Question

A first-time father is changing the diaper of his 1-day-old daughter. He asks the nurse, "What is this black, sticky stuff in her diaper?" What is the nurse's best response?

1) That's meconium, which is your baby's first stool. It's normal.
2) That's transitional stool.
3) That means your baby is bleeding internally.
4) Oh, don't worry about that. It's okay.

Answer 1

Meconium is the black, sticky substance found in the diaper of a 1-day-old baby. It is the baby's first stool and is a normal occurrence. In some cases, babies may pass meconium in the womb, which can cause complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The black, sticky substance in the diaper of a 1-day-old baby is called meconium. Meconium is the baby's first stool and is a normal occurrence. It consists of substances that have accumulated in the fetal intestines during pregnancy.

Meconium is usually passed by the baby after birth, but in some cases, 5-20% of babies may have a bowel movement in the womb, which can cause complications. The first sign of passing meconium is usually when the amniotic sac ruptures and the amniotic fluid is stained with a greenish or yellowish color.