Current Pediatric Research

Meconium is a thick green-black odorant substance, which is produced in the embryo's gut at 12th week of gestation and then stored in the colon throughout the pregnancy. Meconium excretion occurs naturally within the first 24 to 48 hours after the birth, although the fetus may excrete meconium into the amniotic fluid for various reasons during pregnancy. Amniotic fluid impregnated with meconium before week 37 of gestation is uncommon, but its occurrence increases with gestational age. For this reason, MSAF is found in 9% to 20% of term and post-term pregnancies, but its onset is only 5% in pre-term pregnancies. The exact cause of meconium excretion in amniotic fluid remains unclear. However, previous studies have suggested the role of labor factors such as: Prolonged labor, post-term pregnancy, low birth weight neonates, oligohydramnios, intrauterine growth retardation, pregnancy hypertension, medical factors-anemia and cholestasis, ethical and social factors and demographic factors such as: Maternal high age, maternal drug abuse, especially tobacco and cocaine are the major contributing factors to the excretion of meconium into the amniotic fluid.

Author(s):

Sajad Nourollahi, Seyed Ali Hossein Zahraei*

Abstract | Full-Text | PDF

Share this