bullet1 Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS)

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome

Last Updated: October 9, 2003

Synonyms and related keywords: MAS, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, fetal hypoxic distress

Full Information at:   http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic768.htm

This web link has some technical information but cannot give suggestions as to any suggested causes of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome. concerns of Donna Young


Other Links are at the end of the following comments:

Meconium is sometimes a greenish color fluid found in the baby's amniotic fluid.  This green fluid, almost the color of Chlorophyll is alleged to be normal and sterile.  http://medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/PLACHTML/PLAC015.htmlm  (Green Metallic Placenta Image)

The yellowish meconium is alleged to be unfresh.


In some cases, as to the above image,  the whole placenta is a green metallic covered organ and that is not normal.  Perhaps the toxins come first from the mother's system and the placenta attempts to prevent the toxin or gas, from entering the child's system.  The green may even be the bile that may indicate iron-overland caused by extreme killing off red cells by toxins, or a sick mother.


 If so, a pH of the baby's blood and of the placenta cells and blood should be taken to give some explanation of probable cause.  This green placenta may happen if the mother becomes sick or if she is drugged during labor.  This means the baby's system is also drugged. Commonly imposed drugs on the mother during labor, in most institutional births is morphines (Demerol), and oxytocins, pitocin, syntocinon, Toesen,  or the varius spinal gases. Some of these injections, or IV'd solutions, or pills may not be of the best quality or contaminated.


 It is my belief the baby is toxic by the mother accepting gases or injections during labor. For the presence of this or the fear of this, I do beleive that added harm is caused by early umbilical cord clamping and this should be avoided. The child should be cared and treated on the pulsating cord, and unclamped.


This hasty clamping will compound the problem and will cause the baby to gasp in any green fluids in its throat or nose. This then may go into the baby's lungs and cause further damage.


Aggressive care to the child will create a sicker baby, so I would avoid any agressively syringing out the mouth and nose. They can injure the baby, too.  The pioneers simply wiped a baby's nose and throat with a clean cloth or fingers. This turned the baby face down and feet up and gently massaged the baby's back of the neck...not to harm the child to drain out any fluids. This was all done while the baby was on the lifeline, and untied.


 Avoidance of causing Meconium by be by NOT do anything to distress the baby's last final days or weeks in the womb. This means allow nature to decide the due date of your baby, not your anxiety to have the baby and be over and done with it, and how is not a concern of a tired and run down mother-to-be.


It is hard to counsel such a tired mother to not rush the pregnancy, or terminate it by drugs or creams or gels or castor oil, or unusual stretching exercise.


Rather, rest more, walking slowly, get fresh air.  Trust your body and your baby's.  And, do allow nature to determine the due date of your baby, to avoid distressing the child to come before they are ready to enter this world.  


I recommend from what I have been reading of aggressively trained medical persons, women and men, surgeons to midwives to doulas and ambulance medics, to avoid them, and have a safer homebirth, unassisted.  I would recommend reading Laura Shanley's Unassisted Births and Emergency births, in your own bathtub.  Babies do come unexpected.  Plan for an Emergency birth of simple care of warmth and warm towels. Just keep the mother warm and the baby too.  Intervetnions and active management may not be for you.  So to avoid them, become educated on what is your right to a primal birth and have a signed birth contract. If it is not signed by the hospital and the doctor, why would you go there where they want the higher income earning for aggressive care to the mother and child when that is not what was planned for anyone's birth, from the beginning of time.  Primal and natural birth may be the way to go, not straying from natural.  Learn from the animals, they have, in most instances, if not disturbed in the birth process, healthy babies and happy mothers. All goes well in 97 percent of all births if you take care of yourself, from before conception, at conception to birth.

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OTHER LINKS:


http://www.neoclinic.net/Artcl/msaf.htm

 

MECONIUM STAINED AMNIOTIC FLUID DELIVERY.


TO INTUBATE OR NOT ?

 

Dr Rhishikesh Thakre

INTRODUCTION :


Meconium aspiration syndrome ( MAS ) remains one of the most common causes of neonatal respiratory distress. Meconium is more potent and toxic than we previously have appreciated. The vicious cycle of hypoxemia, shunting, acidosis and pulmonary hypertension is frequently associated with MAS and may be difficult or impossible to treat successfully. Therefore the aim of intervention in the delivery room should be directed to reduce the incidence and severity of meconium aspiration. On the basis of evidence from non randomized studies, it has been recommended that all babies born through thick meconium should have their trachea intubated so that suctioning of their airways can be performed. With growing research there is ongoing debate concerning universal versus selective intratracheal suctioning in MSAF deliveries.

This article reviews the current evidence for babies born through meconium stained amniotic fluid and their need for intubation for suctioning the airways.



Email :  rhishikeshthakre@hotmail.com


References

*Cleary GM, Wiswell TE: Meconium Stained amictic fluid and the meconium aspiration syndrome : An Update. Pediatr Clin North Am 45: 511, 1998.

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http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/mecabsco.html


Abstract - Equivalence of Bulb Suctioning and DeLee Suctioning for Meconium

Intrapartum suctioning of meconium: comparative efficacy of bulb syringe and

De Lee catheter.

Authors: Cohen-Addad N.  Chatterjee M.  Bautista A.

Source: Journal of Perinatology.  7(2):111-3, 1987 Spring.

Abstract

Intrapartum suctioning of the newborn's pharynx with a De Lee catheter (DL)

has reduced the incidence of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) in neonates

born with meconium staining of the amniotic fluid. However, the bulb syringe

(BLB) is used more often for this purpose because of greater technical

convenience. In a prospective study, 60 offspring of such deliveries

received intrapartum pharyngeal suctioning either by BLB (29 cases) or by DL

(31 cases), according to random selection. The presence and amount of

meconium in the trachea, incidence and severity of MAS, and mortality from

the disease were similar between the two groups. This study suggests that

the BLB is as effective as the DL for intrapartum removal of nasopharyngeal

meconium in deliveries with meconium staining of the amniotic fluid. Since

the BLB is easier to use, less expensive and probably safer, our results

suggest that it may be the preferable method.

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http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/meconium.html#DeLee


 primal birth would not tie or cut the cord for meconium, but simply wipe

the nose and mouth clear with a clean cloth or finger.  They would not gag

the child, with things stuck down their throat or nose to impair or risk

injury to the child or its stomach.

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 http://www.drgreene.com/21_1138.html


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http://health.allrefer.com/health/meconium-aspiration-prognosis.html


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EXAMINING THE PLACENTA, IS A DUTY, AND TO DOCUMENT ALL DETAILS ON THE CHILD'S MEDICAL CHART:


http://www.aafp.org/afp/980301ap/yetter.html


Examination of the Placenta

JOSEPH F. YETTER III, COL, MC, USA,

Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Washington

A one-minute examination of the placenta performed in the delivery room

provides information that may be important to the care of both mother and

infant. The findings of this assessment should be documented in the delivery

records. During the examination, the size, shape, consistency and

completeness of the placenta should be determined, and the presence of

accessory lobes, placental infarcts, hemorrhage, tumors and nodules should

be noted. The umbilical cord should be assessed for length, insertion,

number of vessels, thromboses, knots and the presence of Wharton's jelly.

The color, luster and odor of the fetal membranes should be evaluated, and

the membranes should be examined for the presence of large (velamentous)

vessels. Tissue may be retained because of abnormal lobation of the placenta

or because of placenta accreta, placenta increta or placenta percreta.

Numerous common and uncommon findings of the placenta, umbilical cord and

membranes are associated with abnormal fetal development and perinatal

morbidity. The placenta should be submitted for pathologic evaluation if an

abnormality is detected or certain indications are present."

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Please visit this web link for a Petition to Protect Baby and the Mother, Too :   www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/102580814


A medical web site that may answer your questions is at:   www.cordclamping.com


Table of Contents is at:   www.lotusbirth.com/_cont260.htm   (See Placenta, Fetus Circulation, Fetus Development, T. Peltonen, Mavis Gunther, Dr. Sarah Buckley's Declaration, and Ode to My Placenta.


References of studies with comments is at:   www.lotusbirth.com/FEB2003Lotusbirth-110.htm


Home page:   www.lotusbirth.com

Original Posted: April 4, 2004