Meconium aspiration syndrome
Prevention

Risk factors should be identified as early as possible. If the mother's water broke at home, she should tell the health care provider whether the fluid was clear or stained with a dark substance.

Fetal monitoring is started so that any signs of fetal distress can be recognized early. Immediate intervention in the delivery room can sometimes help prevent this condition.

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Review date: October 15, 2007
Reviewed by: Deirdre O’Reilly, MD, MPH, Neonatologist, Division of Newborn Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston and Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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