Neonatal aspiration of amniotic fluid and meconium

If a newborn inhales too much amniotic fluid or the amniotic fluid itself becomes turbid during birth, the child may experience respiratory distress, which can pose a greater risk to the child's health, easily lead to pneumonia, and even cause greater harm to the fetus's intelligence. Therefore, we must pay attention to this aspect and avoid this situation.

Neonatal aspiration of amniotic fluid and meconium

When the fetus suffers intrauterine distress, it causes ischemia and spasm of the intestinal wall, and the anal sphincter relaxes, expelling meconium and contaminating the amniotic fluid. When the fetus is deprived of oxygen, it will first stop breathing and then gasp for air. Amniotic fluid containing meconium is inhaled into the respiratory tract, causing a series of symptoms such as respiratory tract infection and lung inflammation. After birth, respiratory distress is the main symptom, accompanied by damage to other organs. It is called "meconium aspiration syndrome". Fetal aspiration syndrome is more common in full-term and prolonged fetuses and is rare in premature infants. According to statistics, the incidence of meconium aspiration syndrome accounts for 1.2% to 2.2% of newborns.

Symptoms of meconium aspiration in newborns

1. Respiratory distress. Symptoms include rapid breathing, difficulty or even breathing pause.

2. Skin. The skin color is not a healthy pink, but a yellow-green color, which is caused by meconium staining.

3. Nails. The color of the nails is also yellow-green. In addition, the nails of a fetus with a long gestational period will be longer.

4. Amniotic fluid. There is meconium in the amniotic fluid.

5. The Apgar score is low. The scores for skin color, heart rate, reaction to stimuli, muscle tone, and breathing were below the passing line. Babies with milder illnesses do not show obvious breathing difficulties, while babies with more serious illnesses have symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, extreme irritability, and groaning.

The above is the relevant content about whether meconium aspiration is common in newborns. In short, meconium aspiration in newborns is also a common respiratory disease in newborns. Most of them occur in full-term babies and post-due babies, so you must check in time and don’t wait until long after the due date to give birth. Listen to your doctor and reduce the risk of disease in newborns.