The nurse is caring for a one-day-old newborn who has not yet had a bowel movement. Which of the following terms refers to the first stool passed by a newborn infant?
The nurse is caring for a one-day-old newborn who has not yet had a bowel movement. Which of the following terms refers to the first stool passed by a newborn infant?
A. Melena
[1%]
B. Meconium
[98%]
C. Diarrhea
[0%]
D. Hematemesis
[0%]
Statistics
Subject/Lesson
Subject
Child Health
Lesson
Gastrointestinal
Client Need
Test Plan
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Related Topic
Ante/Intra/Postpartum and Newborn Care
Item Type
Item Type
Knowledge/Comprehension
Explanation
Choice B is correct. Meconium is defined as the first stool passed by a newborn infant. Meconium is typically a dark black/green sticky stool. In about 99% of healthy full-term infants, meconium is passed within 24 hours of birth.
- In the absence of any pathology, 100% of full-term infants should pass meconium by 48 hours of delivery.
- In pre-term infants, there may be a delay in passing the first stool beyond 48 hours.
- Occasionally, the fetus can pass meconium into the surrounding amniotic fluid while still inside the uterus and may aspirate it. Any event that triggers fetal stress may cause the fetus to pass meconium inside the womb. Decreased fetal oxygenation due to placental or umbilical cord pathology may trigger the fetus to pass meconium. Therefore, meconium-stained amniotic fluid is regarded as a sign of fetal distress. Sometimes, a full-term infant does not pass meconium within 24 hours of birth. Such presentation may signal conditions that cause intestinal obstruction, including meconium ileus, cystic fibrosis, and Hirschprung's disease.
Choice A is incorrect. Melena is a term that refers to dark, sticky feces that contains old, digested blood. Melena indicates an upper GI bleed.
Choice C is incorrect. Diarrhea is a loose, watery stool.
Choice D is incorrect. Hematemesis is bloody vomiting. Often, hematemesis indicates an upper GI bleed.
Learning Objective
Recognize that meconium refers to the first stool passed by a newborn.
Related Videos
2 Key Topics
Newborn Assessment
