waste products. They travel through the umbilical cord through two separate blood vessels. Lung development in the wombLung development is normally complete after 35-36 weeks of pregnancy. However, development varies and it’s possible to miscalculate when a baby was conceived. This is why even late preterm babies often experience difficulties breathing. Steroids may help speed the development of a baby’s lungs. When a woman must give birth early, or when she is at risk of preterm labor, doctors may recommend steroids given to the mother to improve a baby’s chances of survival outside the womb. Even when a fetus’s lungs are fully developed, it’s impossible for the fetus to breathe until after birth. Developing babies are surrounded by amniotic fluid, and their lungs are filled with this fluid. By10–12 weeksof gestation, developing babies begin taking “practice” breaths. But these breaths provide them with no oxygen, and only refill the lungs with more amniotic fluid. Because it’s normal for a fetus’s lungs to be filled with fluid, a fetus can’t drown in the womb. If there is a problem with the placenta or umbilical cord, there’s no other way for a developing baby to breathe. As a result, issues with these structures can cause birth defects, brain injuries, or even the death of the fetus. Breathing during and after birthSome babies are born with the umbilical cord wrapped around the neck. This relatively common issue, called a nuchal cord, happens in12-37 percent of births. In most cases, it causes no problems. This is because the umbilical cord is still able to provide the baby with oxygen. However, if the cord is wrapped very tightly around the baby’s neck, the oxygen supply in the cord might be limited. During birth, the care provider will check for a nuchal cord, and if possible, unwrap the cord. Once the baby is born, the new environment – which includes temperature changes, a lack of amniotic fluid, and exposure to air – triggers the baby’s first breath. Some babies have their first bowel movement during birth, before exiting the womb. This stool is called meconium. During a practice breath during or shortly before birth, a baby may inhale meconium. Inhaling meconium can be serious and can harm a baby’s ability to breathe outside the womb. So babies who have inhaled meconium may need treatment with suction and oxygen after birth. How water birth affects breathingShare on PinterestA water birth won’t affect a babies ability to breathe. Many hospitals are offering water birth, which some women prefer to traditional birth options. Women giving birth at home or in birthing centers may also choose water birth. Water birth can be soothing, may help with pain relief, and mimics the environment of the womb. It is generally safe, and won’t affect a baby’s ability to breathe. This is because the baby will continue getting oxygen from the umbilical cord until removed from the birthing tub. A baby left in the birthing tub for too long could theoretically drown. Isolated reports suggest that it’s possible for a baby to be injured during water birth. However, a2009 Cochranereview that looked at 12 previous studies of water birth found no increase in the risk of harm to the baby. Upon delivery the baby is brought up and out of the water and takes its first breathe then. It is worth noting that both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics do not recommend water delivery. Oxygen deprivation as a birth injuryWhen a baby does not get enough oxygen during and immediately following labor and birth, it is called hypoxia. Hypoxia deprives the brain and body of the oxygen they need to properly function. This can cause a range of birth injuries, including cerebral palsy and death. Common causes of hypoxia include:
Quality prenatal care and an attentive care provider during birth can greatly reduce the risk of hypoxia. A baby experiencing hypoxia may need supportive care, such as oxygen therapy or a ventilator. How the fetus gets oxygen and nutrients and how it gets rid of waste?Umbilical cord.
A rope-like cord connecting the fetus to the placenta. The umbilical cord contains 2 arteries and a vein. It carries oxygen and nutrients to the fetus and waste products away from the fetus.
How does the baby get nutrients and release waste in the womb?Babies absorb nutrients through the placenta when they're inside the womb. The waste usually exits their bodies as urine, but babies will occasionally poop before being born.
What allows the embryo to receive oxygen and nutrients from the mother's blood and remove waste products such as urea and carbon dioxide?The placenta is an organ responsible for providing oxygen and nutrients, and removing waste substances. It grows into the wall of the uterus and is joined to the fetus by the umbilical cord.
Which organ provides oxygen and nutrients to the growing baby in the womb and removes waste product from the baby's blood?The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. This structure provides oxygen and nutrients to a growing baby. It also removes waste products from the baby's blood. The placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus, and the baby's umbilical cord arises from it.
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