The amniotic sac is a thin balloon-like sac that surrounds your baby during pregnancy and birth. It is filled with liquid made by the baby (amniotic fluid) and the membrane that covers the baby’s side of the placenta (amnion) as well as the chorion (outer layer). Since it surrounds your baby, it protects them from injury and helps regulate baby’s temperature. It also serves as a way to protect baby’s body, cord and head from compressions during childbirth. This helps blood flow and therefore baby’s heart rate to remain steadier, and keeping the sac intact also helps avoid cord prolapse. Learn more from Dr. Rachel Reed about the function of the amniotic sac: https://midwifethinking.com/2015/09/16/in-defence-of-the-amniotic-sac/
