Meconium Aspiration Syndrome: Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Prognosis

Library Articles | October 19, 2017

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Meconium Aspiration Syndrome: Separating Fears from Realities in Kentucky

Meconium aspiration syndrome is at once terrifying and surprisingly common. Meconium is the technical name for the feces that an infant passes before he or she starts to drink breast milk or formula. The syndrome often develops in utero, when the baby taints the amniotic fluid with meconium due to stress, hypoxia or lack of blood flow. After the infant inhales this fluid into his or her lungs, emergency medical care may be required.

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome: Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Prognosis

According to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, your baby’s risk of meconium aspiration increases if you pass the due date; if a pregnant mother has gestational diabetes or hypertension; if labor and delivery prove difficult or lengthy; or if the infant suffers hypoxia (decreased oxygen) while in utero.

Here are a few indications of meconium aspiration syndrome:

  • Low Apgar scores (These are tests given right after birth to measure the baby’s health)
  • Slow heart rate or difficulty breathing
  • Low blood pH and increased carbon-dioxide level
  • “Patchy or streaky areas” in the lungs in an infant’s chest x-ray
  • Bluish skin color
  • Limpness

Fortunately, the outlook for most afflicted infants is good. Physicians can use a variety of tools and strategies to prevent damage and minimize harm. These include deploying:

  • Radiant warmers to help the infant maintain healthy body temperature
  • Antibiotics to treat infections
  • Ventilators to inflate the lungs
  • Suctioning techniques to remove meconium as quickly as possible from the lungs

Permanent lung damage from aspiration of meconium is relatively rare. On the flip side, however, meconium aspiration can cause other serious, permanent health problems. Common complications include pneumonia, persistent hypertension, and brain damage.

If your doctor or caregiver’s negligence, carelessness, or failure to act caused or exacerbated your infant’s meconium aspiration syndrome, you may want to consult a Louisville birth injury attorney to discuss possible legal remedies to get you compensated for your neonatal care costs, long-term rehabilitation costs, and other damages.

The experienced, reputable Kentucky and Ohio birth injury attorneys at the Law Office of Hendy Johnson Vaughn Emery can provide a confidential, free consultation. For over three and a half decades, we have represented families of injured newborns in the Kentucky and Ohio region. Please reach out to us at 859-578-4444 or 888-606-5297 today to get help and answers.

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