Meconium: Your Baby’s First Poop

The first few hours after your baby’s birth are a magical time, but not every moment is idyllic. Some aspects of parenting are a little messier, and your baby’s first poop is no exception! Still, even the messy moments are part of the great adventure ahead.

Meconium is the first feces of a newborn baby, although meconium stool may be a little different to what you’re expecting when you think of your newborn’s first poop. Read on to learn more about meconium, where it comes from and how to deal with it.

What Is Meconium?

It’s easy to define meconium, in a few simple words, as your baby’s first poop. To be more precise, it’s the nearly odorless, greenish-black, gooey substance that’s passed during your baby’s first few bowel movements, often in the first 24 hours after birth.

Meconium looks and smells very different from the regular baby poop you’ll be finding in your little one’s diapers later on.

What Is Meconium Made Of?

Your newborn baby has hardly had a meal yet, so you might be wondering what is in meconium?

Well, from as early as about week 13 of your pregnancy, your little one started sipping the amniotic fluid surrounding him in the womb.

Much of this fluid was passed out again as urine, but some—along with a bunch of skin cells, lanugo hairs (the fine hair covering a baby’s skin to keep them warm and protected while in the uterus), and various other particles floating around in there—settled in your little one’s intestines.

All these ingredients built up inside your baby’s bowel to make the gooey, tar-like meconium that may soon be gracing the inside of your newborn’s diaper.

What’s a Typical Meconium Color

The color of meconium, along with its consistency, is one of the main features that makes your baby’s first poop stand out from the regular stool that will come later.

Unlike regular baby poop, which is a much lighter hue, meconium is a dark greenish, almost black color. It also has a sticky, gooey consistency that makes it almost tar-like.

How Long Does Meconium Last?

It can take a few days for the meconium to pass out of your baby’s system. You’ll know when this happens, because your little one’s poop will turn from almost black to a yellowy-green color.

If you’re breastfeeding, your baby’s regular stools will eventually take on the consistency and color of a light mustard. If you use formula, your little one’s regular stool could turn a darker shade of yellow, or tan.

How to Deal With Meconium

Your baby’s first poop usually comes soon after they’re born, usually within the first 24 hours. This might be before or after the first diaper goes on, so—depending on the timing of that first bowel movement—you may get a closer look than you bargained for!

When you do come face-to-face with that first meconium poop, let your healthcare provider know, because this is an important sign that your baby’s digestive system is working properly.

Gentle baby wipes can help clean up your baby, and after putting on a comfortable, absorbent diaper, you’re all set.

Meconium has a tendency to stick to things, so—no matter how careful you are—you might get a little on your clothes or your little one’s first bodysuits, especially if you’re still getting the hang of how to diaper your baby.

To avoid leaks, it’s important to make sure those diapers are a perfect fit. If you’re not sure what size of diaper is best for your baby, try our handy diaper sizing chart.

This is just the first of many diaper changes you’ll be making, so turn those diapers into coupons and other great rewards with the Pampers Club app.

What Is Meconium Staining?

Sometimes newborns start their first bowel movement during the delivery or during the last weeks of the pregnancy. This means some of the meconium ends up in the amniotic fluid—giving it a greenish or brownish tint—which is why the resulting mixture is known as meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

In most cases, this doesn’t cause any long-term issues for your baby, but to be on the safe side your healthcare provider will check for any meconium staining of your amniotic fluid when your little one is born, and take the steps necessary to avoid or limit any potential complications.

If your water breaks and you notice any dark green stains or streaks in the fluid that leaks out, let your healthcare provider know immediately so they can take the precautions needed to ensure your baby has the safest possible birth.

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome

Very rarely, your baby may inhale some meconium-stained amniotic fluid, leading to a potentially serious complication known as meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), which is when meconium in the amniotic fluid gets into the lungs.

Your healthcare team will be looking out carefully for any signs of this, and they know exactly what to do to make sure that your baby gets prompt and effective treatment and to prevent or minimize any long-term effects.

How Serious Is Inhaling Meconium?

Most cases of meconium aspiration syndrome are not serious, and if it happens to your little one you can rest assured that your newborn will be in good hands.

The majority of newborns who show symptoms of meconium aspiration syndrome make a quick recovery without any long-term side effects.

When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider

Meconium is usually harmless, if a little messy sometimes. However, on rare occasions it can cause complications, so it’s best to be aware of these just in case.

Here are some examples of when to call your baby’s healthcare provider:

• If your baby doesn’t poop in the first 24 hours after being born, chances are this is just due to a meconium plug, which is just a bit of poop that has got stuck, but it’s important to rule out a very rare complication known as meconium ileus (which occurs when the meconium is too thick to pass), as this could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

• If you see a stool with traces of red, it might just be some blood swallowed during delivery, or your nipples might have bled while your baby was breastfeeding — but it’s still important to have it checked out, just to be safe.

• If you ever notice that your little one’s poop is white or clay-colored, tell your healthcare provider immediately to rule out any rare conditions that might need urgent treatment.

The Bottom Line

Before getting pregnant, you probably never thought that one day you’d be getting so excited about something like poop, but now the meconium lining those first few diapers is a reassuring sign that your little one’s digestive system is raring to go. You’ll treasure all these little firsts, even the gooey ones!

_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.}