Keep reading to learn more about why babies might poop in the womb, and what happens if they accidentally inhale it. Known as meconium, a baby's early poop is a black or dark green, thick, sticky substance almost like tar. It's is made up of intestinal cells, lanugo the downy hair some babies are born with , mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water, says Bradley Howard Kessler, M.
Most of the time, babies expel this meconium on their first day of life. But according to Faulkner, it can sometimes come out when they're still inside the womb, where it mixes with amniotic fluid the liquid that surrounds the baby in utero. Some factors that increase the risk of passing meconium in utero include:.
How often do babies poop in the womb? Meconium is present in about 12 to 20 percent of deliveries, according to a study. When the baby is past their due date, the number increases to around 40 percent. Pooping in the womb rarely happens with premature babies. Meconium is actually quite clean; it consists of mostly water and doesn't cause infection of the uterus, says Faulkner.
But while most babies who poop in the womb don't experience negative side effects, anywhere from 4 to 10 percent develop meconium aspiration syndrome MAS. MAS occurs when poop is inhaled into the lungs through forceful gasps before, during, or after delivery.
It can cause airway obstruction, lung inflammation, and problems with oxygen exchange. Severe or untreated MAS also increases the risk for pneumonia , collapsed lung, and other respiratory conditions in newborns. Doctors are trained to recognize the symptoms of meconium aspiration syndrome, and they might confirm the diagnosis with a chest X-ray after delivery. But these treatments weren't found to prevent MAS, so are not routinely done.
Most infants with meconium aspiration syndrome recover completely. Some babies may have a higher risk of lung infections and wheezing, particularly in their first year of life. Reviewed by: Jay S. Greenspan, MD. Neonatology at Nemours Children's Health. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Meconium? What Is Meconium Aspiration Syndrome?
Meconium can make it harder to breathe because it can: clog the airways irritate the airways and injure lung tissue block surfactant, a fatty substance that helps open the lungs after birth With treatment, most babies with meconium aspiration syndrome get better with no problems.
What Causes Meconium Aspiration Syndrome? Babies are more likely to pass meconium when: They've had a long or hard delivery. They are born past their due date. The mother has a health problem, like diabetes or high blood pressure. The mother smoked or used drugs during the pregnancy. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.
This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. How Babies "Digest" in the Womb. Medically Reviewed by James Greenberg, M.
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