Of course, you are preparing as much as possible for the arrival of your little one. Did you know that there is also a whole new world of diapers and baby stools waiting for you? Meet meconium, or your baby’s very first poop. In this blog you can learn what it is, what it looks like and why it is important to be aware of it.
What is meconium?
Meconium is your baby’s first stool. Giving this first stool it’s own name has a good reason: meconium is not just any ordinary poop. It is a combination of everything your baby has ingested and processed in the womb, in other words, amniotic fluid, bile and waste. So all the while, your little one’s digestive tract was already practicing.
What does meconium look like?
Meconium is black, sticky, and can sometimes appear dark green. It is a bit slimy and continues to appear in the diapers for a while in the first few days after birth. Fortunately, there is also some good news: meconium is odorless. After a day or three, the color of the stool changes, giving way to a lighter shade.
Meconium in the amniotic sac
From about ten weeks of pregnancy, your baby begins to produce meconium in the amniotic sac. Don’t worry, this is normal. The amniotic fluid is undergoing continuous cleansing because your baby swallows it and excretes it again. From twenty weeks, the anal muscle becomes stronger and the amount of meconium in the amniotic sac decreases. At the end of the pregnancy, this increases again. In about 25-50% of pregnancies, the amniotic fluid then contains meconium.
While this isn’t usually a problem, it’s important to be watchful. If your baby has meconium-containing amniotic fluid during childbirth, this can sometimes require extra care. Discuss this with your gynecologist or obstetrician so that you can prepare for it.
Prepared for everything
The arrival of a baby brings with it many new things. Do you want to prepare well for every stage of parenting? Then The Wonder Weeks app is perfect for you. From pregnancy to the first leaps and beyond: you will find useful tips, clear charts and answers to all your questions. This way you can face this special time in your life with confidence.
