meconium

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meconium

The newborn baby passed meconium shortly after birth.

Definition

Noun: 1. The first feces of a newborn infant: A thick, sticky, and dark greenish-black substance that accumulates in the intestines of a fetus and is typically passed within the first few days after birth.

Usage
  • Primary Usage: The term is used almost exclusively in medical, biological, and parenting contexts to describe the initial bowel movements of a newborn.
  • Key Characteristics: It is composed of materials ingested by the fetus in the womb, such as amniotic fluid, mucus, bile, and epithelial cells. Its passage is a sign of a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
Examples
  • The pediatrician checked the baby's diaper to ensure the meconium had been passed.
  • The presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid during labor can be a concern for the baby's health.
  • New parents are often surprised by the dark, tar-like appearance of their newborn's first meconium.
Advanced Usage
  • Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS): A serious medical condition where a newborn breathes a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid into the lungs around the time of delivery.
    • The delivery team was prepared for potential complications due to signs of meconium in the amniotic sac.
Variants and Related Words
  • Meconial (adjective): Pertaining to or resembling meconium.
    • The meconial stool is distinct from later transitional stools.
Synonyms
  • First stool
  • Neonatal feces
  • Newborn's first feces

Note: There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs associated with this specific, technical term.

meconium

The newborn baby passed meconium shortly after birth.

Noun
  1. thick dark green mucoid material that is the first feces of a newborn child