Sometimes babies with a meconium plug have Hirschsprung’s disease. Thankfully, the small colon will develop normally after the initial blockage is removed. It may also be caused by an abnormally small left colon, which is more common in mamas who have diabetes or gestational diabetes. Your doctor should also use a contrast enema or rectal biopsy to actually diagnose the issue. Depending on the particular case, it can be detected through radiography or an ultrasound. If baby hasn’t passed meconium in 24–36 hours and is experiencing abdominal distention, refusal to eat, and vomiting with green bile, then s/he should be checked for a meconium plug. It occurs in 1 in 500 to 1 in 1,000 live births. ![]() Not to be confused with a mucus plug, a meconium plug is where the meconium is plugging part of the colon instead of the lower ileus. Severe cases may require surgery, though a simple enema is the first option and is what’s used by children’s hospitals. If baby was found to have this disease, she will also be tested for cystic fibrosis. This condition can be detected through radiography, or sometimes through an ultrasound before birth. About 20% of all babies with cystic fibrosis have meconium ileus. Almost all babies who have this condition have cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that causes chronic constipation and abdominal pain. The meconium is thicker and stickier than usual, and can cause a distended abdomen. Meconium ileus occurs when meconium is blocking the lower part of baby’s colon, known as the ileus. What is meconium ileus and who is at risk? Watch out for poor feeding, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, which could indicate a systemic infection. Keep in mind that babies born before their due date typically take longer to pass meconium , so there may not be reason for concern yet. It could mean that baby is suffering from a bowel obstruction, Hirschsprung’s disease, Meconium plug syndrome, Meconium ileus, Anorectal malformation, or one of the much more rare conditions. If it’s been 48 hours and meconium hasn’t passed, call your pediatrician. The more baby nurses, the faster the meconium will pass. To help baby pass her meconium as soon as possible (and avoid jaundice), be sure to begin skin to skin contact and nursing as soon as possible after birth. Jaundice affects nearly all infants, but some babies get a particularly severe case which may need to be treated. If meconium isn’t passed in this time frame, baby may experience jaundice. Premature babies take longer to pass meconium, with 32% on average taking longer than 48 hours to pass meconium. Sometimes passage of meconium takes up to 48–72 hours before it changes to dark green, and then yellow as mentioned above. Here’s more info on baby poop, what’s normal and what’s not.īlack meconium passes within the first 24 hours after birth for 99% of healthy full-term babies. If, however, baby’s poop is white or red, then it could be an indication that there’s a problem. You may see some variations in color, but as long as baby’s poop is an “earth tone” like green, yellow, or brown, then there’s no need to worry. coli colonizes the bowel, making stool become brownish yellow and smelly. Once air enters the GI tract, the bacteria E. Formula-fed babies have tarry black, then green, then more of a pasty, tan-colored stool.In breast-fed babies, it morphs into a dark green stool, and then resembles Dijon mustard with a seedy appearance. ![]() Meconium starts off thick, black, and tar-like, just like this: photograph-of-meconium-babys-first-poop-by-mama-naturalĪfter a few days, baby’s poop changes color. ![]() Get free updates on baby’s first year! – Free Updates on First Year Sign me up! Meconium is a place holder, keeping the large intestine open during growth in the womb. It doesn’t matter if you have a healthy pregnancy, or if there are any other issues with the baby. Meconium is made up of bile salts, bile acids, lanugo, and other debris, and starts forming at 16 weeks gestation. The by-product of this is an intestinal secretion we call meconium. It’s thought that meconium is sterile (unlike other baby poo, which is colonized by colostrum and breastmilk), which is why this first poo doesn’t have any smell.įor the past few months, your baby has been swallowing amniotic fluid in preparation for breastfeeding. Meconium is the very first stool that your baby passes.
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