Gastric Aspirates
The fetus swallows 500 to 1000 mL of amniotic fluid each day. Therefore, if there are white blood cells present in amniotic fluid, they will be present ingastric aspirate specimens at birth. However, these cells represent the maternal response to inflammation and have a poor correlation with neonatal sepsis.32 Gram stains of gastric aspirates to identify bacteria are of limited value
and are not routinely recommended