Meconium is the waste build up in the fetal bowel. The baby can pass meconium while still in utero but it is rare for one to do so before the 38th week past the
LMP. The involuntary evacuation of one's bowels is typically due to stress or fright. Be sure to avoid stressing and frightening both mother and baby and your chances of seeing meconium in the waters is reduced. (Pitocin is a major source of fetal stress)
Meconium has gotten a bad reputation as the cause of MAS, meconium aspiration syndrome, but new research is suggesting that meconium is NOT responsible for MAS (time to change the syndrome's name?).
MAS is a result of events in the womb causing the baby to stop breathing. Meconium is often passed when oxygen is cut off, making it a marker of danger but it is *not* the danger itself. The evidence is proving meconium to be an innocent bystander to the assault on newborn lungs.
In 1996, Dr. V. Katz , et. al., published a study on meconium. It states that "Ninety-five percent of infants with inhaled meconium clear the lungs spontaneously." Combined with the findings of Dr. Wiswell and his crew that found no difference in outcome between the infants who were intubated after being born with meconium stained waters and those infants who were merely watched closely, I think it's safe to assume that the chances of meconium actually causing a problem for a gently born babe are slim and that hospital protocols aren't very helpful even for the endangered newborns.
If you find meconium in your waters you'll need to keep a level head and get in touch with your baby. Pay close attention to what your inner guidance tells you to do. The newborns most at risk are the ones who were ill before labor began. Ask that little one to give you a good, strong kick if s/he's OK. Severely compromised babies are not likely to be kicking much, before or after birth.
Watch your baby for signs of breathing trouble. Most newborns have "wet lungs" at first but they should improve over the course of the first day or so. Difficulty breathing, a blue-tinge to the lips (not the feet, those always start out blue!), lethargy, these are all danger signs.
Meconium is just the sign to watch for the danger signs, it's not a danger sign in and of itself.
Midwife archives ~ meconium
cbirth archives ~ meconium
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