Meconium questions « Back to Group Discussions

[typebug]

So I have a few questions about the whole debate on when to transfer to hospital for meconium in the waters. I am quite overdue and have submitted to scans each week to check fluid levels and check for placenta health and the Dr said he's also able to see if there's meconium. So far so good. They are letting me continue to wait this out and stick with my home birth plan but with one stipulation, if there's meconium in the waters to come in right away. Generally this is my instinct on this too.

My new MW/Doula team met with me this week and they said with an overdue baby it's very common to have a "meconium stain" in the fluids which is not really anything they are worried about but they will leave the decision up to me! Ahhhhh! I'll have never seen what normal amniotic fluid even looks like and I'm worried I don't quite have enough information to make a call if it turns out I'm alone when my water breaks. Anyone want to talk about their own experiences with meconium and tell me more about when you feel it's "risky." I'm going to talk to my Dr about this again tomorrow but I'd love to hear some people weigh in. 

[josie423]

Each of my babies passed meconium before birth and there were never any issues. My fourth baby had a lot, my midwife estimated he passed it a couple weeks before birth. His skin, cord, placenta and the membranes were stained. He had no issues whatsoever. With that being my experience, I wouldn't worry about or transfer over meconium, but that's just me.

[etsdtm99]

all 4 of my babies have had meconium in the fluid - with #3 it was 'thick' and there for the entire labor, the others it came out at the end, either because my water broke at the end of labor or because it was passed during labor and didn't come out with the initial gush of fluid..

2 of those births were homebirths, the first 2 were planned hospital births..  i would not transfer for just meconium ..
 

[mama.nesta]

Not really sure..I had meconium with both children.  With this last one I did develop an infection in my uterus and a fever as a result.  I can't say 100% it was because of the meconium but it seems like a likely culprit.   I was in a hospital so they dealt with it medically, not sure if left untreated it would have been an issue...good luck mama!

[HouseofPeace]

this was my first baby w/ meconium and it freaked me out.  like interfere w/ labor b/c mama is so worried freaked me out.  it wasn't much- just a greenish tinge to the fluids but in all my other labors fluids were clear or pink.  midwife wasn't worried at all.  but she wasn't really able to talk me out of the fear.  this was stressful for me in my homebirth.  but we went on for another 2 hours after my water broke before he was born and he was fine.  nothing inhaled, he passed the rest of the meconium a couple minutes after being born.  a big part is if the midwife feels like there's meconium and the baby is in distress, get moving.  my baby was NOT showing any signs of distress even though i was, so the midwife did not view it as a sign in and of itself of a problem.  it just was.  i would be more relaxed next time after having a healthy birth, but the first time it was a little terrifying for me and i think if you would find that the case, you want to have a plan!