meconium
noun
me·co·ni·um
mi-ˈkō-nē-əm 
: a dark greenish mass that accumulates in the bowel during fetal life and is discharged shortly after birth
Examples of meconium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The next day, meconium — a baby’s dark, sticky first bowel movement — was detected.
—
Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
A day later, a social worker told the new mother: The baby’s meconium — or first bowel movement — had tested positive for opiates.
—Shoshana Walter, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
But Ava-Lea died at 35 hours old, a direct result of oxygen deprivation and inhaling meconium, according to the BBC.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
The first poop that your baby will pass is called meconium.
—Donna Murray, Rn, Parents, 16 July 2024
Newborns have at least one or two of these meconium stools a day for the first two days, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
—Donna Murray, Rn, Parents, 16 July 2024
The clearest exceptions are cases of meconium ileus, in which doing nothing comes with its own costs.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024
The amniotic fluid smells foul, looks greenish or brownish, or contains lots of blood: These qualities could indicate fetal distress, or that the baby has passed meconium (the first bowel movement), explains Brichter, in which case your provider will want to check in on your baby.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024
There also is a risk of pneumonia, which is caused by meconium aspiration, fecal contamination, and bacteria from tub water.
—Bekka Besich, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023
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Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
A day later, a social worker told the new mother: The baby’s meconium — or first bowel movement — had tested positive for opiates.
—Shoshana Walter, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
But Ava-Lea died at 35 hours old, a direct result of oxygen deprivation and inhaling meconium, according to the BBC.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
The first poop that your baby will pass is called meconium.
—Donna Murray, Rn, Parents, 16 July 2024
Newborns have at least one or two of these meconium stools a day for the first two days, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
—Donna Murray, Rn, Parents, 16 July 2024
The clearest exceptions are cases of meconium ileus, in which doing nothing comes with its own costs.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024
The amniotic fluid smells foul, looks greenish or brownish, or contains lots of blood: These qualities could indicate fetal distress, or that the baby has passed meconium (the first bowel movement), explains Brichter, in which case your provider will want to check in on your baby.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024
There also is a risk of pneumonia, which is caused by meconium aspiration, fecal contamination, and bacteria from tub water.
—Bekka Besich, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near meconium
Cite this Entry
“Meconium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meconium. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
meconium
noun
me·co·ni·um
mi-ˈkō-nē-əm
: a dark greenish mass of desquamated cells, mucus, and bile that accumulates in the bowel of a fetus and is typically discharged shortly after birth
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