If you're around childbirth regularly...

[The_Market]

What is your knowledge and/or experience with meconium staining?

In one hospital here, they really seem to freak out. Full nursery staff, immediate baby away from mom for deep suctioning, very often nursery observation time.

In another hospital, they're way more laid back. Very careful suctioning when the head is out, before baby cries. Baby goes to mom's stomach, but is observed carefully. Sometimes baby goes for deep suctioning if it's needed, but often baby is fine, although watched carefully for a bit.

I'm going to go wander through Cochrane for evidence and all that, but I'm curious about actual experience.

[xobehs]

This is not going to be a popular response, but my one experience...
Dear friend was delivering at home. Meconium was present and the babe delivered 4 hours later. THe midwife was very unconcerned about the meconium. within 5 minutes he was in critical condition being transfered to the hospital. He spent a week in NICU.


Unfortunately that one experience has me conditioned to respond rapidly and thoroughly as possible.

In the hospital where I delivered their protocal was to bring in the ped's and ped nursing staff and monitor the baby immediately in the room to determine if transfer is necessary.

[3girls2luv]

We have a neonatologist present at the birth if there has been mec. stained amniotic fluid. We do deep suctioning and close monitoring for the first couple of hours then if they are well they go out to mom to bf.

[trylyn5]

My dd had mecomium staining (a lovely byproduct of a 30 hour labor induced with cytotec ending in c-section due to fetal distress). I honestly don't know what they did, I was too drugged up at that point. I do know that we were told she had not ingested any of it and was fine. I was also able to bf (with help) while in recovery.

[winnie]

When I had Sarah a NICU team was called and present just as soon as her little body flew out of me. MW cut the cord and they handed her to the team for deep suctioning and I did not get to see her for at least 10-15 minutes after she was born. I really hated how the whole thing went down.

[kohlby]

Both my kids had meconium. What they did was have a ped in the room during the c-section. They wanted to gently suction both kids before they began to cry, but both times the kids cried before they had a chance. They were then whisked away to the nursery for a deaper suction. I didn't get to see DS for 4 hours but that was due to other reasons. I nursed DD 30 minutes later while I was still in recovery.

[Indigo]

DD had meconium and I remember in the section them talking about what a mess it was ans suctioning her, but then she just stayed on the warmer and went to the regular nursery until I got out of recovery. Shitty situation all around but didn't seem to be made any different by the meconium.

[The_Market]

Interesting. I guess the variation continues. I searched Cochrane and could find no evidence surrounding handling of these things, so I guess each person remains at the mercy of hospital policy.

[KerryS]

In another hospital, they're way more laid back. Very careful suctioning when the head is out, before baby cries. Baby goes to mom's stomach, but is observed carefully. Sometimes baby goes for deep suctioning if it's needed, but often baby is fine, although watched carefully for a bit.

This is kind of how we handle it. We kind of let the baby let us know if it's a problem.

Protocol for vag births is that if there is meconium stained fluid, we are supposed to call the ped and the ped and OB decide if the ped needs to be there for the birth. The ped wouldn't do anything more aggressive than using a bulb syringe, though, unless the baby is showing signs of distress.

[trylyn5]

Interesting. I guess the variation continues. I searched Cochrane and could find no evidence surrounding handling of these things, so I guess each person remains at the mercy of hospital policy.


What is Cochrane?

[KerryS]

It's a database that compiles and disseminates various peer-reviewed studies.

[maksmom]

In my personal experience, when dd2 was born, she was just suctioned when her head was out, before she completely delivered. Once she was delivered her cord had to be cut before she could be given to me, her cord was so short, the ob could not move her more than a few inches, (he said it was the shortest cord he had ever seen.) They did take her pretty quick to clean her off, and I did not get her back for about 45 mins, but that was due to complications I was having not her.

[The_Market]

What is Cochrane?
Probably the best source for evidence surrounding maternity care out there.
Here (http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/topics/87_reviews.html) is the link.