Why is meconium aspiration a concern?
Meconium particles in the amniotic fluid can block small airways and prevent the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide after birth. Some babies have immediate respiratory distress and have to be resuscitated at birth. Others develop respiratory distress within a few hours. Some babies with meconium aspiration need a mechanical ventilator (breathing machine) because of the difficulty breathing. The plugged airways may cause air to be trapped and leak into the tissues in and around the lungs. Infection can also occur causing pneumonia. Although the condition often improves within a few days, severe meconium aspiration, and the respiratory problems it causes, may lead to death in a small number of babies.
