INFOGRAPHICPREGNANCY

What Is Meconium?

By Josey Murray
Reviewed by Alyssa Quimby, M.D.
July 23, 2024
meconium noun A baby's first poop, which can be darker and stickier than typical poop.

Meconium is your newborn baby’s first poop. Unlike regular poop, meconium is thick and sticky and can be green or black, and it doesn’t smell. It starts developing in their intestinal tract in the second trimester when your developing baby swallows amniotic fluid.

Your baby will usually pass meconium within the first day or two after birth. But some babies pass meconium in the womb before or during delivery. Occasionally, this can cause issues if the baby breathes it into their lungs. Your healthcare team will know to check for respiratory (breathing) problems if it looks like your baby passed meconium before birth.

Overall, passing meconium is a good sign that your baby’s digestive system is working well! Once you start feeding your baby breast milk or formula, their poop should start to look like typical baby poop.