Meconium aspiration Causes and Facts
Meconium aspiration:-
Meconium is the fecal material discharged from baby in first few hours. ” Inhalation of meconium, mixed with amniotic fluid by the baby is called as meconium aspiration” . Meconium aspiration may occur in the womb before birth, during delivery or soon after labor . Even though meconium aspiration is not common, it can be very serious if immediate action is not taken. Meconium aspiration is indicated by medical term as meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).
Few Facts of meconium aspiration:-
- Meconium is the first passed fecal material by baby.
- Meconium is very sticky, thick and greenish in nature.
- Due to sticky nature, after inhalation meconium adhere to the respiratory structures and blocks the airways completely or partially.
- After breathing of baby leads to further tapering of meconium in airway.
- The inhaled meconium causes irritation in air way track. It may lead to infection, inactivation of lung surfactant. (surfactant is the protective mucus in lungs).
- The severity of meconium aspiration complications are related to rate of aspiration.
- Meconium can be inhaled by baby to lungs while gasping.
- Incidence of meconium aspiration is 5 to 22 %.
Causes of Meconium aspiration:-
- The main cause of MAS is fetal stress.
- Fetal stress can happen in womb because of maternal infections, prolonged painful labor.
- Distress caused due to internal environment in the womb leads to MAS.
- Due to distress baby suffers from lack of oxygen or hypoxia. Hypoxia leads to relaxation of anal specter, from where the meconium is mixed with amniotic fluid and baby aspires that fluid.
- If baby is not stressed also it can pass meconium, but mechanism is not confirmed.
Other causes:-
- Prolonged labour.
- Post dated delivery.
- Mother have smoking history.
- Retarded intrauterine growth, and
- Deviations in umbilical cord.
Appropriate treatment is necessary to prevent complications. Mother and health care provider should follow some guidelines in order to prevent MAS..
