When a woman’s ovum is fertilized and this fertilized ovum is firmly implanted within the uterus, she becomes pregnant. The embryo depends on the mother’s body for nutrition and oxygen. It will continue to rely on the mother’s body for all of its needs during its nine-month gestation period, following which it will be ready to be born.
The placenta and the umbilical cord are two crucial tissues that allow the developing fetus to communicate directly with the mother’s body. During pregnancy, the fetus floats in a fluid-filled sac. The amniotic sac is the name for this structure, and the liquid it contains is termed amniotic fluid.