meconium

(noun)

 The earliest stool of a mammalian infant. Unlike later feces, meconium is composed of materials ingested during the time the infant spends in the uterus (intestinal epithelial cells, lanugo, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water).

Related Terms

Examples of meconium in the following topics:

  • Cystic Fibrosis

    • Symptoms often appear in infancy and childhood, such as bowel obstruction due to meconium ileus in newborn babies.

  • Adjustments of the Infant at Birth

    • Potential neonatal respiratory problems include apnea, transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTNB), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), airway obstruction, and pneumonia.

  • Fetal Development

    • Week 20: The fetus weighs about 10 ½ oz, swallows more, and produces meconium.