During the stressful labor, the infant may suffer a lack of oxygen. The inhaled meconium can cause a partial or complete blockage of the airways, causing difficulty breathing and poor gas exchange in the lungs. In addition, it is irritating and causes inflammation in the airways and a type of pneumonia. Meconium staining of the amniotic fluid with possibility of aspiration occurs in approximately 5 percent to 10 percent of births. About one third of the infants with meconium aspiration will require some type of assisted breathing.
Meconium aspiration is a leading cause of severe illness and death in the newborn.
Risk factors should be identified as early as possible. Fetal monitoring is started to allow early recognition of fetal distress. Immediate intervention in the delivery room can sometimes help prevent aspiration . The infant may have a low Apgar score. Direct visualization of the vocal cords for meconium staining with a laryngoscope in the delivery room is the most accurate evaluation for possible meconium aspiration .