Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Meconium?When Does It Transition?When Is It Dangerous?Meconium Aspiration SyndromeTreatmentRecovery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Meconium?
When Does It Transition?
When Is It Dangerous?
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Treatment
Recovery
This article provides everything you need to know about meconium.
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What Is the Neonatal Period?
How Long Before Meconium Transitions to Normal Poop?
When Meconium Is Dangerous
Most babies who pass meconium in the amniotic fluid do not breathe it in. And those who do aspirate meconium usually get better with no long-term issues.
Confirming Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Meconium aspiration can lead to the following symptoms in a newborn:
If your healthcare provider suspects meconium aspiration syndrome during labor and delivery, they will likely call in a special care team to be present at the birth. This team of a neonatologist and neonatology nurses may come from the nursery or the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
How Do Providers Treat Inhaled Meconium?
In severe cases, the newborn may need:
PreventionSince the risk of meconium aspiration syndrome increases when a pregnant person is past their due date, inducing labor may lower the risk. A healthcare provider will likely call in a neonatology team if there are signs of fetal distress during labor and delivery. Tell your healthcare team immediately if yourwater breaksand the liquid appears brown or green.
Prevention
Since the risk of meconium aspiration syndrome increases when a pregnant person is past their due date, inducing labor may lower the risk. A healthcare provider will likely call in a neonatology team if there are signs of fetal distress during labor and delivery. Tell your healthcare team immediately if yourwater breaksand the liquid appears brown or green.
Newborn Meconium Aspiration Syndrome Recovery
Summary
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital.Newborn poop: Meconium and beyond.
Nemours Kids Health.Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).
MedlinePlus.Meconium aspiration syndrome.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Meconium ileus.
Committee opinion No 689.Delivery of a newborn with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.Obstet Gynecol. 2017;129(3):e33-e34. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001950
Verma S, Randis TM.Management of non-vigorous newborns born through meconium stained amniotic fluid.J Perinatol. 2020;40(1):170-173. doi:10.1038/s41372-019-0493-8
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