Lottie
New Member
Meconium stained amniotic fluid (or meconium stained 'liquor' - pronounced 'like - ore' - nothing to do with alcohol!) is when the baby opens their bowels inside the uterus, making the waters look green, yellow or brownish in colour. It occurs with about 10% of babies who are 'term' (37 to 42 weeks gestation) and is quite rare if the baby is premature baby (less than 37 weeks).
'Meconium' is the thick, dark green, sticky, tar-like substance that is passed as the baby's first bowel motion after birth. At times this can be passed before the baby is born, discolouring the waters. Caregivers often use the term 'mec' or 'mec-stained liquor' (written as 'MSL') when describing the discolouration of the waters in this way.
Meconium stained liquor is usually associated with a response from the baby to having a temporarily reduced oxygen supply at some point in time (usually during labour) or a slowly reducing level of oxygen over a period of time.
Caregivers generally interpret meconium stained liquor as one sign of the baby possibly being unwell or 'distressed' when inside the uterus. The other sign linked to what is referred to as 'fetal distress', is a lowering of the baby's heart rate (or abnormal patterns if being monitored). If meconium is seen in the waters but the heart rate is normal then the baby may be suspected, but not considered, to be distressed. If both are observed then the perception of distress is more accurate.
The other health concern of meconium stained liquor is that the baby may inhale the meconium into their lungs at birth. This complication is called 'Meconium Aspiration Syndrome' (or MAS) and can lead to breathing difficulties, lung infections and at times be life threatening for the baby.
Meconium staining of the amniotic fluid can be:
Light
Moderate
Heavy
Light. Light meconium staining is when there is a small amount of meconium diluted in a plentiful amount of amniotic fluid. This gives the waters only a slight, greenish or yellowish tinge or discolouration. Some caregivers refer to this as 'Grade 1' meconium staining. A slight discolouration is generally not a concern and the baby could have passed it at any time during the last weeks of pregnancy. It is usually not related to distress in labour and will usually not cause Meconium Aspiration Syndrome.
Moderate. Moderate meconium staining is when there is a fair amount of amniotic fluid, but it is clearly stained with meconium. In this case the waters will definitely look 'khaki green' or brownish in colour. This is often referred to as 'Grade 2 meconium'. Moderate meconium staining is a possible sign of fetal distress for the baby. This would be confirmed with abnormal or low heart rates in the baby.
Moderate meconium passed early in the labour can be more of a concern, than if noticed towards the end, near the birth. This is because the baby is suspected of being distressed before having to deal with the labour to come. There is also a concern that the baby could inhale the meconium at birth, with a risk of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome.
Heavy. Heavy meconium staining is when there is reduced amniotic fluid and a large amount of meconium, making the staining quite thick. This is often likened to 'pea soup' consistency and can be referred to as 'Grade 3 meconium'. The 'waters' are more like a thick, green, oozy discharge rather than a watery flow and can be very dark green or black in colour.
Heavy meconium staining is a probable sign of fetal distress and will be a source of concern for your caregiver. It is even more of a concern if it is present early in the labour. This may prompt the caregiver to intervene to deliver the baby by Caesarean, rather than continue with the labour. The risk of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome is very high for these babies and the complications that can go with this are possibly life threatening.
For more valuable information and sources on this: LINK
'Meconium' is the thick, dark green, sticky, tar-like substance that is passed as the baby's first bowel motion after birth. At times this can be passed before the baby is born, discolouring the waters. Caregivers often use the term 'mec' or 'mec-stained liquor' (written as 'MSL') when describing the discolouration of the waters in this way.
Meconium stained liquor is usually associated with a response from the baby to having a temporarily reduced oxygen supply at some point in time (usually during labour) or a slowly reducing level of oxygen over a period of time.
Caregivers generally interpret meconium stained liquor as one sign of the baby possibly being unwell or 'distressed' when inside the uterus. The other sign linked to what is referred to as 'fetal distress', is a lowering of the baby's heart rate (or abnormal patterns if being monitored). If meconium is seen in the waters but the heart rate is normal then the baby may be suspected, but not considered, to be distressed. If both are observed then the perception of distress is more accurate.
The other health concern of meconium stained liquor is that the baby may inhale the meconium into their lungs at birth. This complication is called 'Meconium Aspiration Syndrome' (or MAS) and can lead to breathing difficulties, lung infections and at times be life threatening for the baby.
Meconium staining of the amniotic fluid can be:
Light
Moderate
Heavy
Light. Light meconium staining is when there is a small amount of meconium diluted in a plentiful amount of amniotic fluid. This gives the waters only a slight, greenish or yellowish tinge or discolouration. Some caregivers refer to this as 'Grade 1' meconium staining. A slight discolouration is generally not a concern and the baby could have passed it at any time during the last weeks of pregnancy. It is usually not related to distress in labour and will usually not cause Meconium Aspiration Syndrome.
Moderate. Moderate meconium staining is when there is a fair amount of amniotic fluid, but it is clearly stained with meconium. In this case the waters will definitely look 'khaki green' or brownish in colour. This is often referred to as 'Grade 2 meconium'. Moderate meconium staining is a possible sign of fetal distress for the baby. This would be confirmed with abnormal or low heart rates in the baby.
Moderate meconium passed early in the labour can be more of a concern, than if noticed towards the end, near the birth. This is because the baby is suspected of being distressed before having to deal with the labour to come. There is also a concern that the baby could inhale the meconium at birth, with a risk of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome.
Heavy. Heavy meconium staining is when there is reduced amniotic fluid and a large amount of meconium, making the staining quite thick. This is often likened to 'pea soup' consistency and can be referred to as 'Grade 3 meconium'. The 'waters' are more like a thick, green, oozy discharge rather than a watery flow and can be very dark green or black in colour.
Heavy meconium staining is a probable sign of fetal distress and will be a source of concern for your caregiver. It is even more of a concern if it is present early in the labour. This may prompt the caregiver to intervene to deliver the baby by Caesarean, rather than continue with the labour. The risk of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome is very high for these babies and the complications that can go with this are possibly life threatening.
For more valuable information and sources on this: LINK