Expert: Elayne Glantzberg - 9/19/2007

Question
I have recently had an emergency c-section our baby was starved of oxygen or blood at some point and has since died. We were told that he swallowed some meconium while inside me. Do babies swallow it or can they in-hale while inside? Our baby was floppy when born and could not swallow?

Answer
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

Babies in the womb constantly breathe and swallow amniotic fluid.  When they breathe it, their lungs and diaphragm get to practice the motions they will need outside the womb.  When they swallow it, the fluid is absorbed into their bodies and gives their kidneys a workout turning it back into urine.  

Meconium is baby's first poop.  When baby swallows the amniotic fluid, anything that is not absorbed as water gets concentrated into a thick, tar-like substance in the bowels.  Usually, this comes out during or after birth as baby's first poop.  Sometimes, a postmature baby or one that is in distress will poop while still in the womb, causing meconium staining of the amniotic fluid.

Meconium staining is only a concern when it is extremely thick, like pea soup.  This thicker fluid can get trapped in the babies lungs, making it more difficult to expel.  C-section babies are more likely than vaginal birth babies to have trouble breathing because they don't get squeezed on the way out, so the fluid is more likely to stay in their lungs.

Swallowing fluid, meconium-stained or not, would not have caused your baby's problems.  Breathing in thick fluid could have caused problems after birth, but would not cause distress during labor because the baby would still be receiving its oxygen from the placenta.