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will call you back within one business day. Meconium is the
first stool that a baby passes. This may occur before, during,
or after birth. Stress may cause the baby to pass meconium
before birth. Meconium then floats in the fluid in the womb. It
can get into the baby’s nose and mouth. It can even get into the
baby’s lungs, especially when the baby takes the first breath.
There, the meconium can cause lung irritation and breathing
problems. This is known as meconium aspiration syndrome
(“aspiration” means “inhaling something that isn’t air”).
Depending on how much meconium is inhaled, the problem can range
from mild to very severe. When meconium gets into the baby’s
lungs, the airways (bronchial tubes) inside the lungs become
inflamed (red and swollen). This makes breathing harder.
Meconium can also get stuck inside the air sacs (alveoli) at the
ends of the airways. This makes it harder for the baby to get
enough oxygen. Meconium in the airways may