What happens to fetus poop?

Clare dug up the information below, in response to a Bucky Blog reader question.

In utero, the fetus is connected to the placenta via the umbilical cord. This cord passes nourishment and blood to the baby, and takes waste away from the baby.

Here's some information from WebMD.com:

"Meconium is the baby's first stools. This is a greenish substance that builds up in the bowels of a growing fetus and is normally discharged shortly after birth. However there is the possibility that this is sometimes passed right before birth or during birth. Meconium in the amniotic fluid may be a sign of fetal distress, and infants that inhale meconium into their lungs can develop a potentially fatal lung disease called meconium aspiration syndrome. But fear not, only about 10% of babies have meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and even fewer develop meconium aspiration syndrome."

Any "waste" that the fetus has before the meconium is taken away by the placenta (as indicated above). But also the baby can swallow amniotic fluid and pass it as urine back into the amniotic fluid. Mind you, this is not really what we think of as urine. It's just a cycling process, getting the baby's body functioning and prepared for working on it's own out in the world.