What is meconium?

Lard – what is it?

Meconium is defined as the substance filling the intestines of the fetus. It contains fetal ointment, amniotic fluid, bilirubin, digestive enzymes and epithelium present in the gastrointestinal tract. It is dark greenish or even almost black in color, and is usually dense and abundant. It is the presence of meconium outside the baby’s digestive tract that is responsible for the green amniotic fluid.

When does a baby pass meconium?

Most often the baby passes meconium in the 1st. Day (up to 48 hours) after birth. Some babies, especially those in pelvic position, give it away already during birth, and still others before birth. If meconium is not passed, it may be the first sign of Hirschsprung’s disease or cystic fibrosis and requires further diagnosis.

Too rapid meconium output, while still in fetal life, can be related to, among other things. The baby’s hypoxia. Meconium donation then constitutes his stress response. Green amniotic fluid, however, is not always associated with hypoxia in the baby.  It can accompany pregnancy after the due date and be associated with the effects of motilin on the digestive tract of the baby. In addition, meconium output can also occur through stimulation of the vagus nerve during the descent of the head in the birth canal.

Meconium aspiration syndrome

One of the most dangerous complications of meconium donation before delivery and green amniotic fluid is meconium aspiration syndrome, known as “meconium aspiration syndrome. MAS (meconium asspiration syndrome). Its mortality rate in newborns is as high as 14%. This is because meconium clogs the baby’s bronchi and prevents proper breathing and oxygenation. It also promotes the development of respiratory infections, which are particularly dangerous for newborns. A complication of meconium aspiration syndrome is also pneumothorax.