Does the fetus poop and pee in the belly?

While in the womb, the baby develops all the bodily functions it will need to survive outside the womb. Some of these come into operation already during pregnancy, such as the heart rate, respiratory movements (although the actual breathing will take place only after birth) and even the ability to swallow liquids and produce the first urine and first stools .

“ But does the fetus poop in the belly? And the pee? And if so, what happens to these waste products?”. If you are reading this article, most likely you too have asked yourself these questions, perhaps out of simple curiosity or maybe even with a certain concern. So let’s try to clarify things and understand together what happens in the womb to the digestive and urinary system of the future baby.

Does the fetus pee in the belly?

Well yes, babies do pee inside the uterus , as we can see from this wonderful video taken from a real ultrasound.

Urinating during fetal life is completely normal and physiological. In fact, it is the fetus’s pee that guarantees the maintenance of an adequate quantity of amniotic fluid and, for this reason, the presence of too little or too much liquid can give important indications on the health of the unborn child.

To better understand this concept, let’s think that a few weeks after conception the amniotic fluid is mainly formed by maternal fluids.

Between 13 and 16 weeks of pregnancy , the baby begins to drink small sips of amniotic fluid and this stimulates the functioning of the kidneys and bladder: thus the formation and elimination of the first pee begins.

As the pregnancy progresses, the fetus ingests more and more amniotic fluid, which at 20 weeks is now made up mostly of its own urine .

This is why the presence of too much or too little amniotic fluid can indicate that something is not working properly and why this parameter is closely monitored by the gynecologist during ultrasound scans.

Can fetal pee be dangerous?

The idea that the future baby swallows his pee may seem worrying, but it must be remembered that it is a sterile fluid and therefore completely harmless .

Furthermore, the process of swallowing and elimination is important for renewing the amniotic fluid , which in turn helps to keep the baby warm and protect it from shocks, as well as playing a fundamental role in the development of the muscles and for the maturation of the body. digestive, respiratory and urinary systems .

Does the fetus poop?

Around the 23rd week of pregnancy , the fetus’s intestines are mature enough to absorb the first nutrients and produce the first stools , called meconium , which look like a black or greenish sticky substance.

However, unlike urine , meconium is not expelled in the uterus , but remains in the intestine for the entire fetal period, to then be released with the first emission within 24 hours of delivery.

In some cases, however, it may happen that the expulsion of the meconium is anticipated and occurs before birth . When this happens, it is referred to as “tinted amniotic fluid”.

What happens if the fetus poops in the belly?

Premature release of meconium into the amniotic fluid is not necessarily dangerous.

Having the “dyed liquid”, in fact, is not necessarily an expression of a discomfort of the fetus and in these cases you can easily labor and give birth without complications.

What matters is the amount of meconium in the amniotic fluid . The attitude of the doctors, in fact, will be different if the quantity is scarce or abundant.

The situation can become risky if, in the presence of strongly colored amniotic fluid , the fetus accidentally inhales it (meconium aspiration syndrome or SAM). Indeed, the faecal material can obstruct the baby’s airways and prevent him from breathing properly, with the risk of inflammatory pneumonia or oxygen deficiency in the brain.

Fortunately, this condition is very rare and is often accompanied by other signs of fetal discomfort. If it occurs, doctors will intervene to clear the airways . In some situations, they may also administer oxygen to the newborn.

In conclusion

It is completely normal for the fetus to pee in the uterus. The expulsion of the first poo, on the other hand, should only take place after birth.

In some cases, evacuation may occur before or during delivery, with different scenarios depending on when it occurs and the amount of meconium passed.

For this reason, if your water breaks with greenish or foul-smelling amniotic fluid , it is important to go to the nearest obstetric emergency room immediately.