Meconium is a medical term that refers to the baby's first stool. Normally, meconium is passed by the baby after he is born. However, there are also babies who remove it while still in the womb. This condition can be bad for the baby.
The first stool excreted by this baby is different from the usual baby stool. Want to know what are the characteristics of baby meconium? Here's the explanation.
Characteristics of Meconium
The following are the characteristics of meconium that you need to know:
1. Meconium is odorless
feces right usually synonymous with a bad smell, huh? However, the case with meconium is different. Meconium is odorless you know. This is because meconium is still sterile or has not been touched by bacteria in the baby's intestines. The new bacteria begin to appear when the baby begins to receive breast milk or milk.
2. Meconium contains fine hairs
The composition of meconium consists of substances that the baby swallows while he is in the womb, such as water, amniotic fluid, mucus, bile, and skin cells. So, don't be surprised if you see hair on meconium, because the fine hairs that cover the baby's body can also be swallowed by the baby.
3. Meconium is greenish black
Meconium is dark green or greenish black in color and has a thick, sticky texture resembling tar.
4. Meconium will be passed by the baby within 24 hours
Most likely, your baby will pass meconium for the first time within 24 hours of birth. In some cases, meconium may not pass within the first 24 hours of the baby's age. This can be caused by intestinal disorders, blocked stools, or disorders of the digestive tract, such as atresia ani.
Dangers of Inhaling Meconium in the womb
Although meconium should be passed within the first 24 hours after the baby is born, it is possible for the baby to pass meconium while he is still in the womb. The causes are various, and one of them is the fetus experiencing stress.
Meconium that comes out in the uterus can mix with the amniotic fluid. This is very dangerous, because meconium can be inhaled by the baby, either before, during, or after delivery. This condition is called meconium aspiration syndrome.
The entry of meconium into the baby's lungs can cause various disorders, such as inflammation and infection of the lungs, but also can make the baby's lungs expand excessively.
Abnormal expansion of the lungs can increase the risk of air accumulating in the chest cavity and around the lungs. This condition is known as a pneumothorax, and it can make it difficult for a baby to breathe.
On the other hand, meconium aspiration syndrome can also increase the baby's risk of developing pulmonary hypertension. This is very dangerous, because it can block the baby's blood flow and make it difficult to breathe. Not only that, severe meconium aspiration can also cause serious complications in the form of permanent brain damage in the baby.
To prevent your baby from passing their first stool or meconium in the womb, keep your fetus under stress. In addition, regularly check your fetus with a gynecologist so that signs of meconium aspiration syndrome can be detected immediately.
