Editing Meconium (section)

=== Meconium in amniotic fluid ===
Meconium is normally retained in the infant's bowel until after birth, but sometimes it is expelled into the [[amniotic fluid]] prior to birth or during [[childbirth|labor and delivery]]. The stained amniotic fluid is recognized by medical staff as a possible sign of [[fetal distress]]. Some [[postterm pregnancy|post-dates pregnancies]] (when they are more than 40 weeks pregnant) may also have meconium-stained amniotic fluid without fetal distress. Medical staff may aspirate the meconium from the nose and mouth of a newborn immediately after delivery in the event the baby shows signs of respiratory distress to decrease the risk of [[meconium aspiration syndrome]], which can occur in meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

Most of the time that the amniotic fluid is stained with meconium, it will be homogeneously distributed throughout the fluid, making it brown. This indicates that the fetus passed the meconium some time ago such that sufficient mixing occurred as to establish the homogeneous mixture. Terminal meconium occurs when the fetus passes the meconium a short enough time before birth/cesarean section that the amniotic fluid remains clear, but individual clumps of meconium are in the fluid.