meconium and planned c section

[trian]

tried googling and not really got anywhere.
I'm due a planned c section soon, this baby is probably my last chance to have a family and I'm single, so trying to prepare as well as poss.
I know that meconium in the amniotic fluid can be a problem for vaginal birth, but is it ever a problem with planned c sections?
Can Meconium Aspiration Syndrome happen to babies at 39wks and before a planned c section?
thanks in advance xxxxx

[DriverSurpriseMe]

I would imagine it's far less likely to happen, because the baby is delivered so soon after the waters are broken.

Meconium would also have to be present in the first place, which is not impossible but pretty unlikely, especially at 39 weeks.

[Jellybean100]

Yes it can happen, but you won't know about Mec unless your waters break and they deliver you before your planned date. There's not much you can do about it. Why do you ask? They will not stimulate the baby until baby gets to the resuscitaire so as to reduce the risk of baby taking a gasp before they can suction any gunk that's in its throat x

[trian]

i have to have a planned c section but it does mean the baby will be missing out on so many of the natural processes designed to help them.
I'm asking about mec because of the issues that mainstream thinking believes it can cause. But since posting i've read some interesting stuff on this website about it midwifethinking.com/index/
I'm looking fwd to meeting my baby but part of me is also looking forward to the day that she can speak and I can say "are you ok?" and have her tell me herself instead of having to guess thru baby movements etc etc!

[sallysparrow157]

Meconium in the waters is not uncommon around term. However meconium aspiration syndrome generally happens when the baby is in distress as this leads to gasping which means they aspirate big chunks of meconium deep into the lungs. In a planned elective section the baby is extremely unlikely to be stressed so significant meconium aspiration is very very rare in this situation. What is a little more common is what's called transient tachypnoea of the newborn, we think this is due to not all the amniotic fluid in the lungs being squeezed out as the baby is delivered/cries at birth, as an elective section is actually less stressful for the baby than labour and a vaginal birth, this is a bit commoner in babies who've had sections, it sorts itself out very quickly and babies don't have any long term problems from it. Sometimes if there's a bit of meconium in the waters people confuse TTN for mec aspiration

[sallysparrow157]

In the uk we don't suction babies routinely whether there is meconium or not, a paediatrician will attend if there is thick meconium but will only intervene if the baby seems distressed or isn't breathing at birth (as this might be due to a plug of mec blocking the upper airway - this is the only time we suck out the airway)

[trian]

thanks sally, that's really useful. I'm hoping to have skin to skin as soon as possible (and for her to get what benefit the obstetrician will let her get from the placenta) but I know I probably can't do this if she's having problems breathing, so your info is helpful.
thanks all
trian

[Jellybean100]

Sally I think it depends on the hospital policy- a hospital I worked at wanted babies to be handed to paeds after delivery so they could assess

[KatyN]

The explanation of aspiration seems very sensible.. I think it's not until they take their first breath that there might be a problem if there meconium around. However it is incredibly unlikely.

I say that as a my meconium inhaler lies next to me sleeping soundly.. He's 4. Has a normal 4 year old interest in poo. No longer interested in inhaling it!!

K