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Meconium is the earliest stool of a mammalian infant resulting from defecation. Unlike later feces, meconium is composed of materials ingested during the time the infant spends in the uterus: intestinal epithelial cells, lanugo, mucus, amniotic fluid, bile, and water.
The word meconium is derived from the Greek word mēkōnion meaning juice from the opium poppy as the sedative effects it had on the foetus were observed by Aristotle. [ 3 ] Meconium is a sticky dark-green substance which contains gastrointestinal secretions, amniotic fluid , bile acids , bile , blood, mucus , cholesterol , pancreatic ...
Colostrum also has a mild laxative effect, encouraging the passing of a baby's first stool, which is called meconium. [9] This clears excess bilirubin , a waste-product of dead red blood cells which is produced in large quantities at birth due to blood volume reduction [ citation needed ] from the infant's body, and which is often responsible ...
Babies defecate a unique substance called meconium prior to eating external foods. There are a number of medical conditions associated with defecation, such as diarrhea and constipation, some of which can be serious. The feces expelled can carry diseases, most often through the contamination of food. E. coli is a particular concern.
In infants and toddlers, gastric juice also contains rennin to digest milk proteins. As the first two chemicals may damage the stomach wall, mucus and bicarbonates are secreted by the stomach. They provide a slimy layer that acts as a shield against the damaging effects of chemicals like concentrated hydrochloric acid while also aiding ...
Breast, bottle, whatever: How You Feed is a shame-free series on how babies eat. Ten years ago, Time magazine's cover featured mom Jamie Lynne Grumet with her 4-year-old son nursing while standing ...
Breastfed infants have somewhat lower blood pressure later in life, but it is unclear how much practical benefit this provides. [185] [186] A 1998 study suggested that breastfed babies have a better chance of good dental health than formula-fed infants because of the developmental effects of breastfeeding on the oral cavity and airway.
Stool is a common term in reference to human feces. For example, in medicine, to diagnose the presence or absence of a medical condition, a stool sample sometimes is requested for testing purposes. [33] The term bowel movement(s) (with each movement a defecation event) is also common in health care.