“I am wondering how the baby breathes while in the amniotic fluid? How can the baby breathe in water?”
Many people ponder this, as I get this question from time to time. The answer is: he/she doesn’t. A baby’s first breath usually happens at birth when he begins to cry. While in the womb, his lungs are filled with fluid and are not involved in supplying oxygen to his body. Baby gets his oxygen from the mother, via the umbilical cord. He also gets his nutrients from mother the same way. This is why it is important that a pregnant mother eats healthy food, and breathes healthy air (i.e. don’t smoke)
Dr. Jim