the breathing of meconium containing fluid by the baby at birth
Syndrome caused by sucking of thick meconium into the lungs, usually by term or post-term infants (often small for gestational age) either in utero or with first breath. The resultant small airway obstruction may produce respiratory distress, tachypnea, cyanosis, pneumothorax, and/or pneumomediastinum.
A baby which becomes distressed before delivery may pass meconium (the dark greenish material described above) while he or she is still in the womb. If the baby then inhales the fluid in which he or she is "floating" in the womb, the sticky material irritates and partially blocks the airways, causing breathing difficulties in around the time that the baby is born.
Meconium passed by the infant prior to delivery may mix with the amniotic fluid and be inhaled by the infant before birth. Meconium is not normally passed before delivery, but this may occur if the unborn infant is stressed. Such stress may have a variety of causes. If meconium is inhaled, it can cause pneumonia. This situation is termed meconium aspiration syndrome.
Condition that can occur upon birth if the infant has had its first bowel movement in the uterus and then aspirates (breathes) the amniotic fluid containing the fecal material. This condition induces respiratory distress due to fatty acids in the meconium inactivating surfactant in the infants’ lungs.
when a baby breathes in amniotic fluid containing meconium (the first bowel movement). This can occur prior to or during birth.
A situation where meconium (greenish fecal matter, the first bowel movement of a fetus) filled amniotic fluid is breathed into the infant's lungs during the birth process. There may or may not be subsequent anoxia resulting in brain damage. Meconium aspiration is rare in babies born at less than 34 weeks gestation, and may be as high as 40 percent in post term babies.
When meconium is present in the amniotic fluid during delivery and the newborn breathes it in, the meconium can irritate and possibly damage the airways. The mouth and nose are suctioned to prevent aspiration of meconium stained fluid.