What If My Baby Swallows Their Poop During Delivery?

A question that came into us was what if my baby swallows their poop during delivery? This is an interesting question that spotlights a serious medical condition, that in some instances if it is severe enough, can lead to death. The medical condition that can be associated with breathing and other related problems when a baby swallows their stool is meconium aspiration syndrome.

In this birth injury article, and supporting video, I am going to discuss meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) and how it can be dangerous for your baby in some cases. From a medical legal standpoint, doctors must pay close attention to babies who have this condition.

WHAT IS THE BABY’S STOOL CALLED?

Meconium, in its most basic breakdown is the baby’s stool. In some cases, a baby can have a bowel movement either right before, or during delivery. The substance can vary in color, as it can be green, dark brown, or black, or even yellowish in color. The make-up of the substance can be sticky in nature.

The presence of meconium, if coupled with other signs, in some cases can be an alert to doctors and nurses that a baby may be in fetal distress. These other signs can be certain readings on the electronic fetal heart monitor, for example. The fetal heart monitor is a device that tracks fetal well-being, or how well a baby is tolerating a vaginal delivery.

The monitor is used in many hospitals all over the United States. It can be placed on the mother’s abdominal area and feeds the reading to either a screen for the nurses and doctors, have the readings printed out on a paper feed. Regardless, this information can be vital during delivery.

WHAT IF MY BABY SWALLOWS THEIR POOP DURING DELIVERY?

When meconium is present, doctors will more than likely check to see if the substance has gotten below the baby’s cords. One of the reasons this is done is to see if the baby has swallowed the meconium. If the baby has swallowed meconium, treatment will start.

Some of the dangers associated with meconium is meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). This is because meconium can get into the baby’s lungs and cause a host of problems, from breathing issues, to infection, and in some cases, a brain injury. In the most extreme of cases, death can even occur.

As you can see above, meconium can get into the lungs and cause a baby trouble. Because the lungs can become compromised, oxygen problems can occur. If a baby is deprived of oxygen for too long, HIE, or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy can be another medical condition that the child may have to endure. HIE, in this context is a baby suffering from a reduced level of blood and oxygen which leads to a brain injury.

HAS YOUR CHILD SUFFERED A BRAIN INJURY AT BIRTH?

Hopefully now you have a better understanding as to the question of what if my baby swallows their poop during delivery. The outlook in these cases dealing with this issue can be better in some instances when the doctors immediately notice the condition and begin treatment right away. With that said, it is also important for doctors to take early note when meconium is present at the time the water breaks, as it can be a sign of problems to come, especially when concerning readings are present of the fetal heart monitor.

If you have more questions regarding your baby’s HIE diagnosis or brain injury at birth you can call me, and we can talk more about your baby’s story. I speak with families all the time regarding birth trauma and brain injuries, as this is what we do.

You can reach me at 301-850-4832.

Marcus B. Boston, Esq.
Boston Law Group, LLC
2 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 700
Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815
301-850-4832
1-833-4 BABY HELP

[Lemlem]

My son swallowed his poop When he was born, I heard the student doctor apologizing to the regular doctor. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I know something has happened. Then they told me that my son Swallowed his poop They said he was Nervous and they put him in Ventilizer they kept him for 5 days at the hospital and I pray the Lord to heal him and The Lord did healed him and That was 22 years ago. My son is healthy, praise the name of Jesus🙏🙏🙏 and the Lord Jesus told me to name him Haileyesus it means the power of Jesus or the strength of Jesus..

[winnie]

Thank you very much for sharing this with us. Until now I still don't know what was wrong. I mean, I know that my labor was very long. I had long and strong contractions since 2cm and I did not go for Epidural. My daughter swallowed her poop and was in NICU for 7 days. Doctor was giving her antibiotics since she her lungs were infected. She was puking and choking poop on the first days ..from 3rd day that I got to spend more time with her skin to skin we both recovered very well like magic. Now we are home and hope that she is fully recovered and there is no side effects to that later❤.

[cheskalorrainegimotea]

My mom said I swallowed my meconium because my delivery was delayed. Thankfully, I am normal as my doctor had injected numerous things in me. I still have 2 visible injection spots after 21 years!!

[mathmagician]

My nephew has swallown the potty ... He is of just 3 days ... He is on ventilator ... Plz pray for him 😭

[GlitteryPoison]

I did this when I was born. I’m good now

[devaunkeys]

Thank you for explaining it to me because my knee that’s how my niece was when she was born my niece had swallowed some poop during my sister’s birth during delivery of her daughter and that’s not what happened to my niece so I am so glad that my niece does not have a brain injury I’m glad somebody explained it to me so I can understand because I’m artistic

[artistgrafitti]

Rip taji.. my wife’s labor was delayed by up to 5hrs before they decided to cs her. Miss you son.. died 7days later. I’m still upset

[staywoke]

Today my wife is giving birth to my son, and she did not know how to push, she took four hours to finally push the child out but by that time the baby inhale its own poo, now our baby is fighting for his life on a machine, his blood oxygen level was 80% when he was born, every hour or so it increases to 96% but goes back to 80% is my first baby and its tuff to see this.

[pandalilith]

Had my son 11/29 took a few secs to cry, at first he was gurgling fluid which I guess contained some meconium because now he is in the nicu. Right after they let me hold him after my c section, an hour or so after he was taken into the room for them to clean him. But then a hour after the dr came back and told me the baby's breathing is not good and he needs support thru his airway (nostrils) known as a cpap and that of course made me so sad and terrified. Being in that room alone, I'm still in the room as we speak. My son is approaching his 2nd day of nicu and is on antibiotics and his c0z goes down to 88% without cpap so the doctors are still giving him fluids and antibiotics. Im terrified never went through anything like this with my two other kids and had one stillborn so this all shakes me up.... don't know what to do I just want my baby to be okay on his own without being in the nicu and on the machine

[marilyndesoy-paz]

My niece recently died because her body was full of poop when they cut her mother out. The doctor can no longer hear the baby’s heartbeat when her mom was rushed to the ER. So they decided to ECS the mom. Sadly, the baby did not make it. Di you happen to know what caused the MAS? The mom is at her 38th week and was already 2cm and didnot feel any labor pain not until she asked her partner to rush her to the hosp.

[sarithabuddula]

Sir my son had meconium aspiration syndrome at time of birth he did not cry immediatly he took 2 to 3 mintus time to take his first cry after he stay nicu in 4 days
I did my 3 month old baby brain mri
It shows everything normal
Now he is very active
But still iam worried about his future
Pls suggest me sir his future is ok
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[sarishmayadav]

My baby is 10 months old...and he ate his poop...will this affect anything in his system....???? really worried!!

[YolandeLubbe-lcio]

My baby was born on 38 weeks 2 days. And had meconium in the water when she was born.sadly she was born stillbirth. Is the meconium the reason?

[feibyteope]

Hellow sir. Im from the Philippines and with Caesarian session dated June 18 2022. My daughter ate meconium during the said operation. And she's in NICU facility. The doctors and nurses told me that no visitor allowed in that area. Until now we haven't seen my daughter's face for it is restricted area.

[krizhAvakin]

My daughter swallowed meconium in labour. She is 3 now and she has a global development delay. I want to know if there's a treatment or if there's anything that I can do?

[joshuafugate]

My daughter is in labor right now they just broke her water and they said mucodium was present she has been in the hospital since 11:00 last night it was an induction and their others other health issues with the baby she has a cleft palate

[Rb_guy_]

plz tell me abut my baby in my belly hi poop and eet popo how we can handel thos

[jenlaf]

I went through this with my first an cuz the dr only checked on me once in a 22 hr span after breaking my water an seeing the meconium. There were many things saying to do a c-cection but they ignored it till my baby's heat rate was almost gone the the stupid nurses called in the doc that took forever to answer the calls an pages an they finely took me for a c-section had to put me out an when I woke up my baby girl was gone...