Aine Sawyer
The first bowel movement of a newborn is called meconium, a thick, sticky, black or dark green substance almost like tar. It is made up of intestinal cells, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water. It is sterile and has no smell. Newborns do not have any germs in their gut, and their bacterial diversity will only reach an adult's level once they reach their first birthday.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Initial colour of newborn poop | Black or dark green |
| Subsequent colours of newborn poop | Dark green, yellow, brown |
| Consistency of newborn poop | Thick, sticky, tar-like |
| Composition of newborn poop | Intestinal cells, lanugo, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, water |
| Smell of newborn poop | None |
| Cause of colour | Presence of bile |
| Cause of consistency | Presence of lanugo |
What You'll Learn
Newborn poop is sterile
Newborn babies do not have any germs in their gut, and their bacterial diversity will only reach an adult's level once they reach their first birthday. The bacterial composition has a big impact on their health.
Meconium
The first poop of a newborn is called meconium. It is a thick, sticky, black or dark green substance almost like tar. It is made up of intestinal cells, lanugo (the downy hair some babies are born with), mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water. Meconium is sterile and has no smell.
Development of Microbial Communities
It was traditionally thought that infants were inoculated with the flora of their mothers as they passed through the birth canal. However, this theory has been contradicted by the finding that babies born by c-section are not delayed in the development of their intestinal communities. Instead, the determining factor in the development of early microbial communities seems to be whether or not the infants are breastfed. The bacteria that colonize the infant gut come directly from the breast milk.
The Importance of Intestinal Microbiota
Breast milk supplies both beneficial bacteria and food for these bacteria, suggesting that intestinal microbiota is far more important and sophisticated than commonly thought. The time from birth to when an infant is weaned is when this microbiota is established, and once established, it is largely stable throughout an individual’s life.
Monitoring a Child's Health
Educating oneself about the color, consistency, and frequency of a child's poop can help monitor the child's health and development.
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It's called meconium
Meconium is the name given to a newborn baby's first poop. It is a thick, sticky, black or dark green substance almost like tar. It is made up of intestinal cells, lanugo (the downy hair some babies are born with), mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water.
Meconium is sterile and has no smell. It is passed on a baby's first day of life, usually within the first 48 hours. However, some babies pass meconium while still in the uterus before birth.
Anywhere from 12% to 20% of babies poop in utero, and this number increases to around 40% for overdue babies. It rarely happens with premature babies. Factors that increase the risk of passing meconium in utero include fetal distress from inadequate blood or oxygen levels, issues with the placenta or umbilical cord, going past the due date, a long and hard delivery, high blood pressure, diabetes, or other maternal health issues, smoking during pregnancy, poor intrauterine growth, and amniotic fluid issues.
Meconium is not harmful in itself, but if a baby inhales it, it can cause pneumonia, lung problems, or respiratory distress. This is called Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) and occurs in 4% to 10% of cases where babies poop in utero. MAS can cause airway obstruction, lung inflammation, and problems with oxygen exchange. It can also increase the risk of pneumonia, collapsed lung, and other respiratory conditions in newborns. Symptoms of MAS include green meconium-stained amniotic fluid, meconium stains on the baby, bluish skin colour due to low blood oxygen levels, and a slow heart rate.
If meconium is present during labour, healthcare providers will monitor the baby more closely for signs of fetal distress. They may also perform an amnioinfusion, where sterile fluid is placed inside the uterus to dilute the meconium and increase amniotic fluid volume.
After the meconium has passed, a baby's poop will change colour, smell, and consistency. The appearance of a baby's poop depends on whether they are breastfed or formula-fed. Breastfed babies tend to have more yellow poop, while formula-fed babies' poop is more tan.
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It's black or dark green
Newborns' first few diapers will likely contain a gooey, dark-green, tar-like substance, with hardly any smell. This is called meconium. Meconium is a distinct type of poop made up of mucus, skin cells, lanugo hairs, and other particles the baby swallowed, along with amniotic fluid, while still in the womb.
Over the first few days of life, a newborn will continue to pass meconium. The color should gradually change from black to dark green, then yellow.
Meconium is sterile, so it usually does not smell. However, if the black stool persists beyond the first week of life, it could indicate bleeding in the baby's digestive system, and medical advice should be sought.
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It's made of intestinal cells, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water
Newborn baby poop, or meconium, is composed of a unique blend of substances that give it its distinctive appearance and characteristics. One of the key components is intestinal cells. During the baby's development in the womb, the intestines produce a significant amount of intestinal cells, which are then shed into the bowel. These cells contribute to the thick, sticky nature of meconium. Mucus is also present in meconium. It is produced by the gastrointestinal tract and serves to protect and lubricate the intestinal walls. Mucus adds to the sticky consistency of meconium and can vary in color from yellow to green.
Amniotic fluid, which surrounds the baby in the womb, is another important component of newborn poop. The baby swallows amniotic fluid during development, which then mixes with other substances in the bowel. This fluid contains a variety of substances, including lanugo (fine hair that covers the baby's body), vernix caseosa (a waxy coating on the skin), and cellular debris. The presence of amniotic fluid contributes to the unique composition of meconium and can affect its color and consistency.
Bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver, is also found in newborn poop. Bile helps in the digestion of fats and gives meconium its characteristic dark green or yellow-green color. The amount of bile present can vary, influencing the shade of the poop. Water is the final key ingredient in meconium. It is present in the amniotic fluid that the baby swallows and is also produced by the baby's body. Water helps to soften the meconium and give it a semi-solid consistency.
The combination of these substances—intestinal cells, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water—creates the unique makeup of newborn poop. It is important to note that the composition of meconium can vary from baby to baby and can change over the first few days of life as the baby's digestive system adapts to extrauterine life. While meconium is typically sterile, the presence of these various substances contributes to the complex environment that supports the establishment of the baby's gut microbiome, which is crucial for overall health and development.
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It's odourless
Newborns have no bacteria in their gut, and their bacterial diversity will only reach an adult's level once they reach their first birthday. The initial substance that newborns pass is called meconium, which is a thick, sticky, black or dark green substance almost like tar. It's made up of intestinal cells, lanugo (the downy hair some babies are born with), mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water. Meconium is sterile and therefore odourless.
Meconium is a gooey, dark-green, tar-like substance, with no smell. It is the first substance that newborns pass, usually within the first 48 hours of life.
The appearance of a baby's poop depends on whether they are breastfed or formula-fed. Breast milk poop appears more yellow, while formula poop appears more tan. If a baby's poop appears black, red, or white, it can indicate a health issue, and a doctor should be consulted.
Meconium is sterile because it is composed of materials ingested in the womb, where there are no germs or bacteria. It is only after birth that infants are exposed to microorganisms from their mothers' faeces.
Breastfeeding can help with the passage of meconium as breast milk is a natural laxative. After the meconium has passed, a baby's poop will vary depending on their diet. Breastfed babies may have poop that appears golden or mustard-yellow, while formula-fed babies will have firmer, glue-like poop with a stronger odour.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, newborn poop is sterile. Newborn babies have no bacteria in their gut. During birth, infants are exposed to the bacteria of their mothers' faeces.
A baby's early poop is known as meconium. It is a thick, sticky, black or dark green substance almost like tar. It's made up of intestinal cells, lanugo (the downy hair some babies are born with), mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water.
Newborn poop normally looks like a gooey, dark-green, tar-like substance, with no smell.
Newborns generally poop frequently, sometimes after every feed. Infants older than 3 weeks may poop anywhere between 8–12 times a day to less than once a day.
