All About Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
The baby’s first stools that are removed from the body shortly after birth and before starting breastfeeding or formula feeding are known as meconium. Meconium has a sticky, green-colored and somewhat dense consistency. There are times when this doesn’t happen naturally. In this post we find out all about meconium aspiration syndrome.
The as meconium aspiration syndrome is not associated with premature birth . Conversely, it is less common in patients under 34 weeks of age.
There are predispositions that can affect the meconium aspiration syndrome on the part of the newborn, among which we can mention:
- If there is fetal distress which normally occurs if there have been repeated infections during pregnancy.
- Complications that can occur during childbirth.
- The age at which a woman became pregnant
- Having diabetes
- Having the habit of smoking
- Hypertension
- Complications generated by the umbilical cord
- Placenta previa.
Symptoms and signs
Symptoms and signs that are visible and show us that the newborn may have meconium aspiration syndrome:
- Greenish-looking spots in the amniotic fluid.
- Blue skin, scientifically known as cyanosis.
- Respiratory deficiency; the child makes an effort to breathe normally.
- In other cases, breathing is accelerated, which can cause respiratory arrest.
- Her body feels flaccid at birth, one of the most notable signs of knowing if the baby has breathed meconium.
- Abnormal heartbeat.
How does the meconium aspiration process take place?
Meconium aspiration syndrome can occur during or after childbirth, at the time of birth when the newborn sucks in the feces excreted in the mother’s womb and some of the amniotic fluid generating respiratory complications.
If the newborn happens to have aspirated meconium, he will likely be born with respiratory irritation problems that can occur in a number of ways, for example:
- The tissues of his lungs are not mature enough to receive chemical irritations.
- The feces, due to their sticky and thick appearance, in many cases cause an obstruction of the airways, preventing the newborn from being born with the same breathing as that of a newborn who has not aspirated the meconium.
- Depending on how much liquid and stool he has aspirated, the meconium expands in the lungs.
This syndrome is scientifically documented because it has occurred in many newborns and is considered a natural syndrome that generates risks, but for which there is no treatment and in the vast majority of cases it does not carry serious risks.
The treatment plan will depend on the scenario and the appearance of the newborn at the time of aspiration, as differences can occur, such as:
- A baby who has aspirated meconium, but has not been exposed to continuous infections during the gestation process, the syndrome will not be as severe and treatment may be easier because a healthy newborn is able to overcome any airway condition.
- When the pregnancy is over 42 weeks and the baby sucks in his stool, the risk is higher, as it can affect the lungs more aggressively and recovery can take longer.
The success of the treatment and the improvement of the patient’s evolution will depend on the response and the degree of respiratory complication.
While avoiding meconium aspiration is next to impossible, as it is an event that cannot be controlled or predicted, there are recommendations for mothers regarding care during pregnancy:
- Don’t over-stimulate the fetus by encouraging it to be an explorer inside the belly.
- Treat and prevent urinary tract infections. It is known that when a woman is pregnant she often suffers from these types of infections, but the important thing is to take them in time and take the appropriate medications.
For this reason, the ideal is not to skip the monthly check-ups and in case of pain consult your doctor to prevent such problems from occurring.
