Meconium from 12-hour-old newborn — the baby's third bowel movement. Scale: 5 cm left to right.

Meconium is the first stool of an infant, composed of materials ingested during the time the infant spends in the uterus: Intestinal epithelial cells, lanugo, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water. Meconium is sterile, unlike later feces, is viscous and sticky like tar, and has no odor. It should be completely passed by the end of the first few days of postpartum life, with the stools progressing toward yellow (digested milk). The term Meconium derives from meconium-arion, meaning "opium-like", in reference either to its tarry appearance or Aristotle's belief that it induced sleep in the fetus.^[1] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x1200, 577 KB)Meconium closeup Taken 4/9/05 by Jeremy Kemp File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (900x1200, 577 KB)Meconium closeup Taken 4/9/05 by Jeremy Kemp File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article does not adequately cite its references. ... Feces, faeces, or fæces (see spelling differences) In humans, defecation may occur (depending on the individual and the circumstances) from once every two or three days to several times a day. ... A human infant In basic English usage, an infant is defined as a human child at the youngest stage of life, especially before they can walk or simply a child before the age of one. ... The uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ of most mammals, including humans. ... In zootomy, epithelium is a tissue composed of a layer of cells. ... Lanugo are hairs that grow on the body to attempt to insulate it because of lack of fat. ... Mucus is a slippery secretion of the lining of various membranes in the body (mucous membranes). ... The amniotic sac is a tough but thin transparent pair of membranes which holds a developing embryo (and later fetus) until shortly before birth. ... Bile (or gall) is a bitter, yellow or green alkaline fluid secreted by hepatocytes from the liver of most vertebrates. ... This article does not adequately cite its references. ...

Meconium is normally stored in the infant's intestines until after birth, but sometimes it is expelled into the amniotic fluid prior to birth or during labor and delivery. Sometimes the meconium becomes thickened and congested in the ileum, a condition known as meconium ileus. Meconium ileus is often the first symptom of cystic fibrosis. Childbirth (also called labour, birth, partus or parturition) is the culmination of a human pregnancy with the emergence of a newborn infant/s from the mothers uterus. ... Grays Fig. ...

Meconium can be tested for various drugs, to check for in utero exposure. The results of meconium testing run on a newborn can be turned in to child protective services and other law enforcement agencies.^[2] Child Protective Services is the name of a governmental agency in many states in the United States that responds to child abuse and neglect. ... For the band, see The Police. ...

See also

• Meconium aspiration syndrome, where infants take meconium into their lungs during or before delivery.

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS, alternatively Neonatal aspiration of meconium) occurs when infants take meconium into their lungs during or before delivery. ...

References

1. ^ Health on the Net Foundation Mother and Child Glossary [1]
2. ^ G.B. v. Dearborn County Div. of Family and Children, 754 N.E.2d 1027 (Ind.Ct.App., 2001).