Definition:
Amniotic fluid is the liquid surrounding a baby in the mother's amnion, or amniotic sac, during its development. Though the primary function of amniotic fluid is to protect the baby, it contains concentrated amounts of genetic material and is therefore very useful in determining information about the baby pre-birth, including gender and paternity (in prenatal paternity testing). Often some of this fluid is drawn from the mother prior to birth in a procedure called amniocentesis to check the health of the baby.