Meconium is a newborn’s first stool. Meconium aspiration syndrome is when a newborn breathes  a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid into the lungs around the time of delivery. It is the leading cause of severe illness and death in newborns. It usually occurs when the infant is stressed during labor especially if he/she is past due.

What are the symptoms of meconium aspiration syndrome ?

Symptoms include the following :

• Bluish skin color
• Breathing problems
• Limpness in the infant after birth
• Dark, greenish staining or streaking of the amniotic fluid or the obvious presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid

How is meconium aspiration syndrome diagnosed ?

This condition can be diagnosed in the following situations

• Before childbirth , when the fetal monitor shows a slow heart rate.
• At birth , meconium can be seen in the amniotic fluid.
• Abnormal breath sounds, especially coarse, crackly sounds, are heard through a stethoscope.
• A chest x-ray may show patchy or streaky areas on the lungs.
• A blood gas analysis shows low blood acidity, decreased oxygen and increased carbon dioxide.

How is meconium aspiration syndrome treated ?

As soon as the head of the newborn is seen during delivery, his/her mouth will be suctioned. Further treatment may be necessary if  there is thick meconium staining and fetal distress. The newborn may be placed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit NICU or special care nursery.  Other treatment options include :

• Antibiotics to treat infection.
• Breathing machine to help inflate the lungs.
• Using a warmer to maintain the body temperature.
• Tapping on the newborn’s chest to loosen secretions.

If there are no sign of fetal distress and the baby is an active full term newborn, experts recommend against deep suctioning of the windpipe for fear of causing a certain type of pneumonia.