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[SJC <indexer AT localnet.com>]

bob ford wrote:
> p.s. when they say "her water broke" does actual water release from inside 
> woman into the outside?
>   
Yep.  The membrane (amniotic sac) holding it ruptures as part of the 
labor process if all is going normally; the quantity of fluid it holds 
varies from barely noticeable to plenty (depends on many factors), but 
there's nowhere else for it to go but out.  And we call it 'water' 
because if all is proceeding according to Hoyle, it is clear, but it is 
actually called amniotic fluid.  It's what cushions the developing fetus 
from mother's movements, provides room within the uterus for the infant 
to move (otherwise fetus would be very much compressed within the uterus 
which is a very strong muscular organ), absorbs the waste products from 
the fetus's skin, functions as a lubricant, performs several other 
functions.  The amniotic sac is what contains the fluid; it contains the 
fluid and protects the fluid, fetus, and interior uterine tissue from 
contamination.

So there's your anatomy/physiology lesson for the day!

SJ