In the event of an incident-free birth, a newborn baby’s meconium (excretory matter) remains safely stored in the large and small intestines until after the baby is delivered. However, if the baby is in distress during labor and delivery, the baby may pass his stool into the amniotic fluid sac and ingest it.
The stool often blocks the baby’s airways, resulting in decreased oxygen supply to the brain and is often accompanied by pneumonia. The team of physicians and nurses in the delivery room must act quickly to clear the airway and prevent irreversible brain injury. Despite meconium aspiration being a common birth injury, many medical teams fail to treat this emergency condition promptly and effectively. If you or someone you love gave birth to a child adversely affected by meconium aspiration, give our attorneys a call to discuss your legal rights.