Final answer:
Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is primarily caused by premature birth and can lead to serious disorders such as septicemia or pulmonary hemorrhage. Meconium, which can indicate fetal distress, can obstruct airways, interfere with surfactant function, cause inflammation, or hypertension in the lungs, and make the newborn more vulnerable to pulmonary infection. Meconium in the amniotic fluid can also increase the risk of neonatal sepsis and cause skin irritation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary cause of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is premature birth, which may be due to a variety of known or unknown causes. Other risk factors include gestational diabetes, cesarean delivery, second-born twins, and family history of RDS. The presence of RDS can lead to other serious disorders, such as septicemia (infection of the blood) or pulmonary hemorrhage. Therefore, it is important that RDS is immediately recognized and treated to prevent death and reduce the risk of developing other disorders.
The passage of meconium in the uterus signals fetal distress, particularly fetal hypoxia (i.e., oxygen deprivation). This may be caused by maternal drug abuse, maternal hypertension, depletion of amniotic fluid, long labor or difficult birth, or a defect in the placenta that prevents it from delivering adequate oxygen to the fetus. Meconium aspiration happens when the first breath is taken and can result in labored breathing, a barrel-shaped chest, or a low Apgar score. Meconium aspiration can obstruct a newborn's airways, interfere with surfactant function, cause inflammation or hypertension in the lungs, and make the newborn more vulnerable to pulmonary infection.
Neonatal sepsis can occur due to the presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid, which interferes with the antibiotic properties of the fluid and makes the newborn and mother more vulnerable to bacterial infections at birth and during the perinatal period. Inflammation of the fetal membranes, inflammation of the uterine lining, or neonatal sepsis may occur as a result of meconium exposure. Meconium can also irritate delicate fetal skin and cause a rash.