![]() Although some researchers have reported evidence of bacteria in meconium, this has not been consistently confirmed. The issue of whether meconium is sterile remains debated and is an area of ongoing research. Meconium can also be analyzed to detect the tobacco use of mothers during their pregnancy, which is commonly under-reported. In the US, the results of meconium testing may be used by child protective services and other law enforcement agencies to determine the eligibility of the parents to keep the newborn. Using meconium, a Canadian research group showed that by measuring a by-product of alcohol, fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), they could objectively detect excessive maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Meconium can be tested for various drugs, to check for in utero exposure. ![]() In a barium enema, meconium plug syndrome shows a normal or dilated colon as compared to micro-colon in meconium ileus. Meconium ileus has a significant risk of intestinal perforation. Meconium ileus should be distinguished from meconium plug syndrome, in which a tenacious mass of mucus prevents the meconium from passing and there is no risk of intestinal perforation. The obstruction can be relieved in a number of ways. The presence of meconium ileus is not related to the severity of the cystic fibrosis. About 20% of cases of cystic fibrosis present with meconium ileus, while approximately 20% of one series of cases of meconium ileus did not have cystic fibrosis. No meconium is passed, and abdominal distension and vomiting appear soon after birth. Above the level of the obstruction, there are several loops of hypertrophied bowel distended with fluid. Below this level, the bowel is a narrow and empty micro-colon. Beyond this, there may be a few separate grey-white globular pellets. In cystic fibrosis, the meconium can form a bituminous black-green mechanical obstruction in a segment of the ileum. Meconium ileus is often the first sign of cystic fibrosis. The meconium sometimes becomes thickened and congested in the intestines, a condition known as meconium ileus. The failure to pass meconium is a symptom of several diseases including Hirschsprung's disease and cystic fibrosis. Terminal meconium occurs when the fetus passes the meconium a short enough time before birth/cesarean section that the amniotic fluid remains clear, but individual clumps of meconium are in the fluid. This indicates that the fetus passed the meconium some time ago such that sufficient mixing occurred as to establish the homogeneous mixture. Most of the time that the amniotic fluid is stained with meconium, it will be homogeneously distributed throughout the fluid, making it brown. Medical staff may aspirate the meconium from the nose and mouth of a newborn immediately after delivery in the event the baby shows signs of respiratory distress to decrease the risk of meconium aspiration syndrome, which can occur in meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Some post-dates pregnancies (when they are more than 40 weeks pregnant) may also have meconium-stained amniotic fluid without fetal distress. The stained amniotic fluid is recognized by medical staff as a possible sign of fetal distress. ![]() Meconium is normally retained in the infant's bowel until after birth, but sometimes it is expelled into the amniotic fluid prior to birth or during labor and delivery. It should be completely passed by the end of the first few days after birth, with the stools progressing toward yellow (digested milk).Ĭlinical significance Meconium in amniotic fluid When diluted in amniotic fluid, it may appear in various shades of green, brown, or yellow. Meconium, unlike later feces, is viscous and sticky like tar – its color usually being a very dark olive green and it is almost odorless. Unlike later feces, meconium is composed of materials ingested during the time the infant spends in the uterus: intestinal epithelial cells, lanugo, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water. Meconium is the earliest stool of a mammalian infant resulting from defecation. Meconium from 12-hour-old newborn – the baby's third bowel movement
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