To ask if anyone (especially doctors or midwives) can tell me what this means?

[BlueFergie]

One of my best friends had a baby today. I knew she was in labour last night before I went to bed. But had not heard anything from her all day and no response to my text this morn. Finally this afternoon I got a text telling me that the baby had been born in the early hours by EMCS. She is very sick and in intensive care having swallowed a lot of meconium. She asked me to pray for her.
I am scared to search and see what this means, as I know you will often see the worst cases on the Internet. Please can someone tell me what this means and how serious it is for the baby.
My friend was in quite intense labour from about 11.30, was still at home at 1 and baby delivered at 3 if this is relevant.

I think it is serious BUT the SCBU are amazing places so baby is in the right place. Keeping everything crossed x

EMCS - could be emergency ceasarian - excuse the spelling. DD swallowed meconium and is now a healthy 7 yr old. Im sure she is getting the best possible care and will have a happy outcome.

EMCS is emergency c-section

Meconium is the first poo that babies have, can sometimes I think come out before birth.

I am not medically trained or anything just didn't want to not reply.

Hopefully someone will come along soon and put your mind at rest properly.

Congratulations to your friend by the way!

My brother swallowed meconium at birth and he was absolutely fine in the end. Hope this baby is ok.

Thanks for responses so far.
To clarify I do know what an EMCS is and what meconium is. I am just unclear of the consequences of ingestion of large amounts of it for the baby, in the short and long term.
Sorry OP is so unclear. I am a bit shaken.

It can be quite serious or it can be fine. It's really hard to tell unless you know more detail. My sister swallowed a lot of meconium at birth and was in SCBU for 3 weeks. She has right side hemiparesis which is a form of cerebral palsy that means she has limited use of her right arm and leg. She walks perfectly well but her hand is very weak. It hasn't stopped her though, she's a very successful adult and while it has been something to overcome it hasn't really stood in her way IYSWIM.

I really hope your friend's baby is fine.

This happened to my DGS last June. The baby had become distressed and the process where the baby starts to breathe happened too early. The Baby inhaled amniotic fluid and meconium, babies first poo.

During this normal process a valve in the heart shuts to allow the blood now oxygenated by the lungs to pass through. Sometimes this does not complete but nearly always repairs its self.

In our case after antibiotics and later heart scan, no treatment needed. Treatment is minor op.

I have no medical training but have been through this recently, DGS is fine now.

Best of luck to you and your friend.

its not usually a problem if its swallowed, but it can be very serious if aspirated into the lungs as it can cause a blockage of the lungs or one of them to collapse. They will have to keep her in SCBU for a while I expect

My DS had this as well as a host of other issues. Short term, baby will need lots of intensive care, but it depends on a lot of factors. Whether or not there was oxygen deprivation and how babys lungs are working.
These affect the long term outcome obviously. My DS is now a healthy 2 year old with no apparent residual probs, but he was touch and go for at least a week.

Sorry i cant be more help, it is very scary ut keep being there. It kept us going knowing people were thinking of us and praying for DS xx

Hi I am not a medical professional at all but spent a lot of time in scbu with parents whose children had this. As far as I know ingesting meconium can cause severe breathing difficulties and infection, usually treated with if necessary ventilation and antibiotics. A lot depends on how much was ingested and whether or not there are any other issues resulting from delivery. Long term I believe there are few direct effects. The next 48 hours will be crucial. Though I saw 4 babies with it (I had a 26 weeker) and all were fine after a tough couple of days. I hope your friends baby is ok.