Labor and Delivery Meconium and Complications During Labor By Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH LinkedIn Twitter Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH is a professor, author, childbirth and postpartum educator, certified doula, and lactation counselor. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 14, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Family articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and family healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology, as well as reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). He is the director and founding partner of CCRM New York and was named a rising star by Super Doctors from 2017 to 2019. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Photo © Photographer's Choice/Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Meconium in Labor Meconium Aspiration Syndrome Amnioinfusion Labor Interventions Meconium After Birth Meconium is a thick, green, tar-like substance that lines your baby's intestines during pregnancy. Typically this substance is not released in your baby's bowel movements until after birth. However, sometimes a baby will have a bowel movement prior to birth, excreting the meconium into the amniotic fluid. Loading shell for quizzesApp1 vue props component in Globe. Meconium in Labor If meconium is present during your labor and birth, you will be watched more closely for signs of fetal distress. Alone, meconium staining of the amniotic fluid does not mean that your baby is suffering from fetal distress, but it will indicate your labor and birth team will look for signs of distress Light-colored meconium is not as much of a risk to your baby, nor is it as likely to be a sign of fetal distress, but rather the maturation of your baby. Thicker meconium is more of a danger to your baby. One level is so thick they refer to it as pea soup, both in consistency and because of the greenish shade of meconium. Meconium Aspiration Syndrome Meconium is more common if you are well past your due date. One of the concerns, when there is meconium present in the amniotic fluid, is that the baby will aspirate the meconium during labor or birth. This aspiration of meconium is dealt with by vigorous suctioning immediately upon the birth of your baby's head, even before the body is born. This can lessen the amount of meconium available for your baby to aspirate. Meconium can be swallowed, which is not usually a problem, or it can be inhaled into the lungs of your baby. This can cause a problem known as Meconium Aspiration Syndrome. Since meconium is a thick, sticky substance, it can cause problems for the baby inflating the lungs immediately after birth. It can also lead to meconium aspiration pneumonia. These both can be very serious problems resulting in a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for your baby for treatment consisting of several days to weeks depending on the severity of the problem. When Your Pregnancy Is Going Far Past Your Due Date Amnioinfusion If there is meconium present in labor, the baby will be monitored more intensely to watch for signs of fetal distress. Your doctor or midwife may also decide to perform an amnioinfusion in cases where there is poor fetal monitoring. Amnioinfusion is where the sterile fluid is placed inside the uterus via a catheter to help dilute the meconium. It also can be used to add to the amniotic fluid volume. This could be done more than one time if needed and may increase your baby's tolerance of labor. Labor Interventions If your baby is still not tolerating labor well or shows other signs of fetal distress that aggressive therapy has not corrected, your doctor or midwife may decide that you need to discuss an operative delivery depending on how far away you are from a vaginal delivery. This may include forceps, vacuum extraction or a cesarean section. Types of Labor and Delivery Complications Meconium After Birth If your baby does not have meconium prior to birth, you will still see it within the first few days of life. This is not a problem. However, it's messy and hard to clean off of your baby's bottom. A tip for making newborn diaper changes easier: Coat your baby's bottom with some ointment or oil after washing up during diaper changes. This prevents the meconium from sticking. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 0 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Hofmeyr G, Xu H, Eke AC. Amnioinfusion for meconium-stained liquor in labor. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD000014. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000014.pub4 Singh BS, Clark RH, Powers RJ, Spitzer AR. Meconium aspiration syndrome remains a significant problem in the NICU: outcomes and treatment patterns in term neonates admitted for intensive care during a ten-year period. J Perinatol. 2009;29:497-503. Abu-Shaweesh JM. Respiratory disorders in preterm and term infants. In: Martin RJ, Fanaroff AA, Walsh MC, eds. Fanaroff and Martin's Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. 9th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby Elsevier; 2010:chap 44.