Meconium is normal

by Heather DeWolf Bowser

08/08/2023

The presence of meconium alone is not dangerous or cause for concern.

Anywhere between 5-40% of babies will be born with meconium in their waters at birth. This can be light staining or heavier cloudiness, old or new, and happen for a variety of reasons, most of which are totally normal.

Despite this, meconium stained waters are often the cause of a whole slew of unnecessary and harmful interventions that actually make meconium aspiration syndrome more likely. Meconium staining is also a reason your homebirth midwife may unnecessarily transfer your birth to the hospital in the middle of labor.

Babies passing meconium in pregnancy is a normal and healthy physiological practice. Almost all of the time, the presence of meconium is actually just a sign of baby's maturity and development. Meconium is not inherently dangerous! We still don't actually know for sure if meconium is ever released because of fetal distress, despite all the prevailing myths around that idea. But even if that does make sense on a physiological level, it is the rarest cause for meconium release, and is not a sign of distress alone. If your baby has other signs of hypoxia, of course that should be addressed.

Meconium stained waters at birth is a normal occurance.

If you do have meconium in your waters at birth, here are the most important ways to prevent the incredibly rare complication called meconium aspiration syndrome:

🔸Do not allow any form of induction or labor augmentation.
🔸Keep your birth completely undisturbed and ideally at home.
🔸No strangers or extra care providers in your birth space.
🔸Avoid vaginal exams.
🔸Let your baby emerge on your terms with the fetal ejection reflex or your own pushing urges - no directed pushing.
🔸Don't let anyone rush your birth.
🔸Catch your own baby.
🔸Keep the cord attached for at least a few hours.
🔸Don't let anyone remove your baby for observation or exams and stay skin to skin.
⚠️NEVER suction your baby with a bulb syringe.

The most important protection against meconium aspiration syndrome is physiological, undisturbed birth. Mec is normal!