Meconium Contamination of the Amniotic Fluid in Labour

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Abstract
Summary: 1. A prospective series of 254 patients who developed meconium staining of the liquor in labour is presented. The incidence of this sign was 18%.2. One‐third of the patients delivered spontaneously less than 30 minutes after meconium contamination was detected. Antepartum detection of the foetus at risk may improve the perinatal mortality in this group.3. In two‐thirds of the patients there was time for re‐assessment of the labour and for operative delivery when indicated. Thus in 11 % of all pregnancies meconium contamination will occur sufficiently early in labour for foetal acid‐base studies to be performed and acted upon. The implications of this are discussed.4. Prolonged pregnancy was a common but not a serious complication in this series.5. The wisdom of disregarding meconium contamination in breech presentations is questioned.

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