Do Babies Produce Waste Products Inside the Womb?

As a baby develops in utero his own body systems, including his excretory systems, begin to function.

  1. Human Excretion

    • Human beings excrete unwanted and unnecessary substances via exhalation, sweating, urination and defecation.

    Exhalation

    • Babies do not breathe air while in the womb, though they do "breathe" amniotic fluid into and out of their lungs. Their oxygen supply comes through the placenta from the mother's bloodstream. Waste products in the baby's blood diffuse back out, and the mother excretes them in her urine.

    Sweating

    • In the womb, a baby's sweat glands produce sebum, which, by about 29 weeks gestation, creates the waxy whitish vernix that covers the skin and may still be present at birth.

    Urination

    • Starting at about the beginning of the second trimester, the developing baby swallows amniotic fluid and urinates it back out. This keeps amniotic fluid levels stable. A kidney problem or a urinary blockage may lead to insufficient amniotic fluid, causing fetal compression and miscarriage or stillbirth.

    Defecation

    • It has long been thought that babies do not defecate while in the womb, storing all solid waste (meconium) in the bowel until after birth. But recent sonogram research indicates that some defecation into the amniotic fluid may in fact be normal. Postnatal complications can arise if a substantial amount of meconium is released, for example, as a result of fetal distress during labor and delivery.

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