Recognizing meconium aspiration, when the baby is poisoned by amniotic fluid

The health of the baby while still in the womb or after birth is the dream of every parent. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for problems during the womb or afterwards that affect the health of the baby's body. Aspiration of meconium, for example, is caused by mixing the baby's first feces with amniotic fluid, causing poisoning.

As parents, it is important to understand all possible disorders that interfere with the health of the baby's body. This includes meconium aspiration or poisoning due to the baby drinking amniotic fluid mixed with feces.

For more details, let's look at the full review.

What is meconium aspiration syndrome?

Meconium aspiration syndrome is a complication of childbirth when the baby is poisoned by drinking amniotic fluid that contains meconium.

According to the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, meconium is a newborn's first feces, feces, or stool.

Usually, this first stool begins to be produced by the intestines before the birth of the baby.

In fact, meconium or first feces is normal and is owned by every newborn.

It's just that meconium can interfere with the health of the baby if it comes out while still in the womb and mixes with amniotic fluid.

This can cause poisoning of the baby by drinking amniotic fluid containing meconium, either before, during, or after birth.

This condition is then referred to as meconium aspiration or meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).

So, meconium aspiration syndrome in infants is not just poisoning from drinking amniotic fluid alone.

The reason is, while in the womb, amniotic fluid does function as a conductor of nutrients for the baby.

In short, the baby will indeed drink and breathe amniotic fluid while in the womb.

However, because it does not contain meconium, this cannot be considered as amniotic fluid poisoning.

Again, babies who are poisoned from drinking amniotic fluid only occur when meconium is mixed in it and is inhaled by the baby.

The effect of pressure or stress on the baby before or during childbirth can cause the baby to release meconium while still in the womb.

Meconium aspiration syndrome usually affects babies born at full term gestation and more than 42 weeks.

Meconium aspiration syndrome is not very life threatening.

However, meconium aspiration can cause complications or health problems in the baby and has a fatal risk if not treated promptly.

What causes meconium aspiration in infants?

The cause of meconium aspiration or poisoning from drinking amniotic fluid in babies can be due to the stress and pressure the baby is experiencing, quoting Medline Plus.

Babies who aspire to meconium can experience stress for many reasons.

One of the causes of stress in babies who are poisoned by drinking amniotic fluid is when they do not get enough blood and oxygen while in the womb.

In addition, the following are various causes of stress in babies that eventually result in meconium aspiration or baby poisoning from drinking amniotic fluid:

• Decreased oxygen supply before or during the birth process.
• Gestational age is more than 40 weeks.
• The process of giving birth is time consuming, long, or difficult.
• Mothers experience certain health problems during pregnancy, such as hypertension in pregnancy and gestational diabetes.
• The growth of the fetus in the uterus is inhibited.

Usually, meconium will only be produced by the baby's body until the time of delivery arrives, whether it is a normal delivery in any labor position or a cesarean section.

That is why, most cases of meconium aspiration are experienced by babies who are born at or past the normal gestational age.

Especially because the longer the gestational age, the amount of amniotic fluid will also be less.

Well, at this time the baby is at risk of experiencing amniotic fluid poisoning that contains meconium, aka meconium aspiration.

After inhalation, the contaminated amniotic fluid then enters the baby's lungs.

As a result, there is swelling in the baby's respiratory tract which makes it difficult for the baby to breathe.

The more meconium a baby inhales, the worse the condition will be.

Aspiration of meconium or amniotic fluid poisoning can occur while the baby is still in the womb or after birth.

However, meconium aspiration is rare in preterm infants.

What are the symptoms of meconium aspiration in infants?

Every baby may experience different symptoms of meconium aspiration.

The most common symptom of meconium aspiration or amniotic fluid poisoning is that the baby's breathing appears very fast and strong when exhaling.

Newborn babies may also have difficulty breathing because their airways are blocked by meconium.

The following are various symptoms of meconium aspiration or amniotic fluid poisoning experienced by babies:

• Breath changes to become faster
• Breathing is disturbed and problematic, because it is difficult to breathe normally
• A snorting sound appears when exhaling
• Experiencing retraction or the muscles of the chest and neck appear to drop when the baby breathes
• The baby's skin color turns bluish (cyanosis)
• Low baby's blood pressure
• The amniotic fluid turns a little dark and greenish in color
• The baby's body looks limp
• You can see the presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid when the baby is born

Meconium in the amniotic fluid for a long time can cause the baby's skin and nails to turn yellow.

Any complications of childbirth, including the baby drinking amniotic fluid mixed with feces, can be handled more quickly if a pregnant woman gives birth in the hospital.

Meanwhile, if the mother gives birth at home, handling may take longer due to the limited supply of tools.

Make sure the mother immediately goes to the hospital with her husband or the doula if any, when signs of childbirth appear.

These signs of childbirth include rupture of the membranes, labor contractions, opening of the delivery, among others.

However, don't confuse real labor contractions and false contractions. Get to know the difference so that you are not fooled.

In order for all the processes to run smoothly, make sure the mother has prepared various preparations for childbirth and delivery supplies for a long time.

What are the possible complications of meconium aspiration?

Most newborns who aspirate meconium rarely develop long-term health complications.

Even so, the consequences of poisoning from drinking amniotic fluid containing meconium or meconium aspiration can have a direct impact on the health of the newborn.

It is not impossible, because the baby drinks meconium mixed amniotic fluid, it can have an impact on inflammation and infection of the lungs so that it blocks their respiratory tract.

The result of the baby drinking meconium mixed amniotic fluid can make the lungs expand.

The more often the lungs expand, the more air in them can accumulate in the chest cavity and around the lungs.

This condition is known as a pneumothorax which makes the baby's breathing difficult.

On the other hand, meconium aspiration can also increase the risk of pulmonary hypertension in the newborn, or pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).

PPHN is a rare condition, but can be life threatening.

This is because high blood pressure in the vessels of the lungs can restrict blood flow, making it difficult for the baby to breathe comfortably.

The result of the baby drinking amniotic fluid or meconium aspiration can also cause complications in the form of limited oxygen flow to the brain.

As a result, less oxygen to the brain risks causing permanent damage to the baby's brain.

How is meconium aspiration diagnosed in infants?

The earliest way to diagnose meconium aspiration is by looking at the presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid of the baby at birth.

Even before birth, the baby's heart rate is observed to appear very slow when examined.

If after birth the doctor suspects that the baby is poisoned due to drinking amniotic fluid containing meconium, the doctor will perform a laryngoscopy.

Laryngoscopy is a procedure for examining the vocal cords, throat, and voice box (larynx).

The doctor will also detect abnormal breathing sounds using a stethoscope placed on the baby's chest.

This examination will help the doctor to find abnormal and hoarse sounds when the baby breathes.

If the baby is aspirated meconium, its characteristic symptoms will appear immediately after birth.

Even after birth the baby looks strong and healthy, but a few hours later the baby can experience severe respiratory problems.

To be more sure, apart from the laringkoscopy procedure and using a stethoscope, there are still several other methods of examining meconium aspiration.

The following tests can be performed by a doctor to clarify the diagnosis of meconium aspiration:

• X-ray or chest x-ray, to see if any foreign substances have entered the baby's lungs.
• Blood tests, to find out the results of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the baby's body.

How is meconium aspiration treated in infants?

Treatment for babies poisoned by drinking amniotic fluid containing meconium can vary.

This depends on the length of time the baby is poisoned by drinking amniotic fluid, the amount of meconium, and the severity of the respiratory problems experienced by the baby.

During childbirth

Meconium can be seen when the water breaks or there is a dark green color in the amniotic fluid.

If this happens, the doctor will monitor the fetal heart rate for signs of fetal distress.

Additionally, in some cases of meconium aspiration, your doctor may recommend use amnioinfusion that is, diluting the amniotic fluid with a saline solution.

Its function is to wash meconium from the amniotic sac before the baby can inhale it at birth.

This procedure is done by inserting a small tube into the uterus through the vagina.

The tube is in charge of draining sterile liquid so that it mixes with amniotic fluid that has been contaminated by meconium.

After the baby is born

Meanwhile, after birth, babies who experience meconium aspiration must undergo immediate treatment to remove meconium from their respiratory tract.

If the newborn has aspirated meconium but still looks healthy, the medical team will monitor and monitor the possibility of developing symptoms.

This applies when the baby is physically looking good and the heart rate is strong enough, which is about more than 100 beats per minute (BPM).

When later symptoms of meconium aspiration appear indicating a problem in the baby, treatment is immediately given.

Meanwhile, if the baby's heart rate that is poisoned due to drinking the amniotic fluid is low, which is below 100 BPM and looks weak, treatment will be immediately given.

Doctors usually use a suction tube to collect the meconium through the baby's nose, mouth, or throat.

If the newborn has difficulty breathing, a suction tube can be inserted into the throat to suck out the amniotic fluid containing the meconium.

This process will continue until no meconium is seen in the baby's respiratory tract.

In other cases, for newborns who have difficulty breathing and have a low heart rate, supplemental oxygen may be the best option.

The doctor will provide additional oxygen through a ventilator by inserting a breathing tube through the baby's throat.

This is intended to help develop the lungs and smooth the airways for babies who have aspiration of meconium.

Follow-up care for babies

After the treatment given as soon as the newborn is finished, the baby will be placed in a special care unit so that it can be handled intensively.

This treatment room is also called neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

The following are additional treatments that doctors can take on babies to prevent complications from meconium aspiration:

• Oxygen therapy to ensure adequate levels of oxygen in the blood.
• Use a warmer to help maintain the baby's body temperature.
• Use of a ventilator or breathing apparatus to make it easier for the baby to breathe.
• Give extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in infants.

ECMO will usually only be given for severe complications and as a follow-up option if the baby does not respond to other treatments or has high blood pressure in the lungs.

This procedure is done by using a medical device that is tasked with doing the work of the lungs and heart organs.

That way, the condition of the baby's heart and lungs that may be problematic can improve slowly.

Sometimes, doctors may give antibiotics during treatment to prevent and treat infections in babies.

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